Chapter 11: Blood in the Foyer
The front doors blew inward with a deafening roar, splintering the oak and scattering marble dust. Five operatives in tactical gear flooded the grand foyer, sweeping the area with laser sights.
Julian struck from the mezzanine. He didn't issue a warning. He fired three controlled bursts, dropping the first two men instantly. The remaining three scrambled for cover, returning fire that shattered the antique mirrors and shredded the priceless tapestries.
Julian moved like a ghost, utilizing the secret passages his grandfather had built during the Prohibition era. He flanked the intruders, emerging from a hidden panel behind the grand staircase. He dispatched a third man with a clean shot to the helm, engaged the fourth in brutal close-quarters combat, disarming him and driving a combat knife into his clavicle. The fifth man turned to run, but Julian’s aim was true. The foyer was silent once more, save for the patter of rain coming through the destroyed entrance. But there were still seven men outside.
