Chapter 9: The Ambush at the Pier
277 Words
"Fire!" someone screamed.
Smoke began billowing from the secondary generator room near the pier. The glass pavilion erupted into chaos as wealthy patrons panicked, knocking over tables and rushing for the exits.
Don Valenti’s smile vanished. He grabbed Elena by the wrist, his grip bruisingly tight. "Where is your husband, Elena?"
"I told you, he's with the comptroller!" she cried, trying to pull away.
"He's lying, and so are you," Valenti hissed, his men drawing their weapons. "Secure the perimeter! Find Salvatore!"
Elena was shoved backward into the fleeing crowd. She scanned the chaos, her breath catching as she saw Julian sprinting toward her from the shadows of the warehouse. He had a flash drive clutched in his hand, but his eyes were fixed entirely on her.
"Julian!" she shouted.
Before he could reach her, two of Valenti’s men cut him off, guns raised. Julian didn't hesitate. He dove behind a stack of catering crates as gunfire shattered the glass walls of the pavilion. The civilian screams were deafening.
Elena was trapped against a concrete pillar. She looked up and saw Don Valenti himself stepping out of the smoke, a silver-plated revolver aimed directly at Julian's blind spot.
"Julian, behind you!" Elena screamed.
Valenti turned his cold, calculating eyes onto Elena. "You first, little bird."
He pulled the trigger.
The world slowed to a crawl. Elena didn't run. She didn't scream. She braced for the impact. The bullet tore through the air, striking her squarely in the right shoulder.
The force of the blow knocked her off her feet, sending her crashing to the concrete floor.
"Elena!" Julian’s roar was animalistic, a sound of pure, unadulterated devastation.
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