Chapter 7 - The Panic Room
I dragged my feet through the dark master suite, clutching Matteo tightly against my chest. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs, every instinct screaming at me to run, to hide, to protect the child in my arms.
"Emma, I'm scared," Matteo whimpered softly, his tiny fingers digging into the fleece of my sweater.
"I know, sweetie," I whispered, kissing his forehead as I navigated toward the massive walk-in wardrobe at the back of the room. "Daddy is taking care of the bad men. We just need to play a quiet game in a secret room."
I pushed open the heavy mirrored doors of the wardrobe. Pushing aside rows of Luca’s dark tailored suits, I found the steel keypad mountedflush against the reinforced rear wall.
My fingers trembled violently over the glowing blue numbers.
0... 4... 1... 2.
A heavy pneumatic hiss echoed through the closet as a three-inch-thick steel door slid open, revealing a small, brightly lit room equipped with security monitors, emergency medical supplies, and a plush leather sofa.
I stepped inside with Matteo. I immediately hit the red 'ENGAGE LOCK' button on the interior panel.
The heavy steel door slid shut with a solid, absolute thunk, sealing us off from the outside world.
I collapsed onto the sofa, pulling Matteo onto my lap, holding him tight. My breathing was ragged, my entire body shaking with adrenaline.
On the wall across from the sofa, a bank of four security monitors flickered to life, powered by the panic room’s independent generator.
My eyes flew to the screens.
The first camera showed the ground-floor living room. The grand timber space was completely wrecked. Broken glass covered the Persian rugs, and thick smoke drifted through the air. Three men in dark tactical gear with red Bellini armbands were advancing toward the main staircase with raised rifles.
Then, a shadow detached itself from the darkness near the stone fireplace.
It was Luca.
He moved with a speed and brutal efficiency that didn't seem human. Before the lead attacker could turn his rifle, Luca stepped into his guard, grabbed the barrel, and drove a heavy combat knife straight into the man's throat.
Blood sprayed across the broken glass.
Without pausing, Luca spun the falling man’s body to act as a human shield as the second attacker opened fire. Bullets ripped through the corpse. Luca drew his pistol from behind the body and fired two rapid shots straight into the second attacker’s chest.
The third man panicked, dropping his rifle and backing away toward the shattered patio doors. Luca didn't hesitate—he fired a single, cold shot straight through the man's temple.
On the monitor screen, three Bellini hitmen lay motionless on the floor in less than ten seconds.
I covered my mouth with my left hand, my stomach churning at the sheer violence, yet an intense, undeniable wave of relief washed over me. Luca was an absolute monster to his enemies—but he was a wall of indestructible iron standing between those monsters and us.
Suddenly, the screen showing the second-floor corridor flickered.
A tall man wearing a dark tactical coat stepped into the frame, holding a suppressed shotgun.
My breath caught in my throat.
It was Antonio Bellini’s eldest son—Marco Bellini. The ruthless heir to the Bellini crime family.
Marco walked straight toward the master bedroom doors. He reached for the handle, pushed it open, and stepped inside.
On the panic room monitor, I watched Marco scan the dark master bedroom. He walked toward the wardrobe. He pushed aside the suits.
His dark, cruel eyes locked directly onto the steel keypad mounted on the wall.
He pulled a small electronic bypass device from his tactical vest and plugged it straight into the keypad's maintenance port.
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A bright red light on our interior control panel began to flash.
WARNING: EXTERNAL BYPASS IN PROGRESS.
