Chapter 2 - The Hidden Escape
Rocco felt his heart stop as he stared at the woman he was supposed to marry.
Maria had played the perfect, innocent fiancée for two entire years.
Now, her eyes held the cold, dead calculation of a seasoned cartel killer.
"You were working with Marcus this whole time?" Rocco asked, stalling for precious seconds.
Maria laughed, lowering the gun just a fraction of an inch to mock him.
"Marcus works for me, Rocco, just like you are going to do if you want your son to survive."
Noah buried his face into Rocco's shoulder, crying silently without his hearing aid.
Rocco slowly raised his free hand, pretending to surrender to his treacherous bride.
Instead, his fingers found the hidden panic button under the edge of the reception table.
He pressed it hard, triggering the estate's emergency lockdown protocol.
The lights instantly cut out, plunging the grand ballroom into total darkness.
Steel shutters slammed down over the windows, blocking out the moonlight completely.
Rocco didn't hesitate, diving to the floor and rolling under the nearest table with Noah.
Gunfire erupted blindly in the dark as Marcus's men panicked.
Rocco crawled through the chaos, reaching a secret panel in the wall that only the family knew about.
He pushed the panel open and slipped inside the dark, dusty passageway.
He thought they were finally safe, until he heard a soft click in the dark.
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Victoria was standing in the tunnel ahead of them, holding a flashlight and a loaded shotgun.
"You took too long," she whispered, racking a shell into the chamber.
