Chapter 22 - The Rooftop Extraction
The sheer audacity of the helicopter extraction forced Julian to alter his strategy. The mercenaries in the hallway laid down another barrage of suppressing fire, clearly attempting to pin Julian down while a secondary team breached the roof. Julian realized that if they accessed the ventilation shafts or the structural weak points above the panic room, the steel door wouldn't matter. He had to stop them at the source.
"Vance, hold the east wing corridor!" Julian yelled into his radio, abandoning his static position. He slipped through a hidden servant's stairwell that led directly to the upper terrace. The roar of the helicopter engines was deafening as Julian kicked open the heavy roof access door, stepping out into the cold, chaotic night wind.
The black helicopter hovered twenty feet above the flat roof, a side door completely open. Standing in the doorway, tethered to a safety harness, was Elena. She wore a dark tactical jacket, her face contorted in a mask of absolute, unhinged fury. Two heavily armed men were repelling down ropes onto the roof, preparing to blow an access hatch.
"Julian!" Elena screamed over the roar of the rotors, spotting him instantly. "You ruined my life! I am going to take yours!"
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Julian raised his shotgun, aiming directly at the repelling mercenaries. He fired, catching one man in the leg, causing him to lose his grip and crash violently onto the hard tar of the roof. The second mercenary unholstered a sidearm, firing rapidly. Julian dove behind a massive HVAC unit, bullets sparking against the metal casing.
Below them, the wail of dozens of police sirens finally pierced the night. Blue and red lights flooded the winding mountain road. The cavalry had arrived. Elena looked down at the massive police presence swarming the estate, realizing her window for vengeance had violently slammed shut.
