Chapter 6 - Human Shield
The first bullet grazed Nora's left forearm, shredding the fabric of her black uniform. The second tore through her right shoulder, spinning her around. The third lodged itself deep beneath her collarbone as she slammed into the floor, using her torso and thighs to form an impenetrable cage over Theo.
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
The impacts felt like white-hot iron bars being hammered into her flesh. Nora gasped for air, her vision tunneling into stars, but her hands never loosened their grip on the child beneath her. She locked her fingers together behind Theo’s back, pressing his small head into her chest so he wouldn't see the muzzle flashes.
"I've got you, Theo," she whispered through gritted teeth, her blood warm and slick against her torn apron. "Breathe with me. Just look at me. Close your eyes, little bear."
"Nora... Nora, you're bleeding!" Theo sobbed, his small hands clutching her torn apron as the ceiling above them rained shards of glass.
Across the foyer, Julian Mercer lost all human restraint. Seeing Nora take the volley meant for his son turned the syndicate boss into an unstoppable nightmare. He abandoned his cover, charging directly into the crossfire with cold, lethal precision. Every squeeze of his trigger dropped an intruder with terrifying efficiency.
Within two agonizing minutes, Julian’s outer perimeter enforcers smashed through the service doors, surrounding the grand hall and cutting down the remaining hitmen. The violent echo of gunfire died down, replaced only by the crackle of burning tapestries and the agonizing hiss of breached gas lines.
Julian tossed his smoking weapon onto a side table and sprinted across the blood-soaked marble floor.
"Medic! Get the trauma team in here NOW!" Julian roared, dropping to his knees beside Nora. His hands hovered over her, shaking violently, terrified that touching her might break what little life she had left.
Nora slowly opened her eyes. Despite the excruciating pain radiating through her upper body, she pushed herself up on one trembling elbow.
"He's safe, Mr. Mercer," she murmured weakly, her lips pale. "He didn't get a scratch."
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👉 But as Julian reached out to touch her face, the elevator doors at the end of the hall opened, and Victoria walked out.
***
