CHAPTER 5 — THE NIGHT RAVENHILL BURNED
CHAPTER 5 — THE NIGHT RAVENHILL BURNED
The man waiting at Ravenhill's front entrance introduced himself with quiet confidence.
"My name is Detective Lucas Bennett."
"I believe someone tried to murder you eight months ago."
Dominic remained perfectly still.
"Come in."
Lucas stepped into the great hall carrying a weatherproof evidence case chained to his wrist.
Every guard in the mansion watched him.
Mrs. Gable's face drained of color.
From the shadows outside the estate, Damian Cross watched through a rifle scope.
"So..."
he murmured.
"The detective made it."
He smiled.
"He won't leave."
Inside the library, Lucas placed the evidence case on the table.
"I recovered this from Pier Nineteen."
Dominic touched the metal case.
"You sound certain."
"I am."
Lucas unlocked the chain.
Inside rested the burned titanium watch.
"The microchip survived."
Dominic's breathing became heavier.
Lucas inserted the recovered drive into a secure laptop.
"I know you can't see it."
"So I'm going to describe everything."
The video began.
"There you are."
"You've just entered the warehouse."
"Six men behind you."
Lucas paused.
"Now..."
"Damian Cross walks into frame."
Dominic's fingers curled.
"Victoria joins him."
Silence filled the room.
"They're kissing."
No one spoke.
Lucas swallowed.
"She's holding..."
"...a detonator."
Dominic's face became expressionless.
Inside...
Everything broke.
Not because Victoria had betrayed him.
He had accepted that months ago.
What destroyed him was something else.
Damian.
The boy he'd rescued from a freezing alley.
The brother he had chosen.
The man who had once stood beside him at his mother's funeral.
Dominic whispered,
"I fed him."
"I protected him."
"I buried his father."
Lucas looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
Dominic slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I'm done being sorry."
For the first time since losing his sight...
His voice sounded like the old Dominic Vale.
Cold.
Measured.
Dangerous.
"Tell me everything."
Outside...
Damian lowered the rifle.
"They've seen the video."
Victoria looked nervous.
"What now?"
"We move early."
"But there are still guards."
Damian smiled.
"Not for long."
He pressed a button on his encrypted phone.
Five black SUVs rolled silently out of the forest.
Thirty armed mercenaries emerged.
Former soldiers.
Professional killers.
No syndicate tattoos.
No witnesses.
No survivors.
"Burn the mansion."
"Kill everyone."
"Especially..."
"...the mute."
At exactly 11:17 p.m., the lights across Ravenhill Estate went dark.
Emergency generators failed.
The security cameras died.
The electronic gates unlocked by themselves.
Lucas frowned.
"They hacked the system."
Dominic stood instantly.
"They're here."
The first explosion shattered the eastern wing.
Glass rained through the corridors.
Servants screamed.
Automatic gunfire erupted outside.
The loyal guards fired back.
Bullets tore through marble pillars.
Smoke poured into the mansion.
Mrs. Gable collapsed in panic.
"They found us!"
Dominic turned toward Meline.
Even through the chaos...
He found her hand.
"Stay beside me."
She squeezed once.
Always.
The attackers stormed the entrance hall.
Three guards fell immediately.
Another was hit protecting two maids.
Lucas drew his service pistol.
"I'll cover the west hall."
Dominic reached toward an old grandfather clock.
He pressed a hidden latch.
The wooden wall rotated.
Behind it...
An armored weapons room.
Lucas stared.
"You kept this?"
Dominic smiled grimly.
"I built Ravenhill."
He knew every secret inside it.
He picked up a shotgun.
Loaded it by touch.
Then another weapon.
Not for himself.
For Lucas.
"You shoot."
"I listen."
Together...
The blind mafia boss and the detective walked toward the gunfire.
Meline wasn't carrying a weapon.
She carried people.
One by one she led terrified servants through hidden passages toward the wine cellar shelter.
A frightened little kitchen boy clung to her apron.
She held his hand while explosions shook the walls.
The estate burned around them.
Yet she never stopped moving.
Outside...
Damian watched flames consume Ravenhill.
"He's finished."
Victoria whispered,
"How can you be sure?"
Then—
BOOM!
One of Damian's SUVs exploded.
Another.
Then another.
His smile disappeared.
"What the hell?"
From the mansion rooftop...
Dominic's oldest sniper, Samuel Reese, calmly chambered another round.
He had remained hidden for eight months...
Waiting for one order.
May you like
Tonight...
He finally received it.
