Chapter 27: The Firefight in the Old Town
The air in the safe house was thick with acrid gunpowder smoke and the sharp smell of ozone. Splinters of ancient oak wood flew through the air as automatic weapon fire chewed the antique furniture to pieces.
"Vance, secure the tunnel access!" Camila ordered, refusing to budge from her tactical position beside her uncle.
"Director, we have to move now!" Vance shouted, laying down a relentless wall of suppressive fire toward the hallway entrance.
Marcus turned to Camila, grabbing her by both shoulders. "Listen to me! The Janus Syndicate isn't just a criminal organization—they control the central banking algorithms of three major G7 nations. If you die here, they win everything. Go!"
Before Camila could argue, a heavy tactical breach charge detonated against the side wall of the safe house, blowing a massive hole straight through the stone masonry and sending a cloud of blinding dust into the room.
Through the dust, three heavily armored operators rushed forward, their weapons raised.
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Marcus didn't hesitate. He shoved Camila hard toward the open floor hatch behind the bookshelf, stepping out from cover with his pistol blazing. He caught the lead operator squarely in the chest before a burst of return fire struck him shoulder and chest.
"No!" Camila screamed, scrambling back toward him, but Vance grabbed her by the tactical vest and hauled her down into the dark, descending stone stairway of the escape tunnel just as the heavy iron hatch slammed shut above them.
