Chapter 12 — The First Attack
The storm had been growing stronger with every passing minute.
Heavy rain lashed against the tall glass windows of the mansion, the sound echoing through the quiet halls like a relentless drumbeat. Lightning flashed across the dark sky, illuminating the city for a split second before plunging everything back into darkness.
Thunder followed soon after, deep and powerful, shaking the air like the roar of an ancient beast.
But strangely enough, the tension inside the mansion felt far more dangerous than the storm outside.
Anya sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep.
Her mind kept replaying the words Riven had spoken earlier that evening.
"If you leave this mansion… you won't survive the night."
She still couldn't decide whether those words had been meant as a warning… or a threat.
Riven was impossible to understand.
Sometimes he appeared cold and ruthless, a man who ruled his world through fear and power.
But at other times, there was something different hidden behind his eyes… something quieter.
Something almost protective.
Still, one thing was clear.
His world was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Anya slowly stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside, the rain blurred the city lights, turning them into glowing streaks of gold and white. For a brief moment she imagined what her life might have been like if she had never crossed paths with Riven.
Maybe she would still be living her normal life.
Maybe she would be safe.
But that life felt very far away now.
Her fate had already become tangled with his.
Suddenly—
A loud bang echoed somewhere outside the mansion.
Anya froze.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Was that thunder?
No.
It sounded different.
Heavier.
Metallic.
Before she could think further, another sound followed.
BANG!
This one was much closer.
Anya rushed toward the door and opened it.
The hallway outside was no longer quiet.
Several security guards were moving quickly through the corridor, their voices tense as they spoke into communication devices.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
One of the guards noticed her standing there.
"Madam, please return to your room," he said quickly.
"What's happening?" Anya asked nervously.
The guard hesitated.
But before he could answer, gunshots suddenly exploded somewhere in the distance.
RAT-TAT-TAT!
Anya gasped.
Those were definitely gunshots.
More guards rushed down the hallway.
A voice shouted through a radio.
"Front gate breached! Multiple armed vehicles approaching!"
Anya's heart began pounding violently.
The mansion was under attack.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her arm.
"Inside."
Anya turned around and saw Riven standing behind her.
But something about him had changed.
The calm businessman she had grown used to seeing was gone.
In his place stood someone far more dangerous.
His eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Cold.
"What's happening?" Anya whispered.
"Enemies," he replied simply.
Gunfire echoed again, louder than before.
Riven spoke quickly into the communication device in his ear.
"How many?"
A voice responded immediately.
"Approximately twenty men, boss. Heavy weapons."
Riven's jaw tightened slightly.
"Stop them before they reach the main building."
"Yes, boss."
Another explosion shook the mansion.
The front gate must have been destroyed.
Anya felt fear rising inside her chest.
"Why are they attacking you?" she asked quietly.
Riven glanced at her briefly.
"Because I have many enemies."
More gunfire echoed across the estate grounds.
Through the large windows they could see flashes of light from the guards exchanging fire with attackers outside.
Riven turned back to her.
"You need to go to the safe room."
"Safe room?"
"There's no time to explain."
Before she could protest, another explosion rocked the building.
The lights flickered violently.
Glass shattered somewhere on the lower floor.
The attackers were getting closer.
Without hesitation, Riven grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hallway.
"Stay with me."
They moved quickly through the mansion corridors.
Security guards rushed past them carrying rifles and equipment.
Within seconds, the peaceful mansion had transformed into a battlefield.
As they reached the main staircase, another guard ran toward them.
"Boss! They broke through the outer security line!"
Riven's expression darkened.
"How many inside?"
"Eight… maybe ten."
Anya felt her breath catch.
The attackers had already entered the mansion.
Gunshots echoed from the ground floor.
One of Riven's men collapsed near the entrance hall.
Another guard returned fire from behind a marble pillar.
Riven stepped forward immediately.
"Take Anya to the safe room," he ordered one of the guards.
