Chapter 5 - BLOOD IN THE SNOW
"Get down!" Dominic roared, tackling me to the thick Persian rug just as the massive bay windows blew inward.
A hail of suppressed automatic gunfire shredded the velvet curtains and pulverized the antique furniture. Glass and wood splinters rained down on us. The Volkovs hadn't waited. They knew Silas had failed, and they had sent a hit squad to finish the job before Dominic could fortify his position.
"Audrey!" I screamed over the deafening roar of the alarm.
I scrambled on my hands and knees toward the connecting door. Dominic was right behind me, drawing his sidearm. I kicked the door open. Audrey was sitting up in bed, clapping her hands over her ears, screaming a silent scream of absolute terror.
I rushed to the bed, dragging her down to the floor just as a volley of bullets ripped through the wall above her headboard.
I have you. We have to move! I signed frantically, grabbing her hand.
Dominic moved to the hallway door, peering out. "They’ve breached the eastern wing. My men are engaging, but there are too many. We need to get to the panic room."
"No," I said, my voice hardening. My Mercer training flooded my veins, cold and calculating. "If they have the numbers, a panic room is just a fancy coffin. They'll wait us out or gas us out. We have to leave the estate."
"There's an underground tunnel," Dominic said, realizing I was right. "It leads to the garage."
"Lead the way. I'll cover our six."
Dominic tossed me a spare Glock 19 from his waistband. The weight of the weapon in my hand felt terrifyingly familiar. It was like riding a bicycle, if the bicycle was a machine of death. I racked the slide, chambering a round.
We moved out into the hallway. The mansion was a war zone. The smell of cordite and burning wood filled the air. Gunfire echoed from the main foyer. Dominic led us down a servant's staircase, his body acting as a shield for Audrey.
Two heavily armed mercenaries in black tactical gear rounded the corner. Dominic dropped the first one with a clean shot to the chest, but the second one raised his rifle.
I didn't hesitate. I raised the Glock, aimed, and squeezed the trigger twice. Two rapid shots, dead center. The mercenary crumpled to the ground.
Dominic shot me a glance over his shoulder—a mixture of awe and grim approval.
We reached the subterranean levels, navigating the labyrinth of wine cellars and storage rooms. We found the reinforced steel door leading to the emergency garage. Inside sat a matte-black, heavily armored SUV.
"Get in," Dominic ordered, opening the back door for me and Audrey.
Just as he moved to the driver's side, a rogue Volkov shooter stepped out from behind a concrete pillar. The muzzle flash illuminated the dark garage. Dominic yelled out in pain, grabbing his left shoulder as he stumbled backward.
"Dominic!" I screamed.
Before the shooter could fire again, I leaned out of the passenger door and emptied the rest of my magazine into him. He fell backward, his weapon clattering to the floor.
I scrambled out and dragged Dominic into the passenger seat. Blood was pouring down his arm, staining his shirt crimson.
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"Drive," he ground out through clenched teeth, his face pale. "Get us out of here."
I jumped into the driver's seat, hit the ignition, and slammed my foot on the gas. The armored SUV roared to life, crashing through the heavy garage doors and launching us into the freezing, snowy night, leaving the burning wreckage of the Vale estate behind.
