CHAPTER 5 – THE MAN WHO STARTED A WAR
CHAPTER 5 – THE MAN WHO STARTED A WAR
The first explosion shattered every window on the eastern side of the estate.
The blast rolled across the cliff like thunder.
Concrete cracked.
Fire climbed into the morning sky.
Hana screamed.
Haru buried her face against Amara's shoulder.
Dae reached them before the glass finished falling.
"Get down!"
He threw himself over the three of them just as a second explosion ripped through the courtyard.
Fragments of stone rained across his back.
Joon's voice thundered through the emergency speakers.
"Attack teams!"
"North and east perimeter!"
"They're using the drones as a distraction!"
Dae looked toward the surveillance wall.
Dozens of black SUVs were racing up the private road.
Not police.
Not federal agents.
Professional assault teams.
Whoever had planned this wasn't trying to frighten him.
They were trying to erase everyone inside.
Fifteen Minutes Earlier...
Chairman Min sat inside a quiet tea room overlooking downtown Los Angeles.
He calmly poured himself another cup.
Across from him sat Miya.
She had not slept.
Her wedding dress still hung untouched in her penthouse.
"You arranged this."
The old man didn't deny it.
"I arranged protection."
"You arranged murder."
"I arranged necessity."
Miya's hands trembled.
"There are children."
"There are heirs."
"They are innocent."
"There is no innocence in our world."
She stared at the man who had raised her.
For the first time in her life...
She felt fear instead of respect.
"You always told me power protects family."
Chairman Min smiled faintly.
"No."
"Power chooses family."
"You are my daughter."
"They are my enemy's blood."
Miya slowly stood.
"If you hurt those girls..."
"...I'll never call you Father again."
The old man continued drinking his tea.
"You'll understand someday."
She walked out without another word.
The moment the door closed, Chairman Min looked toward one of his commanders.
"She'll interfere."
"Follow her."
"If necessary..."
He paused.
"Keep her alive."
Back at the estate...
The first wave of attackers reached the gates.
Heavy machine guns erupted.
The compound shook.
Joon directed the defense like a battlefield commander.
"Section Three!"
"Hold the west wall!"
"Snipers!"
"Target vehicle engines!"
The gates exploded inward.
Armored trucks burst through the smoke.
Masked gunmen poured out.
Dae looked at Amara.
"There’s a panic room beneath the medical wing."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You are."
"No."
"They'll kill you."
"They'll kill all of us if you stay."
Before she could argue, Hana tugged gently on Dae's sleeve.
"Mister..."
Everyone froze.
The little girl looked embarrassed.
"I mean..."
She hesitated.
"...Dad."
The word broke something inside him.
He knelt despite the chaos around them.
"What is it?"
Her tiny hands wrapped around his neck.
"Please don't die."
He closed his eyes.
For years, men had begged him for mercy.
No plea had ever reached him.
One frightened whisper from his daughter nearly destroyed his composure.
He kissed her forehead.
"I'll come back."
"You promise?"
"I swear it."
Then Haru stretched out both arms.
"You forgot me."
A weak smile crossed his face.
He hugged her too.
"I could never forget you."
Amara watched in silence.
The girls had known him less than two hours.
Yet somehow...
They already trusted him.
Another explosion.
The ceiling shook violently.
Joon ran into the room.
"They're inside!"
Dae stood.
"Take them underground."
"What about you?"
"I'm ending this."
Outside...
The estate had become a battlefield.
Smoke covered the gardens.
Luxury cars burned beside shattered fountains.
Dae walked into the center of the courtyard wearing no body armor.
Only a black suit.
Bullets snapped past him.
His men stared in disbelief.
He wasn't taking cover.
He was hunting.
One attacker rounded a corner.
Dae disarmed him in two movements.
The rifle hit the ground.
The man followed a second later.
Another charged with a knife.
Dae sidestepped.
The attacker never got back up.
The surviving mercenaries slowly realized something horrifying.
The billionaire wasn't hiding behind security.
He was the most dangerous man on the property.
Within minutes...
Their assault collapsed.
Those still alive began retreating.
Dae grabbed one wounded commander by the collar.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed through bloody teeth.
"You already know."
"Chairman Min?"
"No."
The man coughed violently.
"Him..."
"...and someone much closer."
Before Dae could ask another question...
A hidden capsule cracked between the man's teeth.
Poison.
Within seconds...
He was dead.
Dae stared at the body.
May you like
Someone closer?
Who?
