Chapter 21 - The Gates of Lake Forest
The iron gates of the sprawling Lake Forest estate loomed out of the dense forest like the jaws of a mythical beast. Thick stone walls topped with razor wire surrounded the property, guarded by private mercenaries wearing unmarked tactical gear. From the vantage point of the treeline, Damian and Elena crouched behind a thick clump of pine trees, observing the patrol patterns through thermal scopes.
"Four guards at the main gate, two on mobile patrol every fifteen minutes," Marcus whispered over the comm-link from the command van parked a mile down the road. "The electronic security grid is tied to a main generator in the east courtyard. Once you cut that, the compound goes dark for exactly forty seconds before the backup diesel kicks in."
"That's all the time we need," Damian replied, checking the magazine of his suppressed tactical rifle with a practiced, fluid motion. He glanced down at Elena, who was dressed in a dark tactical jumpsuit, her hair pulled back into a tight braid, her eyes burning with cold, resolute focus. "Remember, stay behind me until the perimeter is clear."
"Don't patronize me, Damian," Elena whispered back with a faint, fierce smirk. "I'm the one who found the decryption flaw in their firewall. I can handle a few mercenaries."
Before Damian could argue, Marcus’s voice crackled through the earpiece. "Generator offline. Now!"
Darkness instantly swallowed the estate. The glaring security floodlights died, plunging the sprawling mansion and its manicured lawns into pitch-black shadow.
"Move!" Damian commanded.
They crossed the open lawn with terrifying speed, moving like ghosts through the mist. Two guards rushed toward the disabled generator, shouting orders in clipped military jargon, but before they could unholster their weapons, Damian materialized from the dark. Two silent, heavy strikes dropped them instantly to the wet grass without a sound.
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Elena covered the rear flank, her rifle raised, scanning the shadows. The adrenaline was a roaring fire in her veins, but her mind was ice-cold. She was protecting her home, her daughter, and the man who had given her his soul. Nothing could break her now.
***
