The Billionaire's Mistake (Anya and Daniel)
MISTAKE 130

Chapter 130: Daniel is attacked.

Daniel closed his eyes, replaying the terse negotiations in his mind. He'd have to-

A deafening explosion rocked the car, shattering the rear window and sending glass stands flying through the interior. The Maserati swerved violently, tires screeching against the asphalt. "Merda!" Luca shouted, fighting to regain control of the vehicle. "We're under attack

Daniel's hand flew to his side, drawing his gun with practiced ease. "How many?" be bades ducking low in his seat as a spray of bullets descended on his car.

"At least two vehicles," Luca reported, his knuckles white on the steering wheel "Black Suis, no plates. Came out of nowhere."

Daniel's mind raced. The Dantes? No, they wouldn't dare, not so soon after the meeting. This had to be someone else. But who?

"Lose them," Daniel ordered, his voice cold and steady despite the chaos. "Take the back roads. Now!"

Luca nodded, yanking the wheel hard to the right The Maserati fishtailed around a tight corner, tires screaming in protest. Daniel braced himself against the door, his free hand reaching for his phone. "Salvatore," he barked as soon as the call connected. "We're under attack. Two miles east of the Castel Road meeting point. Send backup, now!"

He ended the call without waiting for a response Salvatore would come through; he always did

Chapter 130 Daniel attacked

The pursuing vehicles were gaining ground, their high beams flooding the Maserati's interior with harsh light. Daniel twisted in his seat, aiming his gun out the shattered rear window. He let out three shots in quick succession, aiming for the lead SUV's tires.

A satisfying pop and the screech of metal on asphalt told him at least one bullet had found its mark. The lead SUV swerved wildly before going off the road and into a ditch.

"One down," Daniel muttered, a grim smile tugging at his lips.

His victory was short-lived. A hail of automatic gunfire erupted from the second SUV, tearing through the Maserati's trunk and rear seats. Daniel felt a sharp, burning pain in his left arm and bit back a curse.

"Boss!" Luca called out, his eyes wide with concern.

"Keep driving!" Daniel snarled, pressing his hand against the wound. Warm blood seeped between his fingers, staining his expensive suit. "It's nothing."

Luca nodded tightly, his foot pressing the accelerator to the floor. The narrow country road they'd turned onto was treacherous, barely wide enough for two cars and lined with dense foliage on both sides. The Maserati's powerful engine roared as they took each curve at breakneck speed, the pursuing SUV falling slightly behind.

"There's an old hunting lodge about three kilometers ahead," Luca said, his voice tense with concentration. "Used to belong to your father. Still on family property."

Daniel nodded, remembering summers spent there as a boy, before the weight of the family business had settled on his shoulders. "Good thinking. We'll hole up there; wait for Salvatore and the others."

A fresh volley of gunfire interrupted their planning, bullets pinging off the Maserati's frame. Daniel twisted again, returning fire with his remaining bullets. The recoil sent fresh waves of pain through his injured arm, but he grated his teeth and kept shooting. "Shit!" Luca suddenly shouted. The Maserati lurched violently, and Daniel felt the sickening sensation of the car losing traction. "Tire's blown!"

The world spun with the car. Daniel braced himself as the car left the road, crashing through the underbrush. Branches whipped at the windshield, leaves and twigs filling the interior through the broken windows.

With a bone-jarring impact, the Maserati slammed to a halt against a massive oak tree. For a moment, everything was silent, save for the hissing of the ruined engine and the ringing in Daniel's ears.

"Luca," he croaked, fighting against the airbag that had deployed. "Luca!"

A groan from the driver's seat answered him. "I'm... I'm alright, boss," Luca mumbled, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.

"We need to move," Daniel said, forcing his door open. "They'll be on us any second."

As if on cue, the sound of screeching tires and slamming car doors echoed through the woods. Harsh voices called out in a small town dialect, confirming Daniel's suspicions. These were locals... So he was delayed at the meeting for this reason. "This way," Luca whispered, stumbling out of the wrecked Maserati. He reached back in, retrieving a small duffel bag from under the seat. "Emergency kit. Good thing that we always keep one in the car."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Daniel felt a rush of gratitude for his guard's paranoia." Good thinking," he murmured.

They pushed deeper into the woods, moving as quickly and quietly as they could manage.

Daniel's wounded arm throbbed with every step, and he could feel the warm trickle of blood down his sleeves. But there was no time for him to worry about his wound now. Survival was the only priority. The sounds of their pursuers grew fainter as they put distance between themselves and the crash site. After what felt like hours but was likely only twenty minutes, Luca held up a hand, signaling a stop. "The lodge," he whispered, pointing through a break in the trees.

Daniel squinted, making out the dark silhouette of a small, rustic building. Memories flooded back. He really recalled this lodge. He had not come here in a while; he had almost forgotten it was here.

"Check it," he ordered Luca. "Make sure it's clear."

Luca nodded, drawing a small pistol from an ankle holster. He crept forward, staying low and using the shadows for cover. Daniel watched, his own empty gun held ready despite its uselessness.

After a tense few minutes, Luca reappeared at the lodge's door, waving Daniel forward. "All clear, boss. It looks like no one's been here in years.

Daniel allowed himself a small sigh of relief as he crossed the clearing and entered the lodge. The musty smell from not being used hit him immediately, along with a wave of dizziness. The adrenaline that had kept him going was starting to wear off, and the blood loss was taking

its toll.

"Luca," he said, his voice sounding distant to his own ears. "The kit..."

His guard was already moving, guiding Daniel to threadbare couch and easing him down onto it. Luca's hands were steady as he cut away the blood-soaked sleeve of Daniel's jacket and shirt, revealing the whole left by the bullet.

"Thank God," Laca muttered, "It's just a grave thep, but it didn't hit anything vind "

Daniel nodded, gritting his teeth as Luca cleaned and bandaged the wound with supplies from the emergency kit. "Any sign of Salvatore?" he asked, trying to focus on something other than the pain.

Luca shook his head. "No service out here. We're on our own for now."

"Fantastic," Daniel growled. He leaned his head back against the couch, feeling every one of his forty-five years. "What's our situation?"

Luca finished tying off the

Not great," he admitted. "We've got limited ammo-just my backup piece and whatever's in that old gun safe if we can get it open. No vehicle, no communications. The Dantes are probably still searching the woods, but they'll figure out where we've gone eventually. at," he admitted, and moved to secure the lodge's few windows and doors."

Daniel closed his eyes, weighing their options. They were outgunned and outnumbered, with no guarantee of when backup might arrive. The smart play would be to slip away in the night and try to make it back to the city on foot. But that would mean leaving Shaw territory, possibly walking right into another ambush.

No, they would make their stand here. This lodge had been his family's for generations. If this was to be his last night on earth, let it be on land that bore his name.