Chapter 6: Under Fire

The bodyguard's warning had barely left his mouth before the first gunshot shattered the restaurant's glass entrance.

Customers screamed.

Wine glasses exploded across the dining room.

Staff members ducked behind tables while security rushed toward the entrance.

"Get everyone out the back!" Marco ordered.

His calm voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

Within seconds, every De Luca bodyguard moved with military precision.

"Move! Move! Move!"

Devon stood frozen.

This wasn't a movie.

This wasn't a news report.

Real bullets were tearing through the building.

"Devon!" Marco barked.

"Get down!"

A second volley of gunfire blasted through the windows.

Marco grabbed Devon by the arm and pulled him behind a marble pillar just as shattered glass rained over them.

"Stay here," Marco ordered.

"What about you?"

"I'm ending this."

"You're going out there?"

"They're here for you."

"Which makes them my problem."

Marco pulled a black pistol from beneath his jacket.

Devon's eyes widened.

"You actually carry one everywhere?"

"Occupational necessity."

Another explosion echoed outside.

One of Marco's men stumbled backward through the doorway, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

"Boss!"

"They've blocked the rear exit too!"

"How many?"

"At least twenty."

"Professional shooters."

Marco's expression darkened.

"This wasn't planned in a hurry."

"Someone knew we'd be here."

Luca Romano entered through the kitchen entrance.

"Boss, the armored SUVs are ready underground."

"We'll never reach them through the lobby."

"Then we don't use the lobby."

Marco looked toward Devon.

"Can you run?"

"I think so."

"Good."

"Because once we start moving... don't stop for anything."

"Understood."

Marco nodded once.

"Everyone, basement route."

"Protect Mr. Hamilton."

"Yes, Boss!"

The team quickly moved through the restaurant kitchen.

Chefs and waiters had already been evacuated.

Only the sound of distant gunfire remained.

Devon followed closely behind Marco.

"How are you staying so calm?" he whispered.

"I've survived worse."

"That isn't comforting."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

They descended a narrow staircase leading toward the underground parking garage.

Halfway down...

...the lights suddenly went out.

Darkness swallowed everything.

"Night vision," one bodyguard whispered.

Green laser sights immediately appeared across the walls.

"Ambush!"

Gunfire erupted inside the stairwell.

Marco shoved Devon against the wall as bullets ripped through the concrete.

"Stay behind me!"

His men returned fire instantly.

The deafening sound echoed through the enclosed corridor.

Devon covered his ears, struggling to breathe.

He had never been this close to death before.

"Boss! Left side clear!"

"Advance!"

Marco fired twice.

Two attackers collapsed.

The remaining gunmen retreated deeper into the garage.

"Move!"

They sprinted forward.

The underground garage came into view.

Several armored black SUVs waited with engines already running.

"Almost there," Luca shouted.

Suddenly...

A sniper's shot echoed through the garage.

Marco reacted instantly.

Instead of protecting himself...

He pushed Devon aside.

The bullet struck Marco's shoulder.

"Boss!"

Blood spread quickly across Marco's black suit.

"I'm fine," he growled through clenched teeth.

"Get Devon into the vehicle."

"No!" Devon protested.

"You're bleeding!"

"I'll survive."

"Move!"

Before anyone could react further, three more black vans crashed through the security gate.

Heavily armed men poured out.

They weren't wearing masks anymore.

Their leader stepped forward confidently.

"Marco De Luca!"

"Hand over Devon Hamilton."

"We'll let the rest of you live."

Marco laughed.

"You must not know me very well."

"I don't negotiate with cowards hiding behind rifles."

The leader smiled coldly.

"Then everyone dies."

He raised his hand.

"Open fire!"

Another intense firefight erupted.

Bullets ricocheted off luxury cars.

Car alarms screamed throughout the garage.

Devon hid behind an SUV, his heart pounding violently.

He looked toward Marco.

Despite the wound in his shoulder, Marco continued directing his men while returning accurate fire.

Every movement was controlled.

Every command precise.

This wasn't chaos to him.

This was experience.

"Devon!" Luca shouted.

"Get in the SUV now!"

"What about Marco?"

"He'll cover us!"

"I'm not leaving him!"

Marco heard those words.

For a brief second...

...he smiled.

"Wrong answer," he called out.

"You're my responsibility now."

"Get in the vehicle."

"That's an order."

Reluctantly, Devon climbed inside the armored SUV.

Luca jumped into the driver's seat.

"Boss!"

"We're leaving!"

"Go!" Marco commanded.

The SUV accelerated toward the exit ramp.

Behind them, Marco remained alone in the middle of the garage, exchanging gunfire with nearly twenty armed attackers.

Devon looked through the rear window.

"We can't leave him!"

"Trust him," Luca answered.

"He's survived impossible situations before."

Just as the SUV reached the street...

A massive explosion rocked the underground garage.

The entire building shook violently.

Concrete collapsed.

Smoke poured from every entrance.

Devon's face turned pale.

"Marco..."

No one answered.

The garage entrance disappeared beneath collapsing debris.

And Marco De Luca was still inside.