Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Estate
Red emergency lights flushed the library in a bloody glow as the sirens blared through the mansion. Nico immediately drew a concealed matte-black handgun from beneath his jacket, stepping in front of Hannah instinctively.
Marco smashed through the library doors, his rifle raised. "Boss! Power’s been cut to the outer gates! Someone rammed a heavy truck through the eastern perimeter wall!"
"Julian," Nico hissed. "He knows the doctor failed. He’s pushing his hand."
"We’re securing the safe room now," Marco said. "Sophia is already inside."
"Take Hannah to the safe room with Sophia," Nico ordered, checking the slide on his pistol. "I’m going to the security control room to lock down the master vault."
"Wait!" Hannah called out, grabbing Nico’s sleeve before she could stop herself.
Nico paused, looking down at her hand on his arm, then up into her eyes.
"They didn't just come for the vault," Hannah said, her mind racing. "If Julian sent men here right now, it’s because he knows Dr. Vance gave him up. He wants the evidence."
"The evidence is the patch," Nico realized, his eyes narrowing. "It’s still sitting on the nursery desk where the toxicologist left it."
"I’ll get it," Hannah offered instantly. "The nursery is on my way to the safe room."
"No," Nico said firmly. "It’s too dangerous."
"I know every hidden corridor and laundry chute on the second floor," Hannah argued fiercely. "I can get to the nursery faster than anyone else without being seen in the main hallways. You need that patch intact if you’re going to expose Julian to the rest of your family syndicate."
Nico searched her face for a brief second, recognizing the fierce determination in her eyes. He reached into his belt and pulled out a small, heavy silver pocket knife, pressing it into her palm. "Take this. Get the patch, get to the safe room, and do not stop for anything."
"Understood," Hannah said.
Without another word, Hannah turned and followed Marco into the dimly lit hallway. The mansion was in chaos. Shadows danced across the walls as backup generators flickered to life. The sounds of glass shattering and distant gunfire echoed from the ground floor.
Hannah split off from Marco at the central staircase, ducking into a narrow service door concealed behind a large tapestry. This was the maid’s passage—a network of tight, unpainted wooden hallways used by the domestic staff to move between floors undetected.
She ran through the dark corridor, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Reaching the second-floor service outlet, she cracked the panel open and peeked into the nursery hallway.
Two men in dark tactical gear were moving down the hall, holding suppressed submachine guns. They were searching room by room.
Hannah held her breath, shrinking back into the shadows. She waited until the men entered a bedroom down the hall, then slipped out of the panel, light on her feet, and darted into Sophia’s nursery.
The room was overturned. Drawers were pulled out, toys scattered across the floor. On the small wooden play desk sat the clear plastic case containing the poisonous patch.
Hannah rushed forward, snatching the case and stuffing it into her apron pocket.
"Found it," a rough voice rasped from the doorway.
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Hannah spun around. Standing at the threshold was a tall, scarred man wearing a tactical vest with Julian Bolaro’s crest embroidered on the shoulder. He raised his weapon, pointing it straight at her chest.
"Hand over the patch, girl," the man grunted, stepping into the room. "And maybe I won't leave you in the same state as the kid."
