Chapter 8 - Blood in the Rain
The attack came at midnight.
The power to the estate flickered and died, plunging the grand mansion into darkness save for the emergency red backup lights glowing along the baseboards.
Rain slammed against the reinforced glass windows like handfuls of gravel.
In the third-floor study, Norah sat with a secure terminal, finishing the final data transfer that would permanently bankrupt Julian Vance’s criminal syndicate.
The door burst open.
Dominic stepped inside, dressed in tactical black gear, a suppressed pistol in his hand.
“They’re breaching the east gate,” Dominic said, his voice completely calm. “Marcus has the perimeter, but Vance brought heavy hitters.”
He walked over to Norah, grabbing her arm and pulling her up from her chair.
“You’re coming with me to the panic room.”
“No,” Norah pulled her arm free, pointing at the monitor. “If I stop the transfer now, the packets will corrupt, and Vance will trace the IP address back to this estate! I have 3 minutes left!”
Dominic stared at her, his jaw tightening into a knot of pure rage and hesitation.
Before he could speak, a deafening explosion echoed from the lower courtyard.
Glass shattered downstairs.
Gunfire cracked—sharp, rhythmic, and terrifyingly close.
“Boss!” Marcus’s voice blared over the tactical radio clipped to Dominic’s vest. “They’re in the foyer! Vance’s men breached the front doors! They’re heading up the grand staircase!”
Dominic looked at Norah, then down at the screen.
He didn't argue anymore.
He stepped in front of her chair, raised his pistol toward the study door, and clicked the safety off.
“You have 2 minutes, Norah,” Dominic said, his eyes locked on the dark hallway outside. “Not a second more.”
Gunfire echoed down the third-floor corridor.
Footsteps thundered against the hardwood floors.
Bullets chewed through the outer drywall, sending white plaster dust raining down over Norah’s shoulders.
She didn't flinch.
Her fingers danced across the keyboard at lightning speed, executing code lines, verifying checksums, and hitting the final enter key.
Transfer complete.
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“Done!” Norah screamed over the gunfire.
Dominic didn't hesitate. He grabbed her by the waist, hauled her off the chair, and shoved her behind the heavy steel bookcase that concealed the panic room entrance.
