Chapter 9 - The Siege of Hawthorne RidgeBefore Alessandro could ask another question, the heavy bulletproof glass of the study window exploded inward in a shower of brilliant silver sparks.
A sharp, deafening CRACK echoed across the grounds—the unmistakable sound of a high-powered sniper rifle fired from the tree line past the iron gates.
“DOWN!” Marco screamed, tackling Alessandro to the floor as a second heavy round tore through the leather executive chair.
Alessandro rolled instantly, scrambling across the rug on his hands and knees toward Rosa. He threw his broad body over Rosa and Lily, shielding them entirely with his torso as a hail of gunfire began to pepper the exterior walls of the estate.
The alarms across the house began to blare—a deep, rhythmic horn that signaled an all-out assault on the grounds.
“It’s Romano!” Marco yelled over the noise, pulling a heavy tactical rifle from a hidden wall safe near the bookshelf. “They didn't leave! They pulled armored SUVs into the forest and opened fire the moment the sun began to set!”
“Bruno! Get Rosa and Lily down to the wine cellar through the private passage!” Alessandro shouted, unholstering his weapon and racking the slide.
“No! I’m not leaving you!” Rosa screamed, clutching his arm, her eyes filled with terror.
“Rosa, listen to me!” Alessandro yelled over the deafening sound of shattering glass and automatic gunfire echoing from the foyer below. “The wine cellar is reinforced steel! They cannot break through! Take Lily and go! Now!”
He leaned down, pressed a hard, passionate kiss to Rosa’s lips, and then looked directly into his daughter’s eyes.
“Stay with Mama, little bird,” he whispered softly to Lily. “Daddy will be right back.”
Lily looked at him, her small hand reaching out to pat his cheek. “Be careful, Daddy.”
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The word—Daddy—hit Alessandro like an electric charge, flooding his veins with an unstoppable, primal surge of power. He stood up, turning toward the door with an expression of pure, unadulterated fury that terrified even his own security chief.
“Marco,” Alessandro growled, his voice carrying the dark, terrifying thunder of a Don fully unleashed. “Tell the men to use live ordinance. None of these bastards walk off my property alive.”
