Chapter 6 - Blood on the Marble
The first guard crumbled to the floor without making a sound.
The second guard spun around, bringing his tactical rifle up to his shoulder.
I didn't have the leg strength to lunge, so I threw my entire body weight forward, tackling him to the ground.
We crashed onto the expensive Persian rug, fighting viciously for control of the weapon.
My upper body strength had been my only asset for eight years, and my arms were like iron.
I twisted the barrel of the rifle away, striking him brutally in the throat with my elbow.
He choked and went limp, completely neutralized.
I stood up slowly, breathing heavily, and pulled a combat knife from the guard's tactical vest.
I walked over to Vance and sliced the thick plastic zip-ties off his wrists.
Vance rubbed his bruised arms, looking at me with a mixture of shock and profound respect.
He whispered that it was damn good to see the Harbor King finally back on his feet.
I told him we didn't have time to celebrate, because Julian still had dozens of men swarming the estate.
We grabbed the guards' rifles and tactical gear, moving quietly into the dark hallway.
I needed to find Sarah and the children before Julian's men decided they were loose ends.
We cleared the east wing systematically, leaving three more of Julian's mercenaries bleeding on the marble floors.
We found Sarah barricaded inside the kitchen pantry, clutching a heavy iron skillet while shielding Lily and Leo.
When she saw me walking through the door, tears of relief flooded her tired eyes.
I told her we were leaving the estate tonight and heading to a safe house.
But as I reached for her hand, Lily tugged on my sleeve.
The little girl pulled a tarnished silver key from her pocket and pressed it into my palm.
She told me her mother had made her hide it in her shoe for eight years.
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I recognized the intricate engraving on the key immediately.
It belonged to the private vault of my supposedly dead wife, Audrey.
