Chapter 10
The grand salon descended into absolute chaos. The deafening roar of automatic gunfire echoed off the high, vaulted ceilings, tearing through the pristine elegance of the estate. Plaster exploded from the cream marble columns, and the cinematic lighting flickered violently as bullets chewed through the electrical wiring. Smoke quickly filled the air, acrid and blinding, masking the festive scent of pine.
Reid Ashford stood his ground, a terrifying force of nature in his tailored dark suit. He fired with lethal, practiced accuracy, dropping three heavily armed Drake enforcers before they could fully breach the massive double doors. He moved with a brutal, masculine grace, utilizing the heavy velvet sofas for cover. His dark, swept-back hair was dusted with plaster, and his sharp jawline was set in a mask of unrelenting fury.
The firefight was intense, but the tactical advantage of the high ground was devastating. Reid and his men rained fire down upon the invaders, halting their advance in the salon. The Drake forces, realizing they had walked into a meticulously prepared meat grinder, began to fall back, dragging their wounded toward the shattered entrance.
From the smoke-filled doorway below, a figure emerged, shielded by a wall of armored men. It was Arthur Drake, the boss of the rival family and Camille's father. He was an older man, his face twisted in a mask of absolute hatred.
"Give me my daughter, Reid!" Arthur roared, his voice echoing over the dying gunfire. "You betrayed the alliance! You locked her in a cell like an animal!"
Reid stepped to the edge of the marble landing, entirely exposed, his weapon lowered but ready. His deep, controlled voice cut through the smoke effortlessly.
"Did you honestly believe I would allow a woman who tortures my staff and terrorizes my daughter to rule by my side, Arthur?" Reid asked, his dark eyes burning with cold authority.
Arthur glared up at him, his weapon trembling. "You kidnapped her! You are starting a war you cannot win!"
"If I wanted a war, you would already be dead on my driveway," Reid stated coldly. He reached into his pocket and tossed a thick, blood-stained dossier over the railing. It landed heavily at Arthur's feet. "Your daughter was siphoning funds from our joint accounts to pay off her own gambling debts, Arthur. She was a liability. You can have her back. But the alliance is dead, and the eastern ports belong to me as compensation for the damages."
Arthur stared at the dossier, the color draining from his face as he realized his daughter had lied to him to provoke a war to cover her own monstrous crimes. He slowly lowered his weapon, signaling his surviving men to stand down.
"Bring her out," Arthur gritted his teeth, his pride entirely shattered.
An hour later, the estate was quiet. The Drake forces had retreated with the disgraced Camille, leaving the Ashford syndicate battered but victorious.
Reid walked slowly back up to the master suite. His suit was ruined, his knuckles bruised, but he was alive. He pressed his hand to the biometric scanner, and the heavy steel door clicked open.
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Mara and Poppy were asleep on the massive bed, wrapped tightly in each other's arms. When the door opened, Mara gasped and sat up, her eyes wide. Seeing Reid standing there, safe, she let out a ragged sob and flew across the room, throwing her arms around his neck.
Reid caught her, holding her tightly against his chest, burying his face in her hair. The war was over, the monster was banished, and as he held the brave, beautiful woman in his arms, Reid knew that the true battle for his family had only just begun.
