Chapter 6
The descent toward the wine cellar was a nightmare forged in smoke and blood. Dante led the way down the narrow servants' staircase, a route Megan knew intimately from her months of carrying laundry, but now it felt like a descent into the underworld. Every shadow held the promise of death.
"Stay behind me," Dante ordered in a harsh whisper as they reached the landing just above the massive kitchen.
The sounds of the firefight were deafening in the main foyer, but the kitchen was eerily silent. Dante peered around the corner, his weapon raised. The sprawling stainless steel room was empty, the staff having evacuated hours ago.
"Clear," Dante signaled.
Megan hurried behind him, clutching Felix tightly to her chest. Her bandaged hands ached fiercely with the weight of the toddler, but adrenaline numbed the worst of it. Felix buried his face in her cashmere sweater, whimpering softly.
They reached the heavy oak door leading down to the wine cellar. Dante grabbed the handle, but it refused to turn. He cursed under his breath, shooting the lock twice. He kicked the door open, revealing the dark, winding stone staircase that led to the underground bunker.
"Go down. The bunker door is at the bottom. It requires my passcode, so wait for me there," Dante commanded, gently pushing Megan toward the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Megan panicked, grabbing his arm.
"I have to flank the men in the foyer, or they will eventually blow the floor to get to us," Dante said, his dark eyes fiercely determined. He reached out and stroked Felix's curls, then pressed a hard, desperate kiss to Megan’s forehead. "I will come down for you. I promise."
"Dante, please don't leave us," Megan begged, tears blurring her vision.
"I am coming back," Dante swore, stepping back and raising his weapon. "Go!"
Megan turned and fled down the stone steps, the darkness swallowing her and Felix. The air grew cold and damp, smelling of aged oak and earth. They reached the bottom, standing before a massive steel vault door.
Megan set Felix down, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "We just have to wait, sweetie. Papa is going to come get us."
"Loud noises," Felix sniffled, wiping his nose with his sleeve.
"I know, baby. But we're safe here," Megan soothed.
Suddenly, the distinct sound of footsteps echoed from the top of the stone staircase. Megan froze. Dante wouldn't have returned so quickly. She looked around the dimly lit wine cellar, desperately searching for a place to hide, but the racks of vintage bottles offered little cover.
A figure emerged from the shadows at the bottom of the stairs.
"Well, isn't this a touching scene," Sabrina Rowe purred, stepping into the dim light.
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She had traded her champagne satin gown for a sleek, dark trench coat, but her ruby earrings still flashed maliciously. In her hands, she held a small, suppressed silver pistol, aimed directly at Megan’s chest.
"Did you really think a few guards could keep me out of my own future home, Megan?" Sabrina smiled, her eyes wild with unhinged jealousy. "I came to finish what I started."
