Chapter 7 - The Battle for Lake Forest
The black SUV tore through the iron gates of the Lake Forest estate at ninety miles an hour, gravel spraying like shrapnel behind us.
Dante was at the wheel, his knuckles white, his jaw set in a terrifying mask of fury. Beside him, Vance was pulling tactical sidearms from the vehicle’s hidden glove compartment, checking the magazines with swift, practiced movements.
"How many?" Dante demanded, turning sharply onto the long, winding driveway leading to the main house.
"Vance's team reports four men inside the grounds," I shouted from the backseat, my phone pressed to my ear as I monitored the mansion's security cameras via an app. "They’re wearing tactical gear! They’ve breached the side doors near the conservatory!"
"Mary locked the children in the panic room beneath the library!" Vance reported, reading a text from the housekeeper. "They're secure for now, but these guys brought heavy breach equipment!"
Dante slammed the brakes, bringing the heavy SUV to a skidding halt right in front of the grand entrance. Before the tires had even stopped spinning, Dante pulled a dark weapon from under his seat and stepped out into the pouring rain that had begun to fall over the estate.
"Clara, stay in the car!" Dante barked.
"Not a chance!" I pulled a heavy metal flashlight from the door pocket and followed him into the torrential rain.
We burst through the oak front doors of the mansion. The grand foyer was littered with shattered glass from the side windows. The sound of heavy boot heels echoed from the floor above, followed by the high-pitched whine of a motorized saw cutting into metal.
"They're trying to cut through the panic room door!" I whispered in horror.
Dante didn't hesitate. He gestured for Vance to take the grand staircase while he and I took the service elevator hidden behind the dining room.
When the elevator doors opened on the second floor near the library, two masked men in black tactical uniforms were standing near the library entrance, holding assault rifles.
"Drop your weapons!" Dante roared, stepping out into the hallway.
One of the men turned, raising his rifle, but Dante fired twice with lethal precision. The suppressor on his sidearm coughed softly, and the attacker collapsed to the floor. The second mercenary lunged toward Dante, tackling him against the paneled wall. The heavy handgun spun out of Dante's hand, sliding across the hardwood floor right toward my feet.
The mercenary pinned Dante against the wall, pulling a combat knife from his vest.
Without thinking, I lunged forward, grabbing the heavy steel flashlight with both hands, and slammed it into the side of the attacker's head with every ounce of strength I possessed.
The man groaned, his grip slipping from Dante. Dante instantly countered, grabbing the knife, twisting the attacker’s arm until bone snapped, and driving him face-first into the floor, knocking him cold.
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Dante stood over the unconscious man, breathing heavily, his suit jacket torn and soaked with rain. He looked at me, holding the heavy flashlight, my hair wild and my eyes wide with adrenaline.
A slow, fierce grin touched his lips despite the danger. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Clara."
