Chapter 12 - Fog and Gunfire
Julian dropped the phone and charged toward the ocean-facing window, killing the desk lamp in a single sweep of his arm.
Through the thick coastal fog, two black tactical skiffs were cutting silently through the surf toward the private dock below the cliffside cabin. Men in black combat gear were already stepping onto the slippery wooden planks, carrying suppressed assault rifles.
""Sofia!"" Julian shouted, dashing into the hallway.
Sofia appeared at the top of the stairs, her face pale, already holding a baseball bat. ""I heard engines, sir!""
""Get Lily into the panic room beneath the pantry! Now!"" Julian commanded, sprinting into the master bedroom. He pulled a locked metal case from the top of the wardrobe, keying in the code. Inside were two tactical shotguns and several loaded handguns he had prepared for this very eventuality.
He grabbed a Mossberg 12-gauge, racking a shell into the chamber, and hurried back down to the ground floor.
The exterior motion lights flared to life, illuminating the patio. A split second later, three high-caliber suppressed rounds shattered the halogen bulbs, plunging the grounds back into darkness.
Julian took cover behind the thick oak kitchen island just as the heavy glass patio doors exploded inward under a barrage of gunfire. Wood splinters and plaster rained down around him as automatic fire chewed through the living room furniture.
Julian waited, counting the seconds between bursts. Three men moved into the living room, their weapon-mounted flashlights cutting through the smoke and dust.
Julian stepped out from behind the island, leveled the shotgun, and fired.
The thunderous blast echoed through the house, catching the lead operator in the chest and hurling him back out onto the deck. Julian racked the slide instantly, pivoting to fire at the second man, but a round grazed his left bicep, tearing a burning furrow through his flesh. He ducked behind the hallway archway, blood soaking his sleeve.
""Ashford!"" a voice shouted from the fog outside. ""Hand over the girl and the ledger, and we let you bleed out in peace!""
May you like
From the hallway ceiling vent above Julian came a faint, rhythmic tapping. A Morse code pattern Sofia had learned during their emergency drills: Safe. Door locked.
Julian smiled grimly. His family was secure. Now, he was free to burn the world down.
