Chapter 8 - Race Against Time
"Move!" Adrian snarled, abandoning Vance to Marcus as he sprinted out of the vault toward the cliffside intake tunnel.
Claire didn't hesitate a second. Adrenaline flooded her veins, completely overriding the pain in her shoulder as she chased Adrian up the rusted iron ladder and out into the howling coastal wind.
They scrambled into the waiting tactical van at the cliff top. Adrian slammed his foot on the accelerator, tearing down the winding mountain road at breakneck speed, tires screeching against the wet asphalt as they made the mad dash back toward Bellini Manor.
"Marcus, report!" Adrian shouted into the dash mic, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"We have two of our men down at the east wing entrance, Boss!" Marcus's voice yelled over heavy gunfire in the background. "The intruders breached the nursery corridor! They're looking for the child!"
Claire gripped the dashboard so hard her fingernails dug into the plastic. "Drive faster, Adrian!"
Ten minutes later, the armored van smashed straight through the front security gates of Bellini Manor, splintering the wrought iron into twisted metal.
The estate grounds were a war zone. Shattered windows littered the stone courtyard, and smoke billowed from the ground-floor conservatory.
Adrian killed the engine before the van had even come to a complete stop, throwing open his door and drawing his sidearm in a single fluid motion. Claire scrambled out right behind him, grabbing a dropped pistol from the floorboard of the van despite her injured arm.
They stormed through the shattered front doors into the grand foyer.
Two of Vance's rogue mercenaries were crouched near the base of the grand staircase, raising their rifles toward the upper landing.
"Adrian!" Claire cried out instinctively.
Adrian fired twice. Both men dropped instantly, collapsing onto the Persian rug.
Without breaking stride, Adrian sprinted up the grand staircase, taking three steps at a time. Claire followed closely behind, her heart hammering against her ribs like a sledgehammer.
They reached the nursery corridor on the third floor. The heavy oak door to Sofia's room was blasted off its hinges.
Inside, Mrs. Gable, the elderly housekeeper, was huddled protectively in the corner, shielding a terrified, crying Sofia beneath her own body. Standing over them was a heavily armed mercenary, his rifle raised as he prepared to grab the little girl.
"Drop it!" Adrian commanded, his voice echoing with lethal authority.
The mercenary spun around, bringing his rifle up toward Adrian.
Bang!
Claire didn't even think. She raised her pistol with her good hand, squeezing the trigger. The bullet caught the mercenary square in the shoulder, spinning him around and causing his shot to go wide, shattering a bedside lamp.
Before he could recover, Adrian closed the distance in two massive strides, slamming the butt of his pistol into the man's temple. The mercenary crumpled unconscious to the floor.
The room fell deadly silent, save for Sofia's terrified sobbing.
Adrian dropped his weapon to the floor, fell to his knees, and scooped Sofia up into his arms, crushing her against his chest as if he would never let go.
"Daddy!" Sofia wailed, burying her face in his neck. "Bad men were loud! They broke my door!"
"I've got you, baby," Adrian choked out, his voice thick with tears he refused to let fall. "I've got you. You're safe now. No one will ever touch you again."
Claire stood in the doorway, lowering her smoking pistol as the adrenaline slowly ebbed out of her veins, leaving her shaking from head to toe.
Sofia looked up from her father's shoulder, her big dark eyes locking onto Claire standing in the doorway.
Without a word, the little girl reached out her small arms toward her.
"Mummy..."
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Claire swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat as a single tear escaped down her cheek. She walked across the ruined nursery, knelt down beside them, and wrapped her good arm around both of them.
And for the first time in her life, Claire didn't pull away.
