Chapter 6 - The Burning House
Clara felt the entire world collapse violently around her.
She scrambled to her feet, completely blinded by panic and absolute terror.
"We have to go save her!" Clara screamed, pulling desperately at Matteo's arm.
Matteo was already moving, shouting orders to his men as they rushed out the door.
He shoved Clara into the passenger seat of his armored black SUV.
Bruno jumped into the back seat, sensing the desperate urgency in his master's voice.
Matteo drove like a madman, weaving recklessly through the frozen city streets.
The tires screamed against the icy pavement as they took sharp corners at lethal speeds.
Clara stared out the window, praying silently to a God she hadn't spoken to in years.
They arrived at the rural safe house in less than twenty minutes.
The small wooden house was completely engulfed in towering orange flames.
Thick, black smoke billowed into the dark winter sky.
Clara threw the car door open before the vehicle even came to a complete stop.
She sprinted toward the burning building, fully intending to run directly into the fire.
Matteo caught her around the waist, lifting her off the ground to stop her from dying.
"Let me go!" Clara sobbed, fighting wildly against his iron grip.
"It is too hot, Clara, you will burn to death!" Matteo shouted over the roaring flames.
Suddenly, a loud, terrifying bark echoed from the back of the SUV.
Bruno had leaped out of the shattered car window.
The massive Cane Corso did not hesitate for a single second.
He ran directly into the blazing inferno, disappearing completely into the thick smoke.
Clara stopped fighting and stared at the burning doorway in absolute shock.
Matteo held her tightly, his own heart pounding heavily against her back.
Seconds felt like agonizing hours as the roof of the house began to groan and collapse.
Then, a dark shape emerged from the wall of fire.
Bruno trotted out of the burning house, his black fur singed and smoking.
Hanging gently from his massive, powerful jaws was the collar of Lily's winter coat.
He dragged the coughing, terrified young girl safely into the cool snow.
Clara broke free from Matteo and dropped to her knees in the freezing snow beside her sister.
She pulled Lily into a desperate embrace, weeping into the girl's soot-covered hair.
Matteo knelt beside the exhausted dog and proudly stroked his smoking fur.
May you like
They had survived the night, and Lily was finally safe.
But as Matteo stood up to call his medical team, a red laser dot suddenly appeared perfectly in the center of his chest.
