OUR BOND

The Price Of Silence

Third Person POV

The gunfire didn't stop. If anything, it grew sharper, closer, rattling the glass panes of the mansion windows like they might shatter any second.

Cyrus was already on his feet, pain flashing across his face as his injured leg protested, but he didn't waste a breath on it. Noel stayed frozen for a second longer, her fingers tightening around the tracker she'd plucked from his hood.

"They tracked you" she said, showing him the tracker. Cyrus's jaw locked. He didn't answer, didn't have to - the sounds outside spoke for him.

Cyrus limped toward the nightstand, pulling the drawer open with practiced urgency. A gun. Of course he had one stashed already as he tossed Noel a second weapon without looking at her.

"Where'd you get these?" she asked but soon was answered as she saw the C engraved on the gun handle.

"We misunderstood the car, it had a lot more to provide than we thought" Cyrus said limping toward the door, the vulnerable him from a few minutes ago nowhere to be seen.

"I saw that earlier" Noel, said joining Cyrus at the door but instead of planting herself there, her instincts pulled her the other way. She bolted.

"Noel!" Cyrus hissed after her, but she was gone, flying down the stairs.

The front windows rattled with the rhythm of shots outside. Bodies of Shark's guards already littered the courtyard, but she didn't stop until she reached the garage door. Her hand slammed onto the biometric pad, the car unlocked with a mechanical hum.

Inside, the interior lights glowed dim and ominous. She opened the sleek panel under the backseat and cursed softly under her breath. Guns. Lots of them. Submachine rifles, carbines, handguns, extra clips - enough to arm a squad.

"Well" she muttered, shoving weapons into her arms, "guess Damien's paranoia is hereditary"

She wasn't done. Fingers flying, she activated the car's on-board defense system. Metal shutters rolled over the windows. Reinforced locks clamped down with hydraulic hisses. Panels extended outward like armor plating, until the luxury vehicle resembled more of a armored beast than a car. The control panel flashed: SURVIVAL MODE - ENGAGED.

"That's right, protect your self from these monsters" she said and left as the garage sealed behind her.

By the time Noel jogged back to the main hall, arms brimming with weapons, Cyrus was hobbling down the stairs, gun in one hand, the other gripping the railing for balance. Behind him, Shark stormed out like thunder.

His expression was molten fury. "I told you ragazzo, no trouble in my house!" he barked, his accent thick, voice vibrating through the marble.

Cyrus didn't flinch. He chambered a round and leveled his weapon toward the door where the pounding grew louder. "A little late for that now, don't you think?"

Noel shoved rifles unto both their arms after making sure she had enough weapons, her tone clipped "Save the lecture, Shark. Either fight or die mad - your choice"

For a moment, Shark's dark eyes glittered with rage. But when another round of bullets ripped through the gate outside, slicing one of his men mid shout, he snapped his cigarette to the floor and crushed it with his heel.

"Fine. We bleed together" he growled.

The three of them with some of Shark's men that were still in the house, pushed into position. Outside, silhouettes advanced across the courtyard, their rifles sparking fire. The gate had been breached. Enemy boots echoed off the stone.