Chapter 17 - The Counter-Offensive
By morning, the bleeding had completely stopped, and Julian’s strength was slowly returning fueled by pure rage.
He sat at the dining table, watching the local news broadcast on the massive flat-screen television.
The news anchors were reporting a massive, unexplained explosion at the Rossi estate in Tuscany.
Silas had indeed used thermite charges on the panic room, destroying the entire wing of the house in his frustration.
"He thinks we died in the blast," Anton said, loading fresh magazines into his tactical vest.
"No, he is too smart for that," Julian replied, his eyes dark and entirely focused.
"He will check the rubble and realize there are no bodies. He will start hunting again."
Julian pulled his encrypted laptop from his bag, hacking into the dark web surveillance networks he owned.
He began running facial recognition software across every single traffic camera in the Italian countryside.
Within three hours, the software pinged a massive hit at a small, private airstrip on the outskirts of Rome.
Silas had chartered a private helicopter, tracking their escape vehicle via a microscopic drone they hadn't noticed.
"He knows we are in Rome," Julian announced, slamming the laptop shut.
"Anton, you stay here and guard the door with your life. Do not let anyone near my wife and child."
Elena grabbed Julian’s good arm, her eyes filled with absolute defiance.
"Where are you going?" she demanded.
"I am going to take the fight to him," Julian said, checking the chamber of his handgun.
"I refuse to let my daughter grow up looking over her shoulder. I am ending the Thorne bloodline today."
Elena didn't beg him to stay; she knew that hiding would only prolong their inevitable destruction.
She reached up and kissed him deeply, pouring all of her love and desperation into the embrace.
May you like
"Come back to us," she whispered against his lips.
Julian walked out of the penthouse, his eyes burning with the cold, calculating fury of a king going to war.
