Chapter 6 - The Breach at Midnight
Red emergency lights flashed violently against the white walls of the medical wing. The high-pitched siren wailed continuously, a terrifying sound that signaled a full-scale perimeter breach.
In a fraction of a second, the gentle father vanished. Dominic Russo, the ruthless don of the city, instantly took his place.
He pulled a heavy, black semi-automatic pistol from his shoulder holster, racking the slide with a lethal clack.
"Dr. Vance, lock yourself in the dispensary," Dominic commanded, his voice cold as ice. "Norah, get behind me. Now!"
Norah scrambled off the examination table, her heart hammering against her ribs so hard she could barely breathe. She clutched her swollen stomach with both hands as the floor beneath them vibrated from a distant, muffled explosion near the front gates.
"Dominic! What about Lily?" Norah screamed over the noise of the sirens.
"Marco has her in the primary safe room," Dominic said, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her quickly out into the main corridor. "We are moving to the upper panic suite now."
Gunfire erupted outside—the sharp, distinct chatter of automatic rifles echoing through the reinforced glass windows of the estate.
Norah stumbled in her flat shoes as Dominic dragged her up the rear service stairwell. Her breath came in ragged, painful gasps. The baby kicked violently inside her, reacting to the massive surge of adrenaline flooding her bloodstream.
"Hold on to me," Dominic grunted, keeping his large body positioned between her and the exterior walls.
They reached the second-floor landing just as the heavy glass doors of the lower foyer shattered below. Men’s voices shouting in Italian echoed up the stairwell—not Russo’s men.
"They're inside!" a guard shouted from the end of the hall before a burst of gunfire cut his voice short.
Dominic swore viciously. He raised his weapon, stepped out from the stairwell alcove, and fired three rapid shots down the hallway. Two men in tactical gear collapsed instantly onto the marble floor.
Dominic grabbed Norah by the waist, practically lifting her off her feet as he shoved her into his private study. He slammed the heavy steel-reinforced door shut and threw three heavy manual deadbolts.
The room went instantly dead silent as the soundproofing engaged.
Norah collapsed onto the leather sofa, her body trembling uncontrollably, her hands clutching her baby bump. "They... they came for us?"
Dominic stood by the door, his eyes scanning the security monitors mounted above his desk. "It’s Mateo Moretti," he said, his jaw working as he watched the live camera feeds. "He knew I was staying at the compound instead of the downtown penthouse. Someone leaked my position."
He turned away from the monitors and walked over to the sofa. He dropped to his knees in front of her, setting his gun down on the coffee table. His hands were shaking slightly as he reached out and gently laid his palms flat against her exposed stomach.
"Are you hit?" he demanded urgently, his eyes wild with fear as he looked over her body. "Did you fall? Is the baby okay?"
"I... I'm not hit," Norah sobbed, her hands covering his large, calloused hands on her belly. "He’s moving. He’s just scared, Dominic. I’m scared."
Dominic pressed his forehead against her knees, his chest heaving as he let out a long, ragged breath. "I won't let them touch you, Norah. I swear on my life, I will burn this city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you or our son."
For the first time since she had met him, Norah believed him completely. She reached out with a trembling hand and buried her fingers in his dark hair, pulling him closer to her.
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A heavy thump rattled the steel door of the study.
"Russo!" a voice shouted from the hallway outside. "We know you're in there with your nanny! Open the door and make this quick, or we blow the entire floor!"
