Chapter 8 - The Siege of Duca Estate
The heavy steel door of the underground vault hissed shut, locking Elena and Sophia safely inside the impenetrable bunker under Marco’s automated security protocols.
Lorenzo walked back up the stone steps into the grand hall of his estate, wearing a black tactical vest over his dress shirt, carrying an automatic weapon. Bruno walked at his heel, his dark coat glinting under the flickering emergency lights.
Outside, Carmine’s mercenary strike team had breached the main foyer, six heavily armed men advancing through the smoke with raised weapons.
They thought they were clearing an unprepared mansion. They didn't know they were stepping into a hunting ground controlled by Lorenzo Duca.
Lorenzo moved through the shadows of the marble balcony like a shadow.
When the lead mercenary stepped beneath the crystal chandelier, Lorenzo fired three precise shots, taking down the front line instantly. Bruno charged forward on Lorenzo’s command, neutralizing a second attacker near the grand staircase with terrifying speed and force.
Marco joined from the east corridor, providing heavy suppressive fire that pinned the remaining mercenaries against the marble pillars.
Within eight minutes, the estate hall fell silent once more. The rain poured through the shattered glass windows, washing over the marble floors.
Lorenzo walked down the grand staircase, his boots crunching on broken crystal. He stepped past the fallen attackers, stopping in front of the kitchen service door where Renata Bellini was being held under guard by two of Marco’s men.
Renata stood against the wall, her emerald dress torn at the hem, her pearl earrings askew. Her severe, arrogant mask was completely gone, replaced by pure, helpless terror as Lorenzo approached her.
Lorenzo stopped inches from her, looking down at the woman who had lived in his house for five years, serving his meals while reporting to the man who killed his family.
"Lorenzo... please," Renata begged, her voice trembling violently. "Carmine threatened my family! He forced me to plant the clock on Elena! He said if I didn't get her out of the house tonight, he would kill my children!"
"You sold my family fifteen years ago, Renata," Lorenzo said softly, his voice devoid of all mercy. "And you tried to sell a five-year-old child today."
Lorenzo looked at Marco. "Take her to the basement. She’s going to tell federal prosecutors everything she knows about Carmine’s offshore accounts before sunrise."
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Marco nodded, dragging the weeping housekeeper away down the dark hallway.
Lorenzo turned toward the estate entrance, looking out into the stormy night. "Marco, prep the helicopter. We are paying Don Carmine Moretti a visit."
