Chapter 6 - The Breach
The emergency backup generators kicked in three seconds later, bathing the mansion in a dull, amber-tinted emergency glow.
At the security console down the hall, the primary perimeter monitor flared with warning alerts.
*Sector 4 breached. Eastern courtyard.*
Dominic’s expression hardened instantly. He reached into a hidden wall panel beside the pantry and pulled out a matte-black tactical rifle, checking the clip with expert, fluid precision before handing me a small, heavy-duty encrypted communicator.
“Stay in the central panic room behind the library,” Dominic instructed, his voice dropping into absolute command mode. “If anyone other than me or Sarah knocks on that door, you don't open it. Understand?”
“Dominic, what about you?” I clutched the communicator to my chest.
“I’m going to go greet our guests,” he said coldly, turning toward the hallway.
Before I could argue, the sharp, concussive crack of a silenced assault rifle echoed from the front foyer. Glass shattered. Shouts and heavy boots thundered across the marble flooring of the main entrance hall.
They were inside.
I didn't hesitate. I sprinted up the grand staircase toward the guest suite, my heart pounding in my throat. I burst through the door to find Sarah cradling a waking, frightened Marcus in her arms.
“Mommy?” Marcus cried out, reaching for me.
“I’ve got you, baby, I’ve got you,” I gasped, scooping him into my arms and burying his face against my shoulder so he wouldn't see the dark hallway outside.
Sarah grabbed my arm, her face pale. “This way! The panic room entrance is through the back of the library bookcase!”
We hurried down the dimly lit corridor as the sound of gunfire echoed closer—sharp, rhythmic bursts of violence tearing through the expensive art and priceless antiques of the Cray estate.
We reached the library. Sarah pushed against a heavy mahogany panel disguised as a bookshelf, revealing a steel-reinforced reinforced safe room equipped with video monitors, emergency communications, and food supplies.
“Get inside!” Sarah urged.
I bundled Marcus inside, kneeling down on the reinforced concrete floor to hold him tight.
“Are we playing hide and seek, Mommy?” Marcus whispered, trembling against my chest.
“Yes, sweetie,” I lied, biting my lip to keep from crying. “The best hide and seek ever. Just close your eyes and don't make a sound.”
Sarah turned to lock the steel panel from the outside to ensure the biometric seal engaged properly, but as she reached for the control pad, a gloved hand emerged from the shadows of the hallway, gripping her shoulder.
A masked mercenary in dark tactical gear stepped forward, pressing the silencer of his rifle directly against Sarah’s temple.
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My breath caught in my throat. I reached out, my fingers hovering over the inner release button of the panic room door, paralyzed by a terrifying choice: stay hidden and watch Sarah die, or open the door and doom us all.
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