Page 164 of Vendetta Vows

"Fuck." The curse escapes through clenched teeth. "Was there a call? A message?"

"I don't know. She was upset, frantic. She mentioned Kristofer and Hannah."

Everything clicks into place with sickening clarity. The gift wasn't just a taunt—it was bait. The photos of my nieces, the handcuffs with my name.

And Tamara using her own daughter to breach our security.

"It's a trap." The words taste like ash. "Kristofer and Tamara are working together."

Artyom stops mid-stride, turning back to me. "What?"

"It's coordinated. Tamara breaches our security through Mikayla. Kristofer sends the gift to draw Aurora out. And now—" My throat tightens. "Now Kristofer ties up the loose end of Aurora, and Tamara comes for her daughters."

"You think they're planning an attack on the mansion?" Artyom's voice is deadly calm, the kind that only comes before violence.

"I'm certain of it." I catch his arm. "Raise the alarm. Get everyone on high alert. I want double patrols on the perimeter and armed men at every entrance." I pull my gun from its holster, checking the magazine. "They'll be here any minute now."

Suddenly, gunfire shatters the air.

I'm at the security monitor in an instant, my heart turning to stone as I watch the feed.

Six black SUVs have breached our gates, disgorging a stream of men in tactical gear. Their movements are fluid, synchronized, and unnervingly professional.

Only Triad hitmen are this well-practiced.

They fan out across the grounds with military precision, firing at my men who are scrambling for cover.

"It's the fucking Triad." The word falls from my lips like a curse. "This isn't Tamara. It's Semyon."

He's coming to take the girls.

And kill me.

My men are returning fire, but they're outnumbered and caught off-guard. Bodies crumple as the attackers advance with ruthless efficiency. What few are left are already falling back towards the mansion.

It seems that Semyon's alliance with the Triads is paying off dividends.

"Artyom," I bark, checking my weapon again. "Get to the girls. Take the east passage and get them to the panic room."

He hesitates, his eyes meeting mine. We both know what this means.

"Go," I order. "Now."

As he disappears down the corridor, a hollow feeling opens in my chest. Aurora isn't here. She's safe from this slaughter, at least.

But she's walking into Kristofer's trap alone.

I grind my teeth, rage boiling up inside me. The same helplessness I felt watching Leslie die threatens to overwhelm me. Once again, someone I care for is beyond my reach while danger closes in.

The surveillance feed shows the attackers breaching the west entrance.

On another monitor, I see Daria herding staff toward the safe rooms. At least someone knows what they're doing. The manor has become a war zone, and there's no time left for regrets.

I pull out my phone to track the sedan's GPS, but the sound of chattering rifles demands my attention.

"Pakhan! They're inside the house!" A guard shouts just before his head explodes in a spray of pink mist.

Aurora is beyond my reach now. I can only pray she's strong enough to survive what's coming.

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