Chapter 4 - The Night Ambush
Lorenzo fired his weapon before the assassin could even pull the trigger. Two bullets struck the intruder in the chest, sending him crashing backward into the hallway. "Get on the floor and stay down!" Lorenzo roared at Hunter. Hunter grabbed the bassinet and dragged it behind the massive solid oak desk. She covered Leo with her own body, praying that the flying bullets would miss the tiny infant. The sound of tactical boots echoed heavily as more attackers swarmed the third floor. Lorenzo stood his ground at the door, firing with lethal precision to protect his makeshift family. He moved like a phantom, a ruthless king defending his castle against absolute chaos. Blood stained the imported marble floors as Lorenzo's loyal guards fought fiercely to repel the invasion. The overwhelming smell of gunpowder and copper filled the luxurious, beautiful mansion. Hunter squeezed her eyes shut, whispering a frantic prayer to her lost daughter in heaven. She begged Lily to watch over this helpless little boy in the middle of a terrifying warzone. Suddenly, a grenade explosion rocked the foundation of the massive house. The blast shattered the floor-to-ceiling windows of the study, sending sharp glass raining down upon them. Lorenzo ducked behind a heavy bookcase, reloading his pistols with lightning speed. "We need to get to the panic room behind the library," Lorenzo yelled to Hunter. He rushed over to the desk and helped her lift the terrified, screaming baby. Lorenzo placed a strong, protective arm around Hunter's waist, pulling her close to his side. His touch sent an unexpected jolt of electricity through her trembling body. They ran through the smoke-filled hallway, dodging stray bullets and broken debris. They finally reached the hidden steel door of the panic room and threw themselves inside. Lorenzo quickly engaged the heavy locking mechanism, sealing them in absolute safety. Hunter collapsed onto the floor, holding the crying baby tightly against her racing heart. She looked up at Lorenzo, noticing a dark red stain spreading across the shoulder of his tailored shirt. "You have been shot," Hunter gasped, her nursing instincts immediately kicking in. Before Lorenzo could answer, the secure communication monitor on the wall crackled to life. The sinister, mocking face of Tommy Vance appeared on the high-definition screen. "I hear you have my runaway girlfriend in there, Rossi," Tommy sneered from the outside hallway.
