Chapter 4 - The Strike in the Dark
For two weeks, the Calloway Estate was an oasis of tranquility surrounded by an invisible ring of steel.
Della’s health flourished. The color returned to her cheeks, the lacerations on her hand healed into faint, clean pink lines, and her belly grew visibly rounder and firmer with each passing week.
Royce spent every evening with her. The ruthless mafia boss who controlled Chicago’s underbelly sat by the fireplace, drinking tea, listening to Della talk about her dreams of opening a small bakery once the baby was born. He read chapters of classic literature aloud to her stomach, his deep, soothing voice causing the baby to kick enthusiastically against Della’s hand—a sensation that had brought an incredible, breathtaking smile to Royce’s usually stern face.
They were falling in love—a quiet, powerful, unstoppable pull that neither of them tried to fight anymore.
On a rainy Thursday morning, Della had a scheduled high-risk prenatal ultrasound at the North Shore Women's Health Pavilion—a private, ultra-exclusive clinic five miles from the estate.
Royce insisted on accompanying her.
A four-vehicle convoy moved down the tree-lined avenue toward the clinic. Gabe led the detail in the front SUV, while Royce, Della, and two private nurses sat in the armored primary vehicle.
Inside the clinic’s private third-floor suite, the atmosphere was serene.
Della lay on the examination table, holding Royce’s hand tightly as the ultrasound technician spread warm gel across her belly. On the high-definition monitor mounted on the wall, the tiny, perfectly formed shape of her unborn son appeared.
"There he is," the technician smiled warmly. "Strong heart, healthy limbs. He weighs just over two pounds now, Miss Marsh. He’s thriving."
Royce stared at the screen, his thumb stroking Della’s knuckles, a look of profound, sacred awe in his eyes.
"Look at him, Royce," Della whispered, tears of happiness brimming in her eyes. "He's perfect."
"He is," Royce murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss against her forehead. "He’s perfect."
Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered and died.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the lower level of the medical center, shattering the glass windows in the hallway outside. The floor shook violently, throwing medical equipment to the ground.
Emergency red backup lights clicked on, casting long, bloody shadows across the room.
Over the clinic’s comms, Gabe’s voice roared through Royce’s earpiece: "BOSS! IT'S AN AMBUSH! THEY BLEW THE TRANSFORMER AT THE SUBSTATION! MULTIPLE HEAVILY ARMED GOONS BREACHING THE LOBBY! IT'S MORETTI'S CREW AND HARLAN VANCE!"
Royce didn't hesitate for a single second.
He unholstered a suppressed Glock 19 from his shoulder rig, pulling Della off the examination table and tucking her behind his body in the corner of the room. He grabbed a heavy surgical gown from a hook and wrapped it around her shoulders to shield her from flying glass.
"Royce!" Della gasped, her heart slamming violently against her ribs as she clutched her stomach.
"Stay down, Della! Look at me!" Royce commanded, his dark eyes fierce and clear through the smoke drifting under the door. "I will not let them touch you. Do you hear me? I will die before anyone lays a finger on you or our boy!"
Our boy.
The words echoed in Della’s heart, giving her a sudden surge of courage amidst the terror.
Outside the door, heavy tactical boots marched down the corridor. Suppressed gunfire echoed through the hall—TAK-TAK-TAK-TAK!—followed by the heavy thuds of falling bodies.
The door handle of the exam room rattled violently.
BLAM!
A breaching charge blew the door hinge off, sending the heavy wooden door crashing inward.
Three men wearing dark tactical gear, ski masks, and carrying automatic submachine guns burst into the room. Behind them stood Harlan Vance, his eyes bloodshot, a manic, unhinged grin stretched across his face, holding a nickel-plated revolver.
"Calloway!" Harlan screamed through the dust. "You ruined my life! You destroyed everything I worked for!"
Before Harlan could finish his sentence, Royce moved with terrifying speed.
TAK! TAK!
Royce fired two double-taps. The two lead gunmen dropped instantly to the floor, shot clean through the center of their foreheads before they could even lift their weapons.
The third gunman managed to fire a spray of bullets toward the corner.
Royce threw his heavy body over Della, acting as a human shield.
A high-caliber bullet caught Royce in the left shoulder, ripping through his suit jacket. Blood sprayed across the white wall behind them.
Royce didn't even scream. He adjusted his aim with his right hand and squeezed the trigger.
TAK!
The third gunman crumpled to the floor, motionless.
Harlan Vance froze, his revolver shaking violently in his grip as he looked at his three dead mercenaries, then at Royce, who stood up slowly, blood soaking the left side of his crisp white shirt, his eyes glowing with a lethal, demonic fury.
"You..." Harlan whimpered, backing away toward the ruined doorway. "You're a monster..."
"No, Harlan," Royce growled, his voice a low, terrifying rumble as he stepped over the bodies, his gun raised. "I'm the man who's going to end your lineage."
Outside, heavy footsteps rushed down the hall as Gabe and six Calloway tactical operatives burst into the room, assault rifles raised.
"SECURE THE PERIMETER!" Gabe shouted, instantly disarming a sobbing, terrified Harlan Vance and slamming him facedown onto the bloody floor, pulling his arms into plastic zip-ties. "CONTAIN THE BUILDING! MORETTI'S CREW IS RETREATING!"
Royce didn't look at Harlan. He dropped his gun, dropped to his knees in front of Della, and pulled her into his arms.
"Della... Della, are you hit? Tell me!" Royce rasped, his breath ragged as blood soaked his chest.
Della stared at his bleeding shoulder, tears streaming down her face as she wrapped her hands around his face, pulling him down to kiss his cheek.
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"I'm fine! I'm okay! But you're shot! Oh God, Royce, you're bleeding!"
"It's just a scratch," Royce lied, pressing his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as he held her and the baby against his chest. "You're safe. You're both safe."
