Chapter 7 - The Viper's Strike
The peace within the estate was violently shattered on a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
Maya was playing in the indoor courtyard while Elena watched from a distance.
Suddenly, a guard by the eastern door drew his weapon.
He wasn't aiming at the perimeter; he was aiming directly at Maya.
"No!" Elena screamed, sprinting across the marble floor.
A gunshot rang out, shattering a nearby terracotta planter.
Lorenzo appeared on the balcony above, his own weapon already firing.
Two bullets hit the treacherous guard in the chest, dropping him instantly.
Elena dove, shielding Maya with her own body as chaos erupted.
More guards rushed into the courtyard, securing the area.
Lorenzo sprinted down the stairs, his face pale with terror.
He fell to his knees beside Elena, checking frantically for blood.
"Are you hit?" he demanded, his voice shaking for the first time in his life.
Elena shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she hugged a crying Maya.
"We are okay," she sobbed.
Lorenzo pulled them both into a crushing embrace.
His eyes hardened as he looked at the dead guard's uniform.
May you like
It bore the subtle insignia of the Conti family.
Valeria had made her move, and she had aimed for the child.
