Chapter 10 - Shadows in the Dark|
Night fell over the Moretti estate like a thick black shroud.
A torrential downpour battered against the bulletproof windows of the mansion, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rolling thunder.
The estate was completely sealed, guarded by thirty heavily armed syndicate soldiers stationed at every perimeter post.
Inside the master suite, I sat with Ava on the plush sofa, trying to distract her with a leather-bound book of classic fairy tales.
Ava was clutching a small silver horseshoe that Graham had polished for her earlier that afternoon.
"Miss Rachel, will Copper be okay in the barn with all this thunder?" she asked, her big brown eyes filled with worry.
"Graham moved Copper to the interior stall next to the office, sweetie," I reassured her, smoothing down her hair.
"He has plenty of warm hay, and two big guards are watching over him all night."
Just as Ava leaned her head against my shoulder, the entire mansion suddenly plunged into total darkness.
The roaring lights flickered and died, leaving only the pale glow of the thunderstorm outside to illuminate the room.
A sudden burst of automatic gunfire erupted from the lower gardens, echoing sharply above the crash of thunder.
Ava let out a terrified scream, burying her face into my chest.
"The backup generators have been cut," I realized with mounting dread, my heart racing at a breakneck speed.
The heavy security door to the suite burst open, and Marco stepped inside, holding a tactical flashlight and an assault rifle.
"Rachel, take Ava into the panic room behind the master closet!" Marco shouted over the sound of breaking glass downstairs.
"They breached the southern gate using an explosive charge!"
"Where is Mr. Moretti?" I asked frantically, pulling Ava to her feet.
"The Boss is leading the counter-assault in the main courtyard!" Marco replied, scanning the hallway.
"Antonio sent over twenty mercenaries to take this house!"
Before Marco could say another word, a heavy shotgun blast ripped through the hallway wall, catching him in the shoulder.
Marco collapsed against the doorframe, firing a burst down the corridor as blood stained his tactical vest.
"Go! Into the panic room! Now!" Marco screamed, struggling to hold his weapon with one arm.
I scooped Ava into my arms and sprinted toward the master walk-in closet, adrenaline surging through my veins.
Behind the rows of designer suits, a concealed steel door stood slightly ajar.
I pushed Ava inside the reinforced bunker, where emergency supplies and monitors were glowing on battery power.
"Stay inside, Ava, do not make a sound!" I instructed, my voice shaking with raw terror.
"Miss Rachel, come inside with me!" she wept, reaching for my hand.
"I have to lock the external latch so they can't breach the outer panel," I lied gently, knowing the electronic keypad had failed.
If an intruder reached the closet, they could manually weld the outer hinges shut, trapping Ava forever.
I had to hold the heavy oak service door that led into the bedroom suite from the outside.
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I grabbed an iron fire poker from the bedroom hearth and stood directly in front of the door.
Heavy, wet footsteps approached down the corridor, followed by the sound of a reload.
