Chapter 2 - Blind Shadows
Screams ripped through the blackness of the grand ballroom. Glasses shattered on tables, and the sound of panicked movement created absolute chaos. Elena pulled Lily against her chest, flattening herself beneath the heavy linen tablecloth of a nearby catering station.
""Stay down, baby. Close your eyes,"" Elena whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
Through the darkness, the sharp crack of suppressed gunfire sounded near the rear service corridors. Dante’s voice cut through the madness, deep and commanding. ""Marco! Form a perimeter around the children! Ethan, stay behind me!""
Suddenly, an emergency floodlight flickered on with a harsh orange hum, casting long, menacing silhouettes against the gold-leaf walls. Three men dressed as private catering staff stood at the primary exit, their faces obscured by black masks, suppressed submachine guns drawn.
Dante didn’t flinch. Moving with the lethal grace of a predator, he stepped into the light, placing himself directly between the armed men and where Elena sheltered with Lily. In Dante’s hand was a sleek black automatic pistol, drawn from beneath his jacket before anyone could register the motion.
""You had one chance to escape, and you chose to corner yourselves in my house,"" Dante growled, his eyes gleaming with lethal intent.
""Hand over the girl!"" one of the intruders barked in a thick Eastern European accent. ""The boss wants the child who spoiled the hit. Give her up, Moretto, and maybe your son sees tomorrow!""
Elena gasped silently, clutching Lily so hard she feared she was hurting her. Why did they want Lily? How could a toddler be a target for syndicate assassins?
Dante cocked his head, a terrifying smile pulling at the corners of his lips. ""You think you can make demands of me in my own ballroom?""
Before the gunman could reply, a red laser dot appeared on the shooter’s forehead. Dante didn't fire—the shot came from above, shattering the skylight as Dante’s elite snipers on the roof liquidated the threat in an instant. The two remaining gunmen scattered toward the side corridors, desperate to escape.
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Dante didn't chase them. He turned instantly toward the catering table. He reached down, parting the linen cloth, and looked straight into Elena’s terrified eyes.
""They aren't just after Ethan,"" Dante said in a low, gravelly tone. ""They know Lily identified their operative. Pack your things, Elena. You and your daughter belong to the inner sanctum now.""
