Chapter 44
Ryan stared at Marcus, his mind racing. The old enforcer wasn't just after revenge; he was after power, and he saw Mia as his legitimate claim to the throne. Ryan knew he couldn't win a prolonged shootout in the confined space with the girls present. He needed to get them out, now.
"You're not touching her," Ryan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
He fired two rapid shots at the ceiling above Marcus, shattering the heavy crystal chandelier. The massive fixture crashed down, sending shards of glass flying and momentarily blocking the doorway. Ryan grabbed the girls' hands and sprinted toward the hidden escape tunnel entrance disguised as a pantry shelf.
He punched in the code, and the shelf swung open. "Go, go, go!" he urged, pushing the girls inside and pulling the heavy steel door shut behind him.
The tunnel was dark and damp, illuminated only by the faint, red glow of emergency lights. They ran through the narrow passage, the sound of Marcus's men trying to breach the door echoing behind them.
"Where does this lead, Daddy?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.
"To the old aqueduct," Ryan replied, not breaking his stride. "It leads out to the gorge. We have a vehicle waiting there."
They reached the end of the tunnel, emerging into the cool night air near the edge of a deep gorge. The roar of a rushing river echoed from below. A rugged, armored off-road vehicle was parked nearby, hidden under camouflage netting.
Ryan quickly loaded the girls into the back seat, securing their harnesses. He jumped into the driver's seat and hit the ignition. The powerful engine roared to life.
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Just as he threw the vehicle into gear, the tunnel exit exploded. Marcus's men poured out, their weapons raised. Bullets pinged against the armored chassis as Ryan slammed on the gas, tearing away from the edge of the gorge and plunging into the dense forest.
The pursuit was relentless. Marcus's men were in high-speed pursuit vehicles, navigating the treacherous mountain roads with dangerous skill. Ryan drove with reckless abandon, pushing the armored SUV to its limits, his only focus on keeping the girls safe. The peaceful Tuscan night had turned into a desperate race for survival.