The guard nodded.
"Yes, boss."
But before they could move—
A group of masked men suddenly appeared at the far end of the hallway.
They were dressed in black tactical gear.
And they were heavily armed.
One of them raised his rifle.
"Target confirmed."
Everything happened in seconds.
Riven moved faster than Anya could even process.
A gun appeared in his hand.
BANG! BANG!
Two attackers collapsed instantly.
The remaining men opened fire.
Bullets slammed into the marble walls and pillars.
Riven pulled Anya behind him.
"Move!"
They rushed toward another corridor while Riven's guards engaged the attackers.
Gunfire echoed throughout the mansion.
Anya's heart pounded wildly as they ran.
She had never experienced anything like this before.
But the man beside her moved with terrifying calm.
As if chaos and violence were simply part of his world.
They turned a corner—
And suddenly someone grabbed Anya from behind.
A masked attacker had been waiting there.
His arm wrapped tightly around her neck as he pressed a gun against her head.
"Don't move!"
Riven froze instantly.
The hallway fell silent.
Anya felt fear flood through her body as the cold metal of the gun touched her skin.
The attacker pulled her closer.
"Well, well," he said mockingly.
"The famous Mafia King finally looks worried."
Riven's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Let her go."
The man laughed.
"That's not happening."
More masked men appeared behind him.
They had surrounded the hallway.
Riven slowly lowered his weapon.
"What do you want?"
"Simple," the attacker replied.
"You."
Anya could feel the gun pressed against her temple.
"If you move," the man whispered, "she dies."
Riven's eyes darkened.
The tension in the air felt suffocating.
"Take me," he said calmly.
"Let her go."
The attacker laughed again.
"You think we're stupid?"
His grip on Anya tightened.
"She's our insurance."
Riven's voice dropped lower.
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"Oh, we know exactly what we're doing."
The attacker began dragging Anya backward.
"We're taking her."
Anya's eyes widened in terror.
Riven's expression changed instantly.
Cold fury flashed across his face.
"You touch her," he said slowly, "and every man here will die."
The attacker only smiled behind the mask.
"Let's test that theory."
Suddenly—
A gunshot echoed.
But it didn't come from Riven.
One of Riven's hidden snipers fired from the upper floor.
The bullet struck the attacker's shoulder.
He screamed and released Anya.
Riven moved instantly.
Faster than lightning.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three attackers collapsed to the floor.
Another guard quickly pulled Anya away from the fight.
Gunfire erupted again as Riven's men engaged the remaining attackers.
Within seconds, the hallway descended into chaos.
Bullets tore through the walls.
Smoke filled the air.
Men shouted orders.
Riven fought like a man possessed.
Precise.
Efficient.
Deadly.
Every shot he fired found its target.
Within minutes, the attackers were either dead or fleeing.
Gradually, the gunfire stopped.
Silence returned to the mansion.
Only the sound of rain remained.
Anya stood frozen as the reality of what had just happened settled in.
She had almost been kidnapped.
Because of Riven.
Riven walked toward her slowly.
His expression was still cold, but there was something else in his eyes.
Relief.
"Are you hurt?"
Anya shook her head slowly.
"No."
But her voice trembled slightly.
Riven turned to his men.
"Search the entire property."
"Yes, boss."
The guards quickly moved away.
Silence filled the hallway once more.
Anya looked at Riven.
"You were right."
Riven frowned slightly.
"About what?"
"If I leave this mansion… I won't survive the night."
Riven didn't reply.
Instead, he looked toward the shattered windows where rain continued pouring inside.
His voice became quiet.
"This was only the beginning."
Anya felt a chill run down her spine.
"The beginning?"
Riven turned back toward her.
His eyes were darker than ever.
"Yes."
A bolt of lightning lit the sky outside.
"Now they know where you are."
Thunder roared across the city.
And somewhere far away in the darkness…
The real enemy was still watching.
End of Chapter 12
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