Chapter 7
"Stay directly behind me at all times," Beckett instructed, his deep voice a fierce, protective rumble as he helped her into a heavy wool coat from the hallway closet. "You do not leave my sight for a single second."
"I promise," Ella whispered.
The heavy mahogany doors of the mansion swung open, letting in a blast of freezing winter air. The bright, cinematic lighting of the portico spilled out onto the snow-covered driveway, illuminating the small army waiting for their boss’s command.
Beckett walked out into the cold, Ella keeping pace right behind his broad shoulders. The men piled into the armored SUVs, weapons loaded and ready. Beckett opened the heavy armored door of the lead vehicle, ushering Ella inside before climbing in beside her. The doors slammed shut, sealing them in the dark, tense cabin.
"Drive," Beckett commanded the driver.
The convoy of black SUVs tore out of the mansion gates, tires spinning on the fresh snow, hurtling into the freezing night. The Christmas Eve dinner had ended in a bloodless coup, but the dawn would inevitably bring a massacre. As Beckett looked out the window into the darkness, his hand subtly finding Ella’s in the space between their seats, he prepared to tear the coast apart.
The two-hour drive was agonizingly tense. The bright headlights of the convoy cut through the falling snow, a relentless mechanical beast hunting in the dark. Inside the cabin, the only sound was the quiet hum of the heater and the occasional crackle of the tactical radio.
Ella held Beckett’s tattooed hand tightly, drawing warmth from his solid, masculine presence. She stared out the window, praying silently for the safety of the tiny infant she had only held for a moment.
"Are we approaching the perimeter, Vance?" Beckett asked into his radio as the SUVs began a steep climb up a winding coastal road.
"Yes, Boss," Vance replied over the static. "The Sterling compound is half a mile up. High walls, steel gates, and armed patrols. It looks like a fortress."
"Do they expect us to politely knock on the front door?" Beckett asked, a cold, ruthless smirk touching his sharp jawline. "Order the lead vehicle to ram the gates. We breach hard and fast. No warning."
Ella braced herself against the leather seat, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.
The convoy crested the hill. The Sterling estate loomed out of the darkness, a massive, modern structure perched on the edge of the coastal cliffs. Heavy steel gates blocked the driveway, flanked by guardhouses.
The driver of the lead SUV didn't hesitate. He accelerated, the heavy, reinforced grill of the vehicle slamming violently into the steel gates.
The impact was deafening. The gates buckled and burst inward, groaning in protest as the convoy tore into the bleak courtyard. The black vehicles skidded to a halt in a chaotic, defensive semi-circle, their bright headlights pinning the bewildered Sterling guards like deer in the headlights.
"Stay in the car until the perimeter is secure, Ella," Beckett commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Ella nodded quickly, shrinking back into the seat as the doors of the SUVs flew open.
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Beckett stepped out into the chaotic courtyard. The warm golden highlights of the headlights illuminated his tailored suit and his cold, unwavering gaze. His men poured out of the vehicles, heavily armed and moving with military precision. Gunfire erupted briefly, but the Sterling guards, overwhelmed by the sudden and brutal assault, threw down their weapons and surrendered within seconds.
Beckett walked calmly through the sea of surrendered guards, his polished shoes crunching on the broken glass and gravel. He approached the heavy glass double doors of the modern estate. He didn't bother opening them. He raised his weapon and fired three rapid shots into the locking mechanism.
