Chapter 7 - The Siege at Hawthorne Manor
"BOYS, UNDER THE COUNTER! NOW!" Emily roared, her maternal instincts exploding into action despite the blinding fear.
She threw her body over the three boys, pushing them deep beneath the heavy granite kitchen island as dust and shattered glass filled the air.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Heavy automatic gunfire echoed outside as Marcus and the private security team immediately engaged the attackers near the perimeter wall. Sirens began to blare across the entire property as the estate went into full military-grade lockdown. Heavy steel security shutters began descending over the windows.
Richard scrambled up from the floor, his face pale, checking Emily over frantically. "Are you hit?! Emily, look at me, are you hurt?!"
"I'm fine! I'm okay!" Emily panted, her heart hammering against her ribs. "The boys—"
"They're safe under the island," Richard said, pulling his Sig Sauer pistol from his shoulder holster. "Marcus! Report!"
"Three breach points on the East Gate!" Marcus’s voice crackled over Richard’s radio amidst heavy gunfire. "They used explosive charges on the transformer! Power is cut! They’re inside the courtyard!"
The kitchen lights flickered and died, plunging the vast mansion into eerie shadows. Only the red emergency backup lights illuminated the hallways.
"They want the drive, and they want Emily," Richard spat, his eyes burning with lethal intent. "Emily, take the boys to the master safe room in the basement. You know the code—it’s the boys’ birthday."
"No, Richard!" Emily grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with terror. "You can't face them alone! Come with us!"
"I have to draw them away from the basement access," Richard said firmly. He reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek, his thumbs wiping away a smudge of dust from her skin. "I brought this danger into your life, Emily. I will not let them hurt you or my sons again. Go. Now!"
Before Emily could protest, Richard racked the slide of his weapon and sprinted out into the dark hallway, firing three controlled shots toward the main terrace doors as two masked mercenaries kicked their way inside.
Emily didn't waste a single second. "Ethan, Noah, Liam, hold my hands! We're playing our secret game, okay? Quiet as mice!"
The three boys, terrified but trusting Emily completely, nodded rapidly. Emily guided them through the dark servant hallways—passages she knew better than anyone because she had spent three years cleaning every inch of them.
They slipped down the narrow spiral staircase leading to the sub-basement.
Behind them, the sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor above.
"Search the lower level!" a rough voice shouted upstairs. "Vance said eliminate the housekeeper and bring back the drive! Move!"
Emily’s heart dropped. The attackers were already in the basement hallway, blocking the main path to the safe room.
Trapped in the narrow corridor, Emily looked around frantically. Beside them was the old furnace room—a small, dark utility space filled with heavy iron pipes and old cleaning supplies.
"In here, quickly," Emily whispered, ushering the boys inside and pulling the heavy steel door almost shut, leaving only a tiny crack to see through.
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Outside, a towering mercenary in tactical gear walked slowly down the corridor, holding a suppressed assault rifle, his flashlights cutting through the dark smoke.
He stopped right outside the furnace room door.
