Chapter 12 - Under Fire
The sharp smell of cordite filled the master suite as a second round punched through the glass, shattering the antique vanity mirror across the room.
Julian crouched behind the heavy steel frame of the open wall safe, his heart hammering against his ribs. The realization that the danger wasn't confined to local courts or federal indictments hit him with brutal clarity—professional assassins were actively cleaning up loose ends.
Elena was already positioned beside the shattered window frame, keeping her body low against the wainscoting. She flicked a tactical toggle switch on the wall panel near the door, instantly plunging the entire second floor into absolute darkness as the automated motorized blackout shutters slammed shut over the windows.
"Where is the shooter?" Julian hissed, keeping his voice low as he pressed his back against the cool concrete.
"Tree line across the estate perimeter," Elena replied, her eyes scanning the infrared feed on her wrist-mounted tactical monitor. "Professional grade, suppressed rifle. They're trying to eliminate anyone who has access to the ledger."
Julian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his encrypted satellite phone, the Swiss caller still active on the line. "Are you hearing this?" Julian demanded into the receiver.
"The cleaner has arrived," the deep voice of the Swiss benefactor responded calmly, unbothered by the gunfire. "Your security system’s exterior perimeter is compromised, Mr. Vance. You have approximately ninety seconds before they breach the rear terrace doors."
"We need to get Lily out of here," Julian said, panic finally breaking through his disciplined exterior.
"Lily is already secured," Elena said flatly, pulling a second concealed magazine from her uniform pocket and sliding it into her weapon with a sharp clack.
Julian stared at her. "What do you mean she's secured? She was in the bassinet downstairs!"
"Do you really think I would leave my daughter unprotected in a house surrounded by known syndicate assets?" Elena asked, offering a grim, humorless smile. "My extraction team removed her through the panic room tunnel beneath the grand staircase five minutes before the sniper opened fire."
Julian processed this. While he had been reading the ledger in the master suite, Elena had already coordinated the extraction of the baby. She had manipulated every moving part of the evening with terrifying military precision.
"You planned this entire escape route from the beginning," Julian said, realizing the full scope of her foresight.
"I planned for every contingency, Mr. Vance. Including your cooperation or your obstruction," Elena replied, keeping her weapon aimed squarely at the bedroom door. "Now, we have a choice. We can wait for the local police to clear the perimeter, or we can use the private exit in this safe to join my team."
A heavy thud echoed from the hallway outside the master suite. Someone was kicking the reinforced mahogany door with enough force to splinter the oak frame.
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The door handle rattled violently, and the lock mechanism groaned under the assault.
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