Chapter 5 - The Siege at the Estate
The heavy black SUV roared up the winding forest drive toward the Bedford estate, spraying gravel and rainwater into the dark trees.
“Call the house!” Damian roared from the passenger seat, his hands gripping the dashboard.
“The landlines are dead, Boss!” Gabe reported from the backseat, frantically typing on his laptop. “And the cell jammer on the perimeter gate was activated three minutes ago! We’re totally dark!”
Damian’s jaw set into iron. Images of Rosa and little Mia trapped inside the massive, silent house burned through his mind.
The SUV smashed through the heavy iron security gates, which had been manually chained shut. The vehicle skidded to a halt on the wet cobblestones in front of the main mansion steps.
The front oak doors of the estate stood wide open, swinging gently in the cold wind.
Damian drew a heavy black pistol from his shoulder holster, pulling the slide back with a sharp click. “Gabe, take the rear service entrance. Clear the basement. Anyone holding a weapon dies.”
Damian ran up the marble steps, stepping over broken glass in the foyer. The high crystal chandelier lay shattered across the floor, its glass reflecting the grey daylight filtering through the tall windows.
Silence hung heavy over the house.
“Rosa!” Damian called out, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.
No answer.
He moved rapidly through the grand dining room, his eyes scanning the corners. White rose petals from the previous night’s engagement party were scattered across the floor like blood drops.
He reached the kitchen hallway. Two security guards lay unconscious near the pantry, hit with electroshock weapons.
Then, from the upper floor near the nursery wing, he heard a small, sharp sound.
A toddler’s whimper.
Damian sprinted up the carpeted grand staircase, taking three steps at a time. He rounded the corner into the master guest suite.
Inside, the room was in ruins. Furniture was overturned, lamps broken.
In the center of the room stood Julian Vance Jr., wearing a heavy tactical coat. In his left hand, he held a high-powered pistol. With his right arm, he was dragging Rosa toward the rear balcony doors. Mia was curled on the floor near the bed, crying quietly into her hands.
“Let her go, Julian,” Damian commanded, stepping into the doorway, his gun locked onto Julian’s chest.
Julian froze. He turned his slate-gray eyes toward Damian, a cruel, mocking smile spreading across his scarred face.
“Look who returned from his wedding shopping,” Julian sneered, pulling Rosa closer, using her body as a shield. “You’re too late, Damian. The estate network is ours. The shipping clearance codes are uploading to my server right now.”
Rosa looked at Damian, her brown eyes filled with terrifying fear, but she didn't scream. “Mr. Cole... Mia is under the bed... don't let him take her...”
“Quiet!” Julian barked, pressing the barrel of his gun against Rosa’s temple.
Damian didn't lower his weapon. His eyes remained steady, his voice dropping into a deadly, quiet register.
“Your sister confessed, Julian,” Damian said smoothly. “She’s in federal custody. She read the fire marshal’s report from 2001. She knows your father was the arsonist.”
Julian’s smile vanished. His eyes flared with unhinged rage. “She’s a weak fool! She believed your father’s lies! Elias Cole stole everything from us!”
“Elias Cole spent twenty-five years keeping your family from starving in the street!” Damian countered, taking one deliberate step forward. “And now you’re standing in my home, threatening a mother and a child because you couldn't build your own legacy!”
“One more step and I put a bullet in her!” Julian roared, his finger tightening on the trigger.
BANG!
A shot echoed from the balcony behind Julian.
The glass balcony doors shattered inward. Gabe, who had climbed the rear fire ladder, fired a high-caliber round straight through Julian’s right shoulder.
Julian gasped in pain, dropping his weapon as the impact threw him sideways onto the hardwood floor.
Rosa broke free, scrambling across the rug.
Damian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, slamming his heavy boot onto Julian’s chest, pinning the traitor to the floor while aiming his pistol directly between Julian’s eyes.
Julian lay panting, blood soaking his coat, staring up into Damian’s cold, dark gaze.
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“It’s over, Vance,” Damian whispered.
Federal sirens began to wail down the long estate driveway, echoing through the shattered windows.
