Chapter 8 - The Firefight
The freight elevator rattled as it ascended to the ground floor. Gabriel’s face was a mask of deadly concentration. He checked the magazine of his pistol, then looked at Elena.
"When the doors open, keep your head down and move toward the alley," he ordered.
The doors dinged.
Gunfire immediately shattered the glass windows of the studio. Julian’s mercenaries poured through the front entrance. Gabriel shoved Elena behind a heavy marble pillar and returned fire. His shots were measured, precise, and lethal. Two of Julian’s men dropped instantly.
"Flank them!" a voice shouted from the front.
Dante and Silas burst in from the back hallway, laying down heavy suppressing fire with automatic weapons. The studio became a war zone of shattered art, screaming men, and blinding muzzle flashes.
Gabriel grabbed Elena’s arm. "Move!"
They sprinted toward the rear exit. A mercenary stepped out from behind a drafting table, aiming a shotgun directly at Elena.
Gabriel didn't hesitate. He threw his body in front of hers, firing two shots into the man's chest. But the mercenary squeezed the trigger as he fell. The spray of buckshot grazed Gabriel’s shoulder, tearing through his dark jacket.
Gabriel grunted, stumbling slightly, but didn't stop. He pushed Elena through the back door and into the alley where the SUV was waiting.
"Get in!" Gabriel roared over the gunfire.
Dante and Silas piled in moments later, and Silas floored the accelerator. The SUV tore out of the alley, leaving the burning studio behind.
In the backseat, Elena looked at Gabriel. Blood was seeping down his arm, staining the leather seat.
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"You're shot," she gasped in horror.
Gabriel looked at his shoulder, then at her, his expression entirely calm. "It’s a graze. You have the drive. That’s all that matters."
