Chapter 10 - Jaws in the Dark
Bruno erupted from the gap between the wet timber planks like a creature birthed from the black ocean.
The first guard never had time to raise his weapon. Bruno’s full weight slammed into the man's chest, driving him backward off the edge of the pier and into the churning black water below. Without losing momentum, the Cane Corso pivoted on his hind legs, his massive jaws locking onto the second guard’s rifle sling, ripping the weapon down and driving the man’s face violently into the steel corner of the shipping container.
""Fire! Open fire on the beast!"" Keller screamed, shoving Sarah violently toward the open command van and drawing his sidearm.
Julian squeezed his trigger.
The silenced high-caliber round cracked through the storm, striking the floodlight directly above Keller’s head, showering the command post in a rain of sparks and blinding darkness. Julian worked the bolt, firing two more rapid shots that neutralized the perimeter sentries rushing the container.
Down on the concrete, Bruno pressed his massive body against the heavy steel latch of container Charlie. Using his broad forehead, he slammed the secondary locking bar upward until the latch clicked open.
Emma tumbled forward through the gap, her small arms reaching out instinctively. ""Bruno!"" she cried out over the thunder.
Bruno immediately stepped over her, straddling the toddler between his front and rear legs, shielding her small body completely with his muscular torso. His teeth were bared, a terrifying guttural roar ripping from his throat as three Ares contractors advanced with tactical shotguns.
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A hail of buckshot ricocheted off the steel container walls inches above the dog’s head. One stray pellet grazed Bruno’s shoulder, tearing through flesh, but the beast did not flinch, did not yield an inch. He stood as an impenetrable shield over the child, his dark eyes fixed on the approaching gunmen.
Julian leaped from the silo’s lower platform, rolling across a pile of gravel, his carbine barking in steady, lethal cadences.
