Chapter 8 - The Safehouse Ambush
Before they could descend, the quiet of the airfield was shattered.
From the service road bordering the tarmac, two black SUVs breached the outer security gate at full throttle, tires squealing against the concrete. Armed men in tactical gear leaned out of the passenger windows, raising automatic rifles toward the base of the plane’s stairs.
"Ambush!" Marcus yelled, slamming the door shut to armor-lock status. "They anticipated the reroute!"
Below, the Italian police returned fire instantly, deafening cracks echoing across the tarmac as Aunt Celia pulled Elena behind the cover of the armored transport.
"They want the chip!" Julian shouted over the gunfire, looking at the locket in Leah’s hand. "If they secure Leah, they control the narrative!"
"Julian, open the lower service hatch!" Leah shouted back, her young mind racing through the safety diagrams she had memorized on the flight. "The baggage conveyor hatch on the starboard side! It opens directly into the ground maintenance tunnel!"
Julian didn't question her. He trusted her instincts completely. "Marcus, cover the front! Julian, take Noah! Let's move!"
Racing through the galley and down the tight crew ladder into the cargo bay, Julian kicked open the hydraulic emergency service hatch. They dropped four feet onto the tarmac, shielded from the firefight on the port side by the enormous belly of the 777.
"Run for the perimeter trench!" Julian yelled, shielding Noah with his torso while Leah grabbed Maya by the hand and sprinted.
One of the syndicate gunmen broke through the police perimeter, rounding the tail of the plane with his weapon raised. "Stop right there!"
Leah didn't hesitate. She threw her heavy travel backpack with all her strength directly at the gunman's knees, throwing him off balance. In that split second, a single, sharp shot cracked from behind them.
The gunman collapsed, disarmed.
Standing thirty feet away, smoke curling from her service pistol, was Aunt Celia, with Elena right behind her.
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"Get away from my daughters!" Elena screamed, running through the clearing smoke, ignoring the chaos and the shouts of the tactical police securing the remaining attackers.
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