Chapter 5 - the guardian's charge
The moment Victor’s fingers snapped, the heavy holiday lights surrounding the entire courtyard went completely dark.
The electric power grid cut out, plunging the grand space into deep shadow, lit only by the glowing embers of the stone fireplaces and the moon reflecting off the snow.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
From the upper balconies of the mansion, Victor’s private sniper team opened fire with silenced rifles, taking out Vance’s perimeter men with lethal, terrifying precision.
"Return fire! Clear the courtyard!" Vance roared, ducking behind the open door of his SUV as muzzle flashes lit up the dark.
Chaos consumed the garden. Victor lifted Eddie effortlessly onto his left arm, holding a heavy sidearm in his right hand as he moved swiftly toward the mansion's reinforced side entrance. Marcus and Caesar cleared the path ahead, taking down two tactical operatives who tried to cut them off.
"Get the boy to the sub-level safe room!" Victor commanded Marcus as they reached the heavy oak doors of the east wing.
"Dad, what about you?" Eddie gasped, clutching his small hands around Victor’s neck.
Victor looked into the boy's fair, rosy face, pressing a brief, firm hand against his back. "I'm going to finish the party, son. Stay with Caesar and Marcus."
Caesar gave a short, commanding bark, as if confirming the order, and pushed ahead into the reinforced corridor alongside Marcus and Eddie.
Victor pulled the heavy steel-reinforced oak door shut, locking it from the outside with a master key.
Turning back toward the dark courtyard, Victor adjusted his dark shirt cuffs, his battle-hardened face illuminated by the flickering flames of a burning decoration table.
Dominic Vance stood near the fountain, flanked by his remaining four elite enforcers, while Celeste crouched fearfully behind the stone basin.
"You're alone, Victor!" Vance called out into the dark, raising his sidearm. "My secondary force is already surrounding the front gates!"
From the shadows near the great Christmas tree, Victor emerged like a ghost of pure vengeance. His movements were slow, deliberate, and entirely devoid of fear.
"Your secondary force was neutralised five minutes ago by my eastern patrol," Victor revealed, his deep voice carrying through the cold night. "You walked into a trap the moment you crossed my gates, Vance."
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Before Vance could pull his trigger, Victor fired three rapid shots with breathtaking accuracy. The three enforcers flanking Vance collapsed onto the snow-covered flagstones.
Vance staggered back, his silver cane slipping from his hand as he realized the absolute nightmare he had stepped into.
