Chapter 9 - The Siege in the Woods
Alexander instantly grabbed Evelyn and pulled her down below the window frame.
Red laser sights danced across the dusty wooden walls of the tiny cabin.
"How many of them are out there?" Evelyn whispered, holding her breath in sheer panic.
"At least a dozen professional mercenaries," Alexander replied grimly, pulling a small silver pistol from his ankle holster.
He checked the magazine and cursed under his breath when he saw he only had five bullets left.
Noah began to whimper in fear, hiding his face inside Evelyn's torn sweater.
"I am going to draw their fire out the back door," Alexander said, his eyes filled with grim determination.
"No, you will die out there!" Evelyn pleaded, grabbing his arm tightly.
"When I run, you take Noah down into the cellar trapdoor and do not come out until the screaming stops," he commanded.
Before she could argue, a barrage of bullets ripped through the front of the cabin, shattering everything in sight.
Alexander kissed Evelyn fiercely on the forehead, a silent promise of eternal protection.
He kicked open the back door and sprinted into the darkness, firing his pistol at the treeline.
Mercenaries shouted in confusion, turning their heavy weapons toward the fleeing billionaire.
Evelyn did not hesitate; she lifted the heavy iron ring of the floorboards and pushed Noah into the dark cellar.
She jumped down after him, pulling the wooden door shut just as the front of the cabin was fully breached.
Heavy boots stomped directly above their heads, sending dust falling into their eyes.
"The woman and the kid are not up here!" a deep voice yelled from the living room above.
"Check the basement, Isabella wants them alive," another voice commanded ruthlessly.
Evelyn backed into the farthest corner of the damp cellar, shielding Noah entirely with her body.
The cellar door slowly creaked open, and a bright flashlight beam cut through the darkness.
A massive mercenary climbed down the wooden stairs, raising his assault rifle toward them.
"Found the rats," the man chuckled darkly, placing his finger firmly on the trigger.
Evelyn closed her eyes and prayed desperately for a miracle.
Suddenly, a sickening crunch echoed through the tiny space, and the mercenary collapsed forward.
Behind the fallen man stood Eleanor Sterling, the ruthless matriarch, holding a bloody steel pipe.
She looked at Evelyn with cold, calculating eyes and threw a set of car keys at her feet.
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"My armored SUV is parked a mile north," Eleanor ordered sharply.
"I am a monster, Evelyn, but I will not let a psychopath murder my only grandson."
