Chapter 6 - THE SHADOW WAR
The intercom on the desk buzzed aggressively. "Boss? Mr. DeLuca? Is everything okay in there?" a gruff voice demanded.
Adrian pressed the button. "Mr. DeLuca is indisposed," he replied smoothly. "Come on in and join the party."
There was a moment of confused silence, followed by the sound of heavy boots sprinting down the hallway.
"Stay behind the desk," Adrian ordered Celeste. He moved to the side of the heavy doors, melting into the blind spot.
Three men burst into the room, assault rifles raised. They were professionals, ex-military contractors Marcus had hired for the coup. But they were fighting in Adrian's territory, in a room he knew intimately.
Before the first man could fully sweep the room, Adrian stepped out. He fired three times in rapid succession. Two men dropped instantly, clean headshots. The third man managed to fire a wild burst. Wood splintered from the bookshelves, books and plaster raining down.
Adrian dove behind a leather sofa, returning fire and catching the third man in the shoulder. As the man stumbled, Celeste, who had picked up Marcus's dropped pistol, rose from behind the desk and fired a single shot into the man's chest. He collapsed.
Silence descended on the room once again, save for the crackling of the fire and Marcus's whimpering.
Adrian looked at his wife, mildly surprised. She held the gun with steady hands, the barrel smoking.
"I grew up in Chicago, Adrian," she said coolly, setting the gun back on the desk. "Did you forget?"
A genuine, rare smile touched Adrian's lips. "Never."
He walked over to Marcus, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him toward the center of the room. "How many men outside, Marcus? Tell me, and I'll let you live long enough to see a doctor."
"Go to hell," Marcus spat, though his eyes were wild with pain and terror.
Adrian pressed the hot barrel of his gun against Marcus's uninjured knee. "Numbers. Now."
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"Twelve!" Marcus screamed. "Twelve on the perimeter. The security room is locked down. You can't get out, Adrian! It's over!"
Adrian stood up, adjusting his cuffs. "It's not over. It's just begun."
