The night exploded into chaos.
Flames rose from the shattered front gates of the De Luca estate as armored vehicles forced their way inside.
Gunfire erupted almost immediately.
The sound echoed across the massive property like a storm of thunder.
Inside the mansion, alarms screamed through every corridor.
Red emergency lights flashed along the walls.
Adrian cocked his rifle and grinned.
"Well…"
"Guess the welcome party started without us."
Luca checked the magazine in his gun.
"You always wanted more excitement."
"I didn't mean tonight!"
The First Wave
Valentina's voice came through the security speakers.
"They're breaching the outer courtyard."
"How many?" Alessandro asked.
"Too many."
Security cameras showed dozens of heavily armed soldiers moving through the estate grounds with terrifying precision.
They weren't random criminals.
They moved like trained military.
Adrian frowned.
"Those aren't normal gangsters."
"No," Luca said grimly.
"That's private army training."
Outside, a rocket slammed into one of the estate guard towers.
The explosion lit the night sky.
Elena watched the footage on the monitors.
Her jaw tightened.
"They came prepared."
Alessandro turned toward the door.
"So will we."
The Ruthless Don Returns
The main doors of the mansion burst open as Alessandro stepped outside.
Cold night air hit his face.
Smoke filled the courtyard.
De Luca soldiers were already exchanging fire with the invading forces.
Bullets ripped through marble statues and stone pillars.
Adrian and Luca followed close behind him.
Adrian whistled.
"…that's a lot of enemies."
Luca replied calmly,
"Then shoot carefully."
Elena's Decision
Inside the mansion entrance, Elena stood still for a moment.
Her heart was pounding.
Six months ago she would have hidden during a fight like this.
But now…
This war had come because of her.
Because of her bloodline.
Because of secrets she didn't even understand yet.
She picked up the pistol from the table again.
Her grip tightened.
"Not anymore."
Then she walked out into the battlefield.
The Courtyard Battle
Gunfire echoed everywhere.
One of the armored vehicles rolled across the courtyard firing a mounted machine gun toward the mansion doors.
Stone exploded from the walls.
Adrian dove behind a fountain.
"Okay I officially hate this guy!"
Luca leaned around the corner and fired twice.
Two enemy soldiers dropped immediately.
"These aren't amateurs."
"They're Syndicate soldiers."
Adrian glanced toward the gate.
"And they brought a small army."
The Queen Fights
Elena stepped into the courtyard just as one of the Syndicate soldiers rushed toward the mansion entrance.
He raised his weapon.
Elena fired first.
The man collapsed instantly.
Adrian blinked in surprise.
"Well damn."
"Remind me not to annoy her."
Alessandro glanced back briefly.
"Stay behind me."
Elena shook her head.
"We fight together."
For a moment he looked like he might argue.
But instead he gave a small nod.
Then he turned back to the battlefield.
Turning the Tide
Alessandro moved through the courtyard like a storm.
Every shot precise.
Every movement controlled.
Three enemy soldiers rushed him from the side.
All three dropped within seconds.
Adrian laughed.
"Yeah… they definitely picked the wrong house."
But the Syndicate soldiers kept coming.
More vehicles rolled through the broken gates.
More soldiers poured into the estate grounds.
Luca reloaded his weapon.
"This isn't just an attack."
"They're testing us."
The Sniper
Suddenly—
A bullet shattered the stone pillar beside Elena.
She ducked instantly.
"Sniper!"
Adrian scanned the rooftops.
"Where?"
Another shot cracked through the air.
A De Luca guard dropped across the courtyard.
Luca pointed toward the distant hill overlooking the estate.
"There."
High above the property—
A single red laser sight flickered.
Adrian groaned.
"Oh great."
"Professional sniper."
Alessandro's Plan
Alessandro grabbed the radio from his belt.
"Valentina."
"Yes?"
"Track the sniper."
"I'm already on it."
Moments later she responded again.
"North ridge."
"Six hundred meters."
Adrian frowned.
"That's far."
Alessandro turned toward Elena.
"Stay inside."
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Elena—"
"I can hit that distance."
Adrian stared at her.
"…seriously?"
Elena grabbed a rifle from one of the fallen soldiers.
Her expression was calm.
Focused.
Alessandro studied her for a moment.
Then finally said one word.
"Fine."
The Shot
Elena climbed onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard.
Smoke drifted across the battlefield.
Gunfire roared below.
But she ignored it all.
Her eyes locked on the distant ridge.
The faint flash of the sniper scope.
She steadied the rifle.
Breathed slowly.
One breath.
Two.
Then—
She fired.
The bullet sliced through the night.
Across the valley.
Across the battlefield.
And struck the sniper directly in the chest.
The red laser sight disappeared instantly.
Adrian stared up at her from the courtyard.
"…okay."
"That was extremely impressive."
Luca nodded.
"The queen has good aim."
The Retreat
Without their sniper support, the Syndicate soldiers began falling back.
Their vehicles slowly retreated through the broken gates.
Within minutes—
The courtyard was silent again.
Smoke drifted through the air.
Bodies scattered across the battlefield.
Adrian lowered his rifle.
"Well."
"That escalated quickly."
The Message
Inside the mansion, Valentina checked the security feeds again.
"They're pulling back."
"Why?" Luca asked.
Before she could answer—
Every screen in the mansion flickered again.
Sebastian Virelli appeared once more.
His expression calm.
Almost amused.
"Congratulations."
"You survived the first test."
Alessandro's voice turned deadly.
"You attacked my home."
Sebastian smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"And now I know exactly how strong you are."
His eyes shifted toward Elena again.
"But strength won't save you from what's coming."
The screen went black.
A Dangerous Realization
The courtyard remained silent.
Elena slowly lowered the rifle.
Adrian exhaled.
"So…"
"That was just a test?"
Luca nodded grimly.
"Yes."
Alessandro looked toward the dark horizon beyond the gates.
"The real war hasn't even started."
And somewhere across the city—
Sebastian Virelli watched the burning estate from the deck of his ship.
His smile slowly widened.