Chapter 11
The deafening roar of a suppressed automatic weapon shattered the quiet tension of the foyer. The lead hitman didn't hesitate, firing a specialized burst that chewed into the mahogany banister inches from Aldric’s head.
Aldric moved with blinding, explosive speed. He didn't cower or shout in panic. Shielding Thora securely against his broad chest, he lunged behind the massive marble pillar at the base of the grand staircase, his polished shoes sliding perfectly on the hardwood floor.
"Daddy!" Thora screamed, burying her tear-stained face into his neck, her tiny hands gripping his shirt with desperate strength.
"Keep your eyes closed, little bird," Aldric commanded smoothly, his voice a deep, grounding anchor of absolute calm. "Do exactly as I say. You are perfectly safe."
He reached beneath his tailored suit jacket and drew a sleek, high-capacity firearm. He wasn't just a corporate titan; he was a man who had built his empire in the most dangerous, unregulated sectors of the global market.
In the center of the dining room, Heloise shrieked as bullets pulverized the dining table behind her. "Don't shoot! I'm Richard's sister! Tell him I have the deed!"
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"Richard said you were a liability," the hitman replied coldly, turning the barrel of his weapon directly toward her bleeding face.
Aldric stepped out from cover. He fired twice. The crisp, deafening cracks echoed through the foyer as the lead hitman and his closest operative dropped instantly to the floor, neutralized by flawless, surgical headshots. The remaining two men scrambled wildly for cover, realizing too late they had walked into the den of an apex predator.
