Chapter 8 - The Siege
The main floor of the mansion was a war zone. Smoke choked the air, thick and acrid, mixing with the metallic scent of blood. The beautiful white marble floors were covered in debris, shattered glass, and the bodies of Romano soldiers. Domenico moved like a ghost through the smoke, Enzo right behind him covering his six. They communicated in silent hand signals, years of syndicate training kicking in. Three Moretti hitmen rounded the corner near the grand staircase, armed with automatic rifles. Domenico didn't hesitate. He dropped to one knee, firing twice. Two men fell before they even registered his presence. Enzo took out the third with a clean shot to the chest. "They're pushing toward the east wing," Enzo shouted over the din of gunfire echoing from outside. "The panic room is in the west wing." "They're looking for the vault," Domenico realized. "They want the cartel's ledger. Let them have it. We go for Sofia." They sprinted up the remains of the grand staircase, stepping over the destroyed mahogany banisters. As they reached the second-floor landing, the heavy steel door of the west wing corridor was blown open. Standing in the smoke was Lorenzo Moretti himself, the brutal patriarch of the rival family. He was flanked by four heavily armed guards. And in his massive, scarred hand, he held Sofia by the back of her pink dress. The little girl was screaming, her face red with absolute terror. Domenico’s heart stopped. Every instinct screamed at him to fire, but he couldn't risk hitting his daughter. "Drop the gun, Domenico," Lorenzo boomed, his voice echoing down the corridor. "Or the Romano bloodline ends right here." Domenico slowly raised his hands, letting his pistol slip from his grip. It hit the carpet with a dull thud. Enzo reluctantly did the same. "You have the house, Lorenzo," Domenico said, his voice deadly calm despite the raging inferno in his chest. "You have the territory. Let the child go. She has nothing to do with this." Lorenzo laughed, a wet, ugly sound. "Oh, but she does. You see, your father owed me a massive debt. A debt of blood. He promised me this estate, and he promised me that when the time came, the Romano empire would burn. I'm just here to collect." Lorenzo lifted a gun and pressed it to the back of Sofia's small head. "Watch your empire die, Domenico."
