Chapter 7 - The Main Assault
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Before Dante could even turn back to the kitchen, a massive, concussive explosion rocked the front of the penthouse.
The reinforced steel doors of the main entrance were blown completely off their hinges, sending a shockwave of dust and debris tearing through the grand foyer. The explosive breach was deafening, signaling the arrival of Cole’s heavy hitters.
“Move!” Dante shouted, grabbing Elena’s hand and dragging her away from the kitchen toward the fortified library.
A half-dozen men flooded into the ruined foyer, their tactical flashlights cutting through the thick smoke like strobe lights. They immediately opened fire on the retreating couple, bullets chewing through the drywall and shattering the expensive artwork lining the hallway.
Dante shoved Elena behind a heavy marble pillar near the library entrance. He leaned around the cover, returning fire, dropping two of the advancing mercenaries before retreating into the library and kicking the heavy oak doors shut.
He threw the heavy iron deadbolt, buying them precious seconds.
“They brought breaching charges,” Dante cursed, pulling a heavy assault rifle from the hidden arsenal behind the painting. He tossed an extra magazine to Elena. “They’ll blow this door in less than a minute. We have to take the secondary exit.”
“The panic room?” Elena asked, reloading her 9mm.
“The panic room is a coffin if they have enough explosives,” Dante replied, his eyes dark and calculating. “We fall back to the private maintenance shaft behind the fireplace. It leads down to the fortieth floor. We can intercept Silas’s team in the stairwell.”
Heavy, rhythmic pounding began against the library doors.
“Dante Romano!” a harsh, gravelly voice echoed from the hallway. “It’s over! Give up the girl, and we make this quick!”
Dante didn't bother responding. He walked to the massive stone fireplace, reached inside, and pulled a hidden lever. The back wall of the hearth clicked and swung inward, revealing a dark, narrow maintenance shaft lined with a metal ladder.
“Go,” Dante ordered Elena, positioning himself facing the library doors with his rifle raised. “I’ll cover our retreat.”
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“I’m not leaving you!” Elena shouted.
“Go, Elena!” Dante roared, the absolute authority of the syndicate boss breaking through. “I am right behind you.”
