Chapter 4 - The Unraveling
"My authority doesn't come from a paper trail, Victor," Damian growled, grabbing Victor by the lapels of his suit and dragging him toward the center of the room. "It comes from the fact that I control this city."
Before Damian could finish his sentence, the heavy oak doors of the main entrance exploded inward. Heavy gunfire ripped through the foyer as Victor’s undercover loyalists launched a sudden ambush to break their leader out. Bullets tore through the plaster, shattering the crystal chandeliers into thousands of glittering shards.
Damian immediately slammed Victor into the floor, drawing his dark steel pistol and firing three quick shots toward the entryway. "Julian! Get the secondary perimeter locked down!" he roared over the deafening noise.
Upstairs, the heavy door to our room flew open. I pulled Leah beneath the desk, covering her tiny body with my own as wood splinters rained down around us. Damian rushed into the room, his white dress shirt speckled with drywall dust and blood.
"We have to move now!" he yelled, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet. He scooped Leah into his left arm while keeping his weapon raised in his right.
We sprinted down a narrow service hallway behind the study, descending a hidden spiral staircase that led deep into the subterranean drainage tunnels beneath the manor. The cold, damp air filled my lungs as the echoes of gunshots faded above us.
May you like
"Where are you taking us?" I panted, struggling to keep pace with his long strides.
"To a safe house near the docks," Damian replied without looking back. "Victor brought mercenaries into my home. Nowhere above ground is secure until I wipe his network out."
