Chapter 10 – THE SIEGE

“They’re inside?” Luca roared, grabbing his handgun from the desk drawer.

“Three heavily armored SUVs,” Marco panted, leaning heavily against the doorframe. “Professional mercenaries. They bypassed the outer sensors. They’re making a straight line for the house.”

The estate’s emergency alarms began to blare—a high, piercing siren that echoed through the massive halls.

“Caroline, get behind the desk,” Luca ordered, tossing her a smaller pistol from the safe.

He looked at me. “Emma. Where is Lily?”

“She’s in the conservatory,” I said, panic gripping my chest. “She was doing a puzzle!”

The conservatory was on the opposite side of the house, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows. It was the most vulnerable room on the estate.

“I’ll get her,” I said, not waiting for Luca’s permission.

I bolted out of the study and sprinted down the long, carpeted corridor.

Gunfire erupted outside. The sound of high-caliber rifles echoed through the walls. The fighting had already reached the courtyard.

I ran faster, my heels slipping on the polished marble of the foyer.

“Lily!” I screamed as I reached the heavy glass doors of the conservatory.

I threw them open.

Lily was standing in the center of the room, her hands clamped over her ears, staring in horror at the massive glass windows.

Outside, dark figures were moving rapidly through the gardens.

“Miss Emma!” Lily cried, running toward me.

“I’ve got you,” I said, scooping her up into my arms. She was heavy, but adrenaline gave me strength.

SMASH!

A bullet shattered the massive pane of glass behind us.

I hit the floor, dragging Lily down with me. Glass rained down over us like jagged snow.

“Keep your head down!” I yelled, crawling backward toward the hallway, pulling her along the floor.

We made it into the corridor just as two men in black tactical gear stepped through the broken window into the conservatory.

“Target located!” one of the men shouted in a thick European accent. “Moving to acquire the child!”

I scrambled to my feet, dragging Lily behind me. “Run, Lily! Run to Daddy’s study!”

We sprinted down the hallway.

But we didn’t make it far.

A tall man in a tailored grey suit stepped out from the intersecting corridor, completely blocking our path.

He wasn’t wearing tactical gear. He didn’t have a rifle. He held a simple, silver revolver, resting it casually at his side.

He had silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and a face that was hauntingly handsome, despite the coldness in his expression.

Lily stopped dead, staring at him.

The man smiled. It was a terrifying, hollow smile.

“Hello, little bird,” the man said smoothly.

Answer One: Julian Vance hadn’t sent mercenaries to do his dirty work. He had come himself.

Open Two: How do we get past him to reach Luca?

“Who are you?” Lily asked, trembling behind me.

“I’m the man who’s going to show you the world,” Julian said, taking a step forward.

“Stay away from her,” I said fiercely, pushing Lily behind my back and standing as tall as I could.

Julian looked at me, mildly amused. “The nanny. How quaint. Step aside, girl. I’m taking my daughter.”

“She’s not your daughter,” I spat. “Luca Moretti is her father.”

Julian’s eyes darkened. “Luca Moretti is a glorified thug who stole my property. Caroline was mine. This child is mine.”

He raised the silver revolver, pointing it directly at my chest.

“I don’t have time for heroics. Move.”

My heart pounded furiously. I was going to die. I was going to die right here in this hallway.

But I thought of my mother, safe in her new house because of this family. I thought of Caroline, who had finally found peace. And I thought of Lily, who had endured so much pain.

I didn’t move an inch.

“No,” I said quietly.

Julian sighed, an irritated sound, and placed his finger on the trigger.

“Emma, drop!” a voice roared from behind me.

I threw myself to the floor, pulling Lily down with me.

BANG! BANG!

Two shots rang out over my head.

Julian staggered backward, his shoulder blooming with a dark red stain. His revolver clattered to the floor.

I looked back.

Standing at the end of the hallway, his gun raised and smoking, was Luca.

And standing right beside him, her hands steady on her own weapon, was Caroline.

“You don’t touch my daughter,” Caroline said, her voice echoing with a fierce, unbreakable power.

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