Chapter 3 - The Shadow in the Smoke
Marcus barely had time to choke before he was violently thrown into the gravel.
Nora stumbled backward, watching in absolute shock.
Standing before her, covered in soot and blood, was Roman Duca.
The ruthless mafia boss looked like a demon rising from hell.
He placed his heavy boot on Marcus's chest, pinning the guard to the ground.
In Roman’s left arm, wrapped securely in his ruined suit jacket, was Maisie.
"Mommy!" Maisie cried out, reaching her little arms toward Nora.
Nora fell to her knees and pulled her daughter into a desperate, crushing hug.
Tears streamed down her face as she kissed Maisie’s soot-stained cheeks.
Roman stared down at the trembling security chief.
"Who gave the order?" Roman demanded, his voice dangerously low.
Marcus spat a mouthful of blood onto the grass and laughed.
"Your time is over, Roman," the guard wheezed.
Before Roman could interrogate him further, the sound of screeching tires echoed from the driveway.
Four black SUVs slammed through the mansion's main iron gates.
Dozens of heavily armed men poured out of the vehicles, moving with military precision.
They were fanning out across the property, carrying suppressed automatic weapons.
This wasn't a simple assassination attempt anymore.
This was a full-scale siege to wipe out the entire Duca bloodline.
Roman grabbed Nora’s shoulder, forcing her to stand up.
"We cannot stay here," he ordered, pulling her toward the greenhouse.
"My car is in the staff lot," Nora whispered frantically.
Roman shook his head as bullets began tearing through the rose bushes behind them.
"They already blocked the exits," he said.
He shoved Nora and Maisie behind a heavy stone planter.
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Roman reached into his waistband, realizing he was completely unarmed.
A laser sight suddenly cut through the smoke, painting a red dot directly on Nora’s forehead.
