Chapter 3 - Blood on the Marble
The deafening roar of weapons shattered the expensive glass windows of the penthouse.
Gabriel instantly grabbed my arm and violently pulled me and Lily to the floor.
I covered Lily's tiny ears and pressed my body over hers to shield her from flying debris.
In the chaotic darkness, Celeste had completely vanished into the smoke-filled hallway.
Gabriel fired three precise shots into the corridor to keep the approaching mercenaries back.
He quickly ordered me to grab Lily and follow him to the master bathroom.
We crawled frantically across the thick carpet while bullets shredded the bedroom walls above us.
Gabriel smashed the ornate bathroom mirror with the heavy butt of his gun.
Behind the shattered glass was a hidden, steel-reinforced emergency elevator.
He shoved us inside and rapidly punched a code into the glowing keypad.
The doors hissed shut just as heavily armed men burst into the bathroom.
The elevator dropped rapidly, leaving the horrific sound of gunfire far above us.
I gasped for air, my heart threatening to explode from my chest.
Gabriel reloaded his weapon in the dim emergency lighting, his face a mask of pure lethal intent.
He looked at me and sincerely apologized for dragging me into his family's war.
I told him I did not care about the war, I only cared about saving my mother.
He solemnly swore that he would protect my mother with his own life.
The elevator jolted to a sudden halt in the underground parking garage.
The doors slid open to reveal a scene of absolute devastation.
All six of Gabriel’s loyal security guards were lying dead on the cold concrete.
A massive armored SUV was parked horizontally across the only exit ramp.
A tall man stepped out of the vehicle holding a military-grade assault rifle.
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Gabriel froze in sheer disbelief as the overhead lights illuminated the man's face.
It was Gabriel’s older brother, Silas, who had supposedly died in a car crash five years ago.
