Chapter 4 - The Siege at the Lake"Pack your things. Now," Cole commanded, his voice absolute.
"What's happening?" Hannah asked, her heart leaping into her throat as distant, muffled pops echoed from the outer perimeter of the estate—the unmistakable sound of suppressed gunfire.
"A rival faction. They think I'm vulnerable because my attention has been split," Cole said, moving quickly to a concealed wall panel in the study. He punched in a code, revealing a heavy metal safe containing secure documents and a sleek firearm, which he tucked efficiently into his waistband. "Victor is holding the front gate, but they've breached the northern tree line."
"And Noah?" Hannah cried out, her eyes widening as the toddler stirred in his crib in the adjoining nursery room, whimpering at the sudden noise.
"I have a panic vehicle in the subterranean garage. We're getting out," Cole said, scooping Noah into his arms, wrapping the blue blanket tightly around him. He grabbed Hannah's arm, his grip firm but not painful. "Stay close to me, Hannah. Do not look back, do not stop running."
They sprinted down a private staircase leading away from the main foyer into the subterranean concrete level. The overhead lights flickered and died, plunging the corridor into emergency red illumination. Outside the reinforced concrete walls, the sound of shattering glass and heavy boots echoed through the ventilation shafts. Someone had made it into the house.
As they reached the garage, a shadow detached itself from behind a concrete pillar—a masked intruder holding a suppressed automatic rifle, cutting off their path to the SUV.
Cole pushed Hannah behind him instantly, his body acting as a human shield. With blinding speed, he drew his weapon, firing two precise shots that neutralized the threat before the intruder could raise his barrel.
Hannah gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, trembling violently. The reality of Cole's world—the brutal, violent underworld Rita had warned her about—was crashing down around her in terrifying clarity.
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"Car. Now!" Cole yelled, unlocking the heavy SUV with his key fob while holding Noah securely against his chest with one arm.
Hannah scrambled into the passenger seat, her hands shaking so badly she could barely pull her seatbelt clicked. Cole slammed the driver's side door, threw the vehicle into reverse, and smashed right through the automated security shutter of the underground garage, bursting out into the cool night air just as a barrage of bullets struck the concrete pillars behind them.
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