Chapter 6 - Preparing for War
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Luca’s demeanor transformed instantly from a grieving son into a tactical general ready to burn the world to ash.
"How many vehicles, Dante?" Luca barked, walking swiftly toward the hidden wall panel behind the armoire.
"Three black SUVs, Boss," Dante answered, tapping the tablet screen.
"At least twenty heavily armed mercenaries carrying military-grade automatic rifles."
"They aren't coming to negotiate; they are coming for an extermination."
Luca pressed his palm against the biometric scanner concealed behind the woodwork, revealing a reinforced steel gun safe.
He pulled out a customized tactical shotgun and several magazines for his semi-automatic sidearm.
"Where are our perimeter guards?" Luca asked, checking the chamber with smooth, practiced efficiency.
"Two of them were bought off by Bellini and disabled the electric fence before my men could eliminate them," Dante replied grimly.
"The remaining loyal men are taking defensive positions in the courtyard, but we are outnumbered two to one."
Rosa tried to stand up from her chair, her face pale with terror.
"Luca, take Claire and flee through the underground wine cellar tunnel," Rosa pleaded, reaching for his arm.
"Let them take the house, son; your life is worth more than bricks and mortar!"
Luca turned around, knelt down once more before his mother, and placed his late father’s silver crucifix into her palms.
"Papa died running from these cowards because he wanted peace, Mama," Luca said with fierce conviction.
"I will not run."
"If Salvatore Falcone wants this empire, he will have to choke on my blood to take it."
Luca looked directly at me with absolute seriousness.
"Claire, take my mother down into the panic bunker beneath the master walk-in closet."
"The door is constructed from three-inch ballistic titanium."
"Once you are inside, lock it from the control panel and do not open it for anyone except my voice."
"I promise you, Mr. Moretti, I will guard her with my life," I swore, holding Rosa’s arm tightly.
"I know you will, Claire," Luca said, his eyes filled with quiet gratitude.
"Now go!"
Just as Dante escorted us toward the reinforced bunker entrance, the thunder outside exploded with deafening fury.
Simultaneously, all the chandeliers in the mansion flickered violently and died, plunging the estate into absolute blackness.
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A split second later, the backup emergency lights kicked in, bathing the grand hallways in an eerie, blood-red glow.
From the bottom of the grand staircase, the first burst of automatic machine-gun fire shattered the front stained-glass windows.
