Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Muffled voices drifted up from below. My breath caught as I recognized Maria’s terrified plea.
“Please, we’re just the staff-”
“Move!” A harsh command, followed by the sound of stumbling footsteps.
I crept to the window, staying in the shadows. My stomach twisted as I watched them herding our household staff across the lawn – Maria, Thomas, even elderly Mrs. Chen who’d been our cook for fifteen years. The attackers shoved them roughly into a tight group near the garden.
“They’re clearing the house,” Adrian whispered, shifting his position. “Making sure there are no wildcards.”
Footsteps creaked on the stairs, moving with practiced precision. Dad signaled silently three distinct sets approaching our position.
–
BONG 10 08
1/8
Chapter 27
The door burst open. Adrian’s rifle cracked twice, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. Two shadows crumpled. The third attacker dove behind the doorframe, returning fire. Dad’s shot caught him as he tried to retreat, the body tumbling backwards into the hallway.
“We need to move,” Adrian said, already in motion. “They’ll have heard-”
Headlights swept across the room as a vehicle pulled into the circular drive below. Through the window, I glimpsed a black SUV with tinted windows rolling to a stop.
as
“Down!” Adrian yanked me away from the glass. “Stay low, away from the windows.”
More voices outside, these carrying authority. Whoever was in that SUV, they were clearly in charge of this operation.
“We’re too exposed here,” Dad muttered, checking his ammunition. “Need a better position before-”
Another burst of gunfire erupted from the
278
Chapter 27
hallway, forcing us back from the door. The attack was coordinated now, more focused. They knew exactly where we were.
A commanding voice cut through the chaos from below. “Cease fire!”
My blood ran cold. I knew that voice.
Dad muttered a string of curses under his breath. “Primo.”
We stayed pressed against the walls, weapons ready. Primo’s voice boomed across the grounds, each word precise and controlled despite the rage I could hear simmering beneath.
“I’m giving you one chance to surrender! Come out now, or I start executing your staff. One by one.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, but he remained. silent. We all did. The quiet stretched, broken only by the occasional shuffle of movement outside.
A woman’s scream pierced the night. I
8% 19:0
3/8
Chapter 27
crawled to the window, ignoring Adrian’s attempt to pull me back.
Maria thrashed against two men as they dragged her across the lawn toward Primo. My stomach lurched at the sight of him. His face was a mess of bloody bandages. from his encounter with Adrian at Le Rouge just hours ago. One eye was completely covered, the other blazing with barely contained fury as he grabbed Maria’s
arm.
“This is your fault, Asteria!” he shouted up at the house. “Their blood will be on your hands!”
Maria sobbed, struggling weakly against his grip. The rest of the staff huddled together, eyes wide with terror as they watched their friend being used as a bargaining chip.
Primo’s bandaged face twisted into something ugly as he pressed his gun against Maria’s temple. “You have thirty seconds before I start the countdown!”
BOM 19.08
4/8
Chapter 27
“We have to go,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I won’t let them die because of me.”
Dad shook his head. “The minute we step out there-”
“Ten!” Primo’s voice carried through the window, followed by his dark laughter. “Nine!”
“Please.” I grabbed Adrian’s arm. “They’re innocent. Maria practically raised me.”
Adrian’s gray eyes met mine in the darkness. Something shifted in his expression – a flash of understanding, maybe even respect. He didn’t say anything, just studied my face with that penetrating gaze.
“Eight!” A pause. “Seven!”
“We can fight our way out,” Dad insisted. “There’s still-”
“Six!”
“No.” I straightened my spine. “I won’t
80 19.08
5/8
Chapter 27
sacrifice them. They’ve already lost everything because of my choices.”
“Five! Getting nervous yet, Asteria?”
Adrian’s hand found mine in the shadows. His touch was steady, grounding.
“Four!”
“We have to go,” I repeated, stronger this time. “Now.”
“Three!”
Maria’s sobs echoed across the lawn. Mrs. Chen was praying quietly in Mandarin. Thomas stood rigid, trying to be brave even with a gun trained on him.
“Two!”
“Please,” I begged them both. “I can’t have. their deaths on my conscience.”
“One and a-”
“Wait!” The word died in my throat as another set of headlights swept across the driveway.
80 10:08
6/8
Chapter 27
A silver Mercedes screeched to a halt. The car door opened and closed.
“Hello? What’s going on here?” My mother’s confused voice rang out. “Why are there men with-”
My heart stopped. Dad’s face drained of color beside me.
Primo’s laughter echoed across the lawn, dark and triumphant. “Oh, this is even better! Mrs. Mitchell, perfect timing.”
“No,” I whispered, watching in horror as Primo released Maria and strode toward my mother. His bandaged face twisted into a cruel smile as he grabbed a fistful of her perfectly styled hair, yanking her forward.
Dad slammed his palm against his forehead. “The shopping trip. I completely forgot with everything…” He cursed under his breath. “She wasn’t supposed to be back for hours.”
My mother’s terrified gasp cut through the night as Primo forced her to her knees. The
DONG 19 08
7/8
Chapter 27
barrel of his gun pressed against her temple, cold metal meeting flesh.
“Now then,” Primo called out, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Shall we start our countdown again? Ten!”
I gripped the windowsill, knuckles white. My mother always so composed, so elegant – knelt in the dirt, trembling as Primo’s gun dug into her skin.
“Nine!”
Dad’s hand found my shoulder, squeezing tight. Adrian remained silent, but I could feel the tension radiating from him as
Primo continued his count.
“Eight!”