Chapter 5: An Unexpected Attack
The days following the battle with Renaldo's cartel were tense but quiet. Gavin remained ever-vigilant, knowing that the calm was temporary. The mansion's defenses were stronger than ever, and the team was more alert, but Gavin couldn't shake the feeling that another attack was imminent. He spent most of his days and nights on high alert, coordinating with the security teams and monitoring all activities closely.
---
One late afternoon, as Gavin was finishing a security briefing with Marco and other key guards in the mansion’s control room, an urgent message crackled through the radio.
"Attention, all units. We have an unidentified vehicle approaching the front gate at high speed," a guard reported.
Gavin immediately took charge.
"Marco, gather a team and intercept. Everyone else, be ready."
The guards quickly moved to their positions. Gavin watched the surveillance feed, seeing the vehicle speeding toward the gate. It was a black SUV with tinted windows, driving erratically.
"Could be a decoy," Gavin muttered to himself. "But we can’t take any chances."
Marco and his team reached the gate just as the SUV crashed through, its momentum carrying it into the courtyard. The guards opened fire, aiming at the tires and engine. The SUV skidded to a halt, and the doors burst open.
Four armed men jumped out, guns blazing. The guards returned fire, and the courtyard erupted into chaos. Gavin, recognizing the urgency, sprinted towards the fray, drawing his weapon.
"Get down!" Gavin shouted, diving behind a stone pillar for cover.
Bullets ricocheted off the pillar as Gavin assessed the situation. He noticed one of the attackers making a beeline for the mansion, a determined look on his face.
"They're after Don Isaac," Gavin realized.
He broke cover, firing precise shots. Two of the attackers went down, but the third one—the one heading for the mansion—was still on the move. Gavin sprinted after him, his heart pounding.
As he neared the mansion's entrance, Gavin saw the attacker raising his weapon, aiming directly at Don Isaac, who had just stepped out to see what was happening.
"Don Isaac, get down!" Gavin shouted, launching himself at the attacker.
He tackled the man to the ground just as the gun went off. The bullet missed Don Isaac by inches, shattering a window instead. The two men grappled on the ground, each struggling for control of the gun.
Gavin’s training kicked in. He twisted the attacker’s wrist, forcing him to drop the weapon. With a swift, powerful punch, Gavin knocked the man out, then quickly secured him with zip ties.
Breathing heavily, Gavin got to his feet and rushed to Don Isaac, who was being shielded by Marco and another guard.
"Are you alright, Don Isaac?" Gavin asked urgently.
Don Isaac, shaken but unharmed, nodded.
"Yes, thanks to you. That was close."
Gavin glanced around, seeing that the remaining attackers had been neutralized. The courtyard was a mess, but the threat had been contained.
"We need to get you inside, now," Gavin said, helping Don Isaac back into the mansion.
---
Inside, the staff and guards were on high alert. Vivian rushed to her father, her face pale with worry.
"Dad! Are you okay?" she cried, hugging him tightly.
"I’m fine, Vivian," Don Isaac reassured her, though his voice was still shaky.
"Thanks to Gavin."
Vivian turned to Gavin, her eyes filled with gratitude and concern.
"Thank you, Gavin. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't here."
Gavin gave a brief nod, already thinking about the next steps.
"We need to find out how they got this far. Someone must have helped them bypass our perimeter."
Marco, who had been overseeing the cleanup, approached with a grim expression.
"We found this on one of the attackers," he said, handing Gavin a small device.
Gavin examined it.
"A signal jammer. That’s how they disrupted our communications and got through."
Don Isaac frowned.
"This is getting more dangerous by the day. We need to tighten our security even further."
Gavin agreed. "We’ll run a full sweep of the property and enhance our protocols. I’ll personally oversee the interrogation of the captured attacker."
Don Isaac placed a hand on Gavin's shoulder, his eyes filled with appreciation.
"You’ve done more for us than we could have asked, Gavin. You’ve earned our trust and gratitude."
Gavin nodded.
"I’m just doing my job, Don Isaac. I’ll make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next."
---
The following day, Gavin and Marco conducted a thorough interrogation of the captured attacker. In a dimly lit room in the mansion’s basement, the man sat tied to a chair, glaring defiantly at his captors.
"Who sent you?" Gavin demanded, his voice cold and authoritative.
The attacker remained silent, his jaw set in defiance. Gavin exchanged a look with Marco, then leaned in closer.
"You can either talk to us, or we can hand you over to Don Isaac’s men. They won’t be as kind," Gavin warned.
The threat seemed to break the man’s resolve. He shifted uncomfortably, then finally spoke.
"It was Renaldo. He’s got people everywhere. Said we had to take out Don Isaac to send a message."
Gavin’s eyes narrowed.
"How did you bypass our defenses?"
"Had a man on the inside," the attacker confessed.
"Paid him off to get us the codes and disable some of your security measures."
Gavin felt a surge of anger but kept his composure.
"Who was it? Give me a name."
"Juan," the man said, his voice trembling. "Juan Martinez."
Gavin turned to Marco, who was already making a note of the name.
"Find him. Bring him in for questioning. If he’s still alive."
---
Within hours, Juan Martinez was brought in, a terrified look on his face. Gavin and Marco wasted no time.
"Juan, you have one chance to tell us everything," Gavin said, his voice icy.
"Who paid you off? How did you betray us?"
Juan, shaking, stammered,
"It was Renaldo’s men. They offered me money... more than I’d ever see in my life. I gave them the codes, but I swear, I didn’t know they’d go this far."
Gavin’s face hardened.
"You’ve put everyone here in danger. Do you understand that?"
"I’m sorry," Juan whispered, tears in his eyes. "I was desperate."
Gavin sighed, motioning for the guards to take Juan away.
"Make sure he’s secured. We’ll deal with him later."
Marco nodded.
"What’s the next move?"
"We tighten our security even more and ensure there are no more traitors among us," Gavin replied.
"And we prepare for Renaldo’s next move. He won’t stop until he’s taken everything from Don Isaac."
---
In the following days, Gavin intensified the security protocols, implementing new measures to prevent any further infiltration. The mansion became a fortress, each guard and staff member thoroughly vetted and monitored.
Despite the heightened tension, the bond between Gavin and Vivian grew stronger. They spent more time together, discussing strategies and sharing moments of quiet amidst the chaos. The danger that surrounded them only served to deepen their connection.
One evening, as they were reviewing the latest security updates in Gavin’s office, Vivian looked at him with a mix of admiration and concern.
"You’ve done so much for us, Gavin," she said softly. "I can’t imagine how things would be without you here."
Gavin met her gaze, feeling a warmth spread through him.
"I’m just doing what needs to be done, Vivian. Your safety, and your father’s safety, are my top priorities."
Vivian smiled, her eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you. Truly."
They shared a moment of quiet understanding, the chaos of the outside world fading away. In that brief respite, they found solace in each other’s presence, knowing that together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
---
As the mansion continued to fortify its defenses and prepare for Renaldo’s next move, Gavin remained ever-watchful. The unexpected attack had tested their resolve, but it had also strengthened their determination. With every passing day, Gavin's place within Don Isaac’s cartel grew more secure, and his bond with Vivian deepened, setting the stage for the battles and trials that were sure to come.