Chapter 5 - The Ambush
Arthur Sterling was desperate. Julian had frozen his accounts, ruined his reputation, and stolen his favorite punching bag. Driven mad by the loss of his power, Arthur used his last hidden reserve of cash to hire a hit squad from a rival syndicate in New York.
It happened on a Tuesday night.
Clara was in the kitchen, making a cup of tea, finding comfort in the quiet domesticity of the massive house. Julian was in his study down the hall.
Suddenly, the front gates exploded.
The concussive blast shattered the kitchen windows. Clara screamed, dropping her mug, covering her head as glass rained down around her. Alarms shrieked through the compound. Gunfire erupted in the courtyard—heavy, automatic, and relentless.
"Clara!"
Julian tore into the kitchen, his tactical vest already on, a modified assault rifle in his hands. He didn't hesitate. He tackled Clara to the marble floor just as a spray of bullets tore through the drywall where she had been standing seconds before.
He covered her entirely with his massive body, shielding her from the debris.
"Keep your head down!" Julian roared over the deafening noise.
He rolled off her, using the kitchen island for cover, and returned fire through the shattered window. The compound’s security forces engaged the attackers. For ten terrifying minutes, the house was a war zone. Clara squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable pain, waiting for the end.
But the pain never came.
When the gunfire finally ceased, replaced by the shouts of Julian’s men securing the perimeter, Julian dropped his weapon. He fell to his knees beside Clara, his hands frantically checking her for wounds.
"Are you hit? Clara, look at me, are you bleeding?" he demanded, his voice thick with absolute panic.
Clara opened her eyes. Julian had a superficial bullet graze across his cheek, bleeding down his neck. He didn't even notice. He was completely focused on her survival.
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She reached up, her trembling hand touching the blood on his face. "You're hurt."
"I don't care," Julian breathed, pulling her into his chest and holding her so tightly she could hear his heart hammering. "I don't care about me. You're safe. I've got you."
