Chapter 36

The gunfire outside rattled the air like thunder, each shot sending a jolt of adrenaline through Erica’s veins. She crouched low beside Julian, her back pressed against the couch. The sharp scent of gunpowder mixed with the broken glass that littered the floor.

“Stay close,” Julian ordered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. His eyes were sharp, calculated, and in that moment, he wasn’t the man who had comforted her just days ago. He was the leader, the strategist—the one she had to trust with her life.

Erica nodded, gripping her pistol with sweaty palms. She could hear the heavy footsteps of Ophelia’s men advancing toward the mansion. The tactical gear, the coordinated movements—it was clear this wasn’t some amateur attack. They were professionals, mercenaries like the ones she had trained with long ago.

“Laroche!” Julian shouted across the room. “Get to a safe room if you have one!”

Victor Laroche, still crouched behind his desk, looked pale but furious. He nodded quickly, the