Chapter 8 - The Fall of the Traitor
Muzzle flashes illuminated the grand foyer in blinding bursts of light. The sound of gunfire was deafening, tearing through the fine wood paneling, shattering crystal chandeliers, and sending plaster raining down like snow.
Adrian moved with lethal efficiency. He fired his shotgun with terrifying precision, dropping two mercenaries attempting to charge up the stairs. Beside him, Marcus provided heavy covering fire, pinning the Genovese forces in the center of the room.
The Genovese mercenaries, realizing they had been led straight into a kill zone, panicked. They began retreating toward the shattered front doors, dropping their weapons and fleeing into the stormy night.
Charles Reddick threw his weapon to the floor and sprinted down the side corridor toward the basement stairs, desperate to reach the service tunnel he had planned to use for Mason’s escape.
“Marcus! Cover the foyer!” Adrian barked.
Adrian vaulted over the marble staircase railing, landing gracefully on the ground floor, and pursued Charles into the dark, narrow corridors of the lower level.
Charles stumbled down the concrete basement stairs, panting heavily, his polished shoes slipping on the damp floor. He reached the heavy iron door of the service tunnel, frantically punching in the access code with trembling fingers.
“Error,” the digital keypad beeped red.
“No! No! Open, damn it!” Charles screamed, punching the keypad violently.
“I changed the master codes three hours ago, Charles,” a low, cold voice spoke from the shadows behind him.
Charles froze. He turned slowly to see Adrian walking out of the darkness. Adrian had dropped his shotgun and was holding a simple, dark steel blade in his right hand—the same knife his father had carried thirty years ago.
“Adrian... please!” Charles dropped to his knees, his hands raised in desperate surrender, tears mingling with sweat on his face. “I was forced into it! Don Genovese threatened my family! They were going to kill me!”
“You lied to me for three years,” Adrian said, stepping closer, his dark eyes void of all human mercy. “You brought an abuser into my house to hurt a three-year-old child and the woman I love. You sold out my father’s legacy.”
“I gave you thirty years of my life!” Charles wept. “I raised you!”
“And that is the only reason you get to say goodbye,” Adrian whispered coldly.
May you like
Lightning flashed outside the high basement window, casting long shadows across the concrete wall. A single, sharp gasp echoed through the room, followed by the heavy thud of a body falling to the floor.
Silence returned to the mansion.
