Chapter 4 - Under Fire
The sound of automatic gunfire echoed through the sprawling estate.
Tessa sprinted down the long hallway toward the East Wing.
Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat.
She burst into room 104 and immediately slammed the heavy door shut.
She locked the deadbolt and engaged the reinforced steel chain.
Beatrice was sitting up in bed, looking around in utter confusion.
What is that awful noise? the old woman asked, her voice shaking.
Tessa forced a calm, reassuring smile onto her face.
It is just thunder, Beatrice.
She walked over to the bed and grabbed the old woman's hand.
We are going to play a game, okay?
Tessa pulled Beatrice out of the bed and guided her toward the large walk-in closet.
She pushed aside the expensive silk dresses and sat the old woman down on the carpeted floor.
Tessa sat directly in front of her, shielding her body entirely.
She could hear heavy boots running down the hallway outside.
Men were shouting in Italian.
The estate had turned into a literal war zone.
Tessa prayed that Damian was safe.
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block out the sounds of violence.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the main room.
Someone had kicked the door completely off its hinges.
Tessa stopped breathing.
She clamped her hand gently over Beatrice's mouth to keep her quiet.
Heavy footsteps crunched on the hardwood floor.
Where is the old lady? a rough voice demanded in English.
Check the bathroom, another voice replied.
Tessa looked around the dark closet for anything she could use as a weapon.
She saw a heavy brass shoe horn sitting on a shelf.
She reached up and grabbed it tightly.
The footsteps grew closer to the closet door.
A hand grabbed the doorknob and rattled it violently.
Tessa raised the heavy piece of brass, ready to fight for her life.
The closet door was ripped open.
A man wearing a black tactical mask stared down at her.
He raised a suppressed pistol and pointed it directly at her head.
Before he could pull the trigger, a massive hole blew through his chest.
The man collapsed to the floor in a pool of blood.
Damian stepped over the dead body, his suit covered in crimson stains.
He looked at Tessa hiding in the dark with his mother.
His chest was heaving with exertion.
Are you hurt? he demanded urgently.
May you like
Tessa shook her head, tears of pure relief spilling down her cheeks.
Damian dropped to his knees and pulled her into a fierce, desperate embrace.
