Chapter 7 - The Counter-Strike
While Declan was at the docks, the lakefront estate was under siege.
Norah stood in the library, holding Leo and Maya tightly against her chest. The sound of gunfire echoed from the front gates—sharp, terrifying pops that made the children scream in terror.
"Mrs. Gable!" Norah yelled, her heart pounding against her ribs. "What is happening?"
Mrs. Gable rushed into the room, her face pale. "They’ve breached the outer gates, Miss Norah! Viktor’s men... they have a heavy vehicle. We need to go to the safe room!"
Norah didn't hesitate. She grabbed the children, following Mrs. Gable down the narrow, hidden staircase behind the library’s bookshelf. The air in the stone passage was cold and damp, smelling of old earth.
They reached the heavy steel door of the safe room, but before Mrs. Gable could input the security code, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the basement.
It was Khloe Hartwell.
She wore her expensive cream trench coat, but her hair was disheveled, her eyes wild with a manic, vengeful fury. In her hand, she held a small, silver pistol.
"Going somewhere, Norah?" Khloe sneered.
"Khloe," Norah gasped, stepping back, her body covering the twins. "What are you doing here?"
"My father told me about Declan’s little coup at the docks," Khloe said, her voice shaking with rage. "He thinks he can just discard me. He thinks he can destroy my family’s future for you. But if you and these little bastards are gone, Declan will have nothing left to fight for. He will have to come back to me."
"You're insane, Khloe," Norah said, trying to keep her voice steady for the children. "If you hurt them, Declan will hunt you to the ends of the earth. He will destroy your father, your family, everything."
"He’s already destroying us!" Khloe screamed, raising the gun, her finger tightening on the trigger.
Crash!
The heavy wooden door at the top of the stairs was kicked open. Marcus and three tactical guards rushed down the steps, their weapons aimed at Khloe.
"Drop the gun, Miss Hartwell!" Marcus roared.
Khloe panicked. She spun around, firing a wild shot toward Marcus.
Bang!
The bullet chipped the stone wall, sending sparks flying. Before she could fire again, one of the guards fired a non-lethal taser. The prongs struck Khloe in the chest, and she collapsed to the floor, her body twitching violently as the current surged through her.
Marcus rushed forward, kicking the silver gun away. He looked at Norah, his face grim.
"Are you alright, ma'am?"
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"We are fine," Norah gasped, her legs shaking so hard she had to lean against the wall. "But Declan... where is Declan?"
"He’s on his way back," Marcus said, pulling Khloe to her feet and securing her hands. "But the old man has gone completely rogue. He’s heading for the estate himself."
