Chapter 4 - The Strike at Midnight
The convoy moved under the cover of a torrential downpour.
Three black armored SUVs sped down the winding coastal highway toward Julian’s secluded estate in the cliffs. Lena sat in the middle vehicle, sandwiched between Julian and Marcus. She wore a simple dark sweater and coat that Julian had personally selected from his private collection for her.
The rain beat violently against the reinforced glass.
"We cross the bridge in two minutes, Boss," the driver announced, checking the side mirrors. "Rear escort is holding formation."
Julian didn't answer. His hand hadn't left Lena’s since they stepped out of the penthouse. He felt her fingers twitching nervously and squeezed them reassuringly.
"It's going to be over soon, Lena," Julian murmured close to her ear. "Once we secure the bank vault tomorrow morning, the Ardens are finished."
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the night.
A blinding flash of orange light detonated at the front of the bridge. The lead SUV swerved violently as a rocket-propelled grenade clipped its front grill, sending the heavy vehicle flipping across the asphalt into a fiery wreck.
"Ambush!" Marcus roared, drawing his sidearm in a fraction of a second. "Hold the line! Protect the Boss!"
Before the driver could slam the SUV into reverse, two heavy garbage trucks pulled out from the side roads, completely blocking the rear exit. The convoy was trapped in the middle of the narrow bridge.
Automatic gunfire rained down upon the armored vehicle like heavy hail. The thick glass spiderwebbed, holding strong against the bullets, but the sheer volume of fire was pinning them down.
Lena gasped, instinctively leaning into Julian's chest. Julian pulled her down beneath his arm, wrapping his massive body around her like a human shield as he pulled a customized black pistol from his shoulder holster.
"Solazzo's men," Julian snarled, his eyes flashing with lethal intent. "They were waiting for us."
Through the rain-streaked, cracked glass, a figure stepped out from behind an armored truck. It was Richard Arden, wearing a heavy trench coat, holding a radio in one hand and a shotgun in the other. Beside him stood Celeste, her beautiful face twisted into an ugly, triumphant mask of hatred.
Richard raised a megaphone to his mouth, his voice booming over the sound of gunfire and thunder.
"Hand over the girl and the key, Julian!" Richard shouted. "Give us the maid and Owen's notebook, and we let you walk off this bridge alive! Refuse, and you die on this asphalt right beside her!"
Inside the SUV, Marcus looked at Julian with grim eyes. "The glass won't hold another two minutes of heavy caliber fire, Boss. We need a breach."
Julian didn't hesitate. He looked down at Lena. His face was utterly devoid of fear—only a dark, terrifying resolve remained.
"Stay flat on the floor, Lena," Julian commanded, his voice steady as iron. "Do not look up until I tell you."
"Julian, please—be careful!" she cried out, clutching his collar.
Julian kissed her fiercely on the lips—a brief, burning taste of passion and promise that left her breathless amidst the chaos of blood and steel.
May you like
"I promised to keep you safe," Julian whispered against her mouth. "Now watch me destroy them."
Julian kicked the heavy armored door open, stepping out into the storm of bullets and fire.
