The explosion from the basement still echoed through the mansion walls.
Dust drifted down from the ceiling of the study while the lights flickered once more before stabilizing.
For half a second, everyone in the room froze.
Then Vanessa moved first.
"Basement," she said.
Gale was already moving toward the hallway.
Marco followed immediately, barking orders into his radio.
"Team two with me! Secure the lower levels!"
Behind them, Volkov's mercenaries shifted position.
But Gale's reinforcements held them in place.
Neither side fired.
Not yet.
Because everyone in the room understood something important.
The real fight had moved downstairs.
Vanessa ran down the corridor beside Gale.
Broken furniture and shattered glass littered the floor from the earlier firefight.
Smoke still hung in the air.
"Romano's guards?" she asked.
Marco shook his head as they reached the staircase.
"The basement team should've handled them."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Should have."
