Chapter 3 - BLOOD AND SHADOWS
Screams erupted as the glittering chandeliers exploded into a shower of icy diamonds. The Obsidian descended into absolute chaos. Evelyn was thrown backward by the concussive force of a blast near the north entrance. The text had been right. The assassins had breached the front, slaughtering the bodyguards stationed there. She hit the tiled floor of the kitchen hard, the breath knocked from her lungs. Panic seized the kitchen staff; chefs and bussers scattered like roaches, diving beneath stainless steel prep tables.
A heavy hand gripped the collar of her uniform, dragging her upward with inhuman strength. It was Lorenzo. His custom Italian suit was dusted with plaster, and a wicked-looking Glock 19 was already gripped in his free hand.
"The north exit is a kill zone," he snarled, his voice barely audible over the relentless pop-pop-pop of suppressed gunfire. "Who told you?"
"I saw her phone!" Evelyn gasped, terrified he might shoot her just for knowing too much. "Celeste! She texted them. 8:55. Cleaners."
Lorenzo’s jaw clenched so hard she thought the bone might snap. Betrayal flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a glacial, terrifying resolve. "Which way out? Now."
May you like
"The loading dock," Evelyn pointed toward the heavy steel double doors at the back. "South alley. It connects to the underground delivery tunnels."
"Move," he commanded, shoving her forward. They sprinted through the maze of stoves and walk-in freezers. Bullets punched through the swinging kitchen doors behind them, tearing into pots and shattering ceramic plates. A man in tactical black tactical gear kicked the door open, his assault rifle raised. Without breaking stride, Lorenzo pivoted, raised his Glock, and fired twice. The assassin dropped, a neat hole between his eyes. Evelyn screamed, covering her ears, but Lorenzo just grabbed her wrist, hauling her out into the freezing Chicago night.
