Chapter 17 - The Shadowy Creditors Make A Terrifying Direct Move
The shockwave rattled the crystal windows of the penthouse, sending a low, vibrating hum through the imported marble flooring. Maya gasped, stumbling backward against the kitchen island as emergency klaxons began wailing through the building's security network.
Julian moved instantly, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her away from the glass windows into the reinforced core of the kitchen. “Stay down, Maya; do not move from this spot,” he ordered, his voice ringing with absolute command.
He pulled his encrypted satellite phone from his pocket, tapping the master security override to connect directly with Derek in the command center. “Derek report! What just hit the subterranean garage?” Julian shouted over the blaring alarms.
“Car bomb, boss! A rigged sedan blew up near the private elevator bay, and we have multiple armed intruders breaching the service stairs!” Derek yelled back through heavy static and gunfire. Julian’s face hardened into a mask of pure, lethal ice.
“Secure the panic room and lock down every floor above the tenth; I am coming down,” Julian commanded, sliding his weapon from its shoulder holster with practiced speed. He looked back at Maya, who was staring at him with wide, terrified eyes.
“Julian... what is happening?” Maya whispered, her voice trembling violently as the reality of his violent world crashed down around them. Julian stepped close, cupping her face in his hands for one intense, desperate second.
“This is my world, Maya, and I am going to make sure nobody touches you,” Julian vowed fiercely before turning toward the hallway. Heavy boots echoed up the private stairwell as the first wave of Sterling’s mercenaries breached the residential floor.
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Gunfire shattered the mahogany doors at the end of the hallway, sending splintered wood flying through the air like shrapnel. Julian raised his weapon, stepping out into the corridor to meet the attack head-on.
Maya pressed herself against the kitchen counter, her hands clamped over her mouth to muffle her sobs as the terrifying sounds of war erupted outside her door.
