Chapter 13 - Preparing for the Storm
The revelation hit Victor like a physical blow. The boy wasn't just a child connected to her past—he was his own flesh and blood, born during the darkest winter of his exile. A surge of fierce, protective rage flooded through Victor’s veins, eclipsing any tactical caution. He pulled Elena into a brief, powerful embrace, whispering that he would tear the world apart before letting anyone touch them. Outside, the crunch of heavy boots on gravel signaled that Vance’s vanguard had breached the inner courtyard. Glass shattered in the gallery downstairs, and the muffled sound of silenced gunfire echoed through the high-ceilinged halls.
Victor moved with lethal grace, positioning himself at the head of the grand staircase, his weapon raised and ready. He looked back once more toward the guest wing, ensuring the heavy steel doors of the panic room remained securely sealed with Elena and the boy safely inside. As the first tactical operative rounded the corner of the stairs, Victor squeezed the trigger, unleashing a storm of righteous fury that would shake the estate to its very foundations.
