Chapter 7 - Blackout

Down in the subterranean utility room beneath the estate’s east wing, Maya dropped the heavy iron crowbar she had used to shatter the main circuit breaker.

Beside her, Marcus shoved an incendiary fuse into the backup generator's diesel intake, disabling the automated transfer switch.

"Main power is dead," Marcus whispered, flicking on his night-vision goggles. "Backup won't engage for at least twenty minutes. The electronic locks on the doors just failed to default-open mode."

"Let's move," Maya said, racking the slide of the 9mm pistol she had taken from Marcus's truck.

Upstairs, chaos erupted. Emergency red glow-sticks were cracked open by confused security personnel shouting over their tactical radios.

"Check the boy's room!" Julian’s voice echoed down the marble hallway. "Secure the west wing immediately!"

In Leo’s bedroom, the sudden blackout gave the boy the split-second window he needed. Leo swung the heavy bronze music box with all his might, catching Dr. Vance right across the bridge of his nose.

The doctor howled in agony, dropping the syringe to the carpet as blood gushed from his broken nose. Leo slipped off the bed and bolted out into the dark corridor.

"Stop him!" Vance roared, stumbling into the hall with hands clamped over his face.

Leo ran as fast as his small legs could carry him, the music box clutched desperately to his chest. He turned the corner toward the grand staircase, only to run straight into the legs of a towering security guard.

A massive hand grabbed the collar of Leo's sweater, lifting him clean off the floor.

"Got the kid," the guard spoke into his shoulder mic.

"Put him down," a cold, steady voice rang out from the shadows behind him.

The guard spun around, shining his tactical flashlight down the corridor.

Maya stood five yards away, rain-soaked, covered in dirt and blood, the barrel of her 9mm leveled directly between the guard’s eyes. Her gaze was completely devoid of fear.

"Maya!" Leo cried out.

The guard reached for his sidearm.

Crack.

A single shot echoed through the narrow hallway. The guard collapsed to the hardwood floor, clutching his shattered kneecap with a scream of agony. Leo broke free, running into Maya's open arms.

Maya scooped the trembling boy up, pressing his head against her shoulder. "I've got you, Leo. I've got you."

"Maya, look out!" Leo shrieked.

May you like

The housekeeper was supposed to be invisible. Instead, Sophia Hale becam...

The housekeeper was supposed to be invisible. Instead, Sophia Hale became the only person who could expose a massive conspiracy in...

My Husband Hit Me at Dinner—Then His Sister-in-Law Whispered, “Tell the...

"“You and Adrian can rent somewhere smaller,” he said. “A young married couple does not need two bedrooms.” Several relatives nodd...

A federal judge thought his power could cover up a murder. He didn't exp...

"A federal judge thought his power could cover up a murder. He didn't expect her to survive the 20-foot fall. ⚖️🩸The pristine whi...

At the far end of the grand staircase, the emergency floodlights flickered on. Julian and Victoria stood at the top of the landing, flanked by four armed mercenaries with assault rifles raised.

Julian smiled, raising a remote detonator in his left hand. "Did you really think I wouldn't wire my own house, Maya? Step one inch closer to the front door, and I bring the entire ceiling down on top of all of us."