Chapter 3 - The Broken Glass
Tessa did not waste a single second thinking about the danger.
She lunged forward with all her strength and tackled Vincent out of the hospital bed.
They crashed heavily onto the hardwood floor just as the bedroom window shattered into a thousand pieces.
The deafening roar of automatic gunfire ripped through the silent morning air.
Bullets chewed through the expensive plaster walls and shredded the mattress where Vincent had just been resting.
Tessa shielded his head with her arms, squeezing her eyes shut as glass rained down upon them.
Vincent wrapped his massive arms around her, using his broad back to absorb the falling debris.
The relentless shooting lasted for ten agonizing seconds before abruptly stopping.
A heavy, terrifying silence fell over the destroyed bedroom.
"Are you hit?" Vincent rasped, his warm breath ghosting over her ear.
Tessa shook her head quickly, her heart pounding furiously against her ribs.
"I am fine," she choked out, covered in plaster dust and splinters of wood.
Vincent effortlessly pushed himself off her, his powerful upper body dragging his lifeless legs behind him.
He crawled toward the overturned bedside table and ripped the bottom drawer entirely out of its frame.
Hidden beneath the wooden panel was a black, fully loaded automatic pistol.
He expertly racked the slide and aimed the weapon toward the shattered window.
"Stay down and do not make a sound," he ordered in a cold, professional tone.
He knew the sniper was likely waiting to see if the target was actually dead.
Tessa pressed her body flat against the floor, too terrified to even breathe.
She watched as the man who was supposed to be helpless suddenly looked like a deadly predator.
Vincent surveyed the tree line outside through the broken frame, looking for the shooter.
He knew Dominic had sent the hit squad because the poison method was taking too long.
They wanted the harbor signatures, but they also wanted him entirely out of the picture.
Suddenly, heavy boots began pounding aggressively down the hallway outside the room.
"Boss!" a familiar voice yelled from the other side of the heavy oak door.
It was one of the estate guards, loudly demanding to know if Vincent was alive.
Vincent did not lower his weapon or offer a response.
He knew half the guards on his payroll were currently taking bribes from Dominic.
The heavy door handle slowly began to turn with a menacing click.
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Vincent aimed his gun squarely at the center of the wooden door, ready to execute anyone who entered.
The door pushed open slowly, revealing the shiny barrel of a tactical shotgun.
