Chapter 5 POV Mande

The night was thick with the scent of danger, but I never expected it would strike so close, so suddenly. I'd been in the Jackson family's service long enough to know that threats were always lurking, yet somehow, this attack felt like a betrayal of everything that place was supposed to be. As I stood in the kitchen, setting the last dishes away, a low rumble shook the floor beneath me, and I knew something was terribly wrong.

I heard the shouting first, muffled by the walls, but growing louder. My heart pounded, and before I could think, I was running towards the stairs, my mind filled with only one thought: Julianna. She was upstairs with Makidi. I knew Mr. Jackson wasn't thrilled about him, but she loved him-and I loved her as if she were my own child. I couldn't let anything happen to her, to any of them.

The gunfire began like an unholy storm, echoing through the walls and sending a shiver of terror down my spine. I burst into the hallway, and there was Mr. Jackson, his face a mask of fury and fear. He was shouting orders, rallying his men, and when he saw me, his eyes were wild, like a caged animal. "Mande! Find Julianna! Get her out!" he commanded, his voice cracking over the chaos.

I ran up the stairs, nearly colliding with Julianna and Makidi as they stumbled out of her room, barely dressed, their eyes wide with alarm. "Mande!" she called, relief flooding her voice as she reached for me. I held her tight, trying to push down the fear clawing at my chest.

"We need to get out, child," I whispered urgently, pulling her along with Makidi.

Mr. Jackson caught up to us on the stairwell, barking at Makidi. "You brought this on us!" he roared, his gun clenched in his hand. "You brought this into my home, and I swear if anything happens to my family, I'll kill you myself!"

But Julianna stepped between them, her face fierce, and held her father back. "Dad, no! Makidi's with us. He'll protect us-trust me!" she cried, her voice trembling but determined. I saw the flash of emotion in her eyes, the love and loyalty she felt for him, and it broke my heart to see her torn between her father and the man she trusted.

We moved through the house, Mr. Jackson leading us to a hidden passage on the top floor. "This way, there's an exit through the last floor," he said, his voice steady despite the fear I knew he was feeling. It was our only chance, and I clung to Julianna as we hurried along, the gunfire rattling through the halls, screams filling the air as men fought and fell around us.

When we reached the top floor, everything went silent for a heartbeat. Then, an explosion tore through the wall, sending us sprawling. I grabbed Julianna, shielding her as best I could, while Mr. Jackson fought to pull himself up, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead. Makidi was on his feet in an instant, lifting me up, his grip firm as he looked at me with a resolve I couldn't question.

"It's an ambush," Makidi growled, his voice low and deadly. "We have to move, now."

We scrambled down the last hallway, Mr. Jackson covering us, but they were waiting for us, guns ready and eyes filled with murderous intent. Mr. Jackson didn't hesitate. He threw himself forward, firing at them, a storm of bullets filling the air. But then I saw him go down, his body crumpling as they overpowered him. A horrible scream tore through Julianna, but Makidi grabbed her, pulling her along as I followed, choking back my own grief. There was no time to mourn, no time to do anything but survive.

Somehow, Makidi led us to safety. He moved with a ruthless determination, shielding Julianna and me, never once looking back. I'd seen many strong men in my time, but I'd never seen anyone with such a fire in his eyes. He was fighting not only for himself but for her-for Julianna, and maybe even for the family that had never fully trusted him.

By the time we reached the far end of the property, I was shaking, my whole body aching with fear and sorrow. Makidi stopped, finally letting go of Julianna, who fell into my arms, sobbing. We were safe...for now. But Mr. Jackson was gone. The man who had been my employer, my protector, a man who had, in his own way, trusted me with everything that mattered, was dead.

I held Julianna tight, trying to soothe her as her world shattered around her. Makidi's face was pale, his eyes dark with rage and grief as he looked back at the house, now burning in the distance.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice breaking, though I wasn't sure if he was speaking to me, to Julianna, or to the memory of Mr. Jackson.

But in that moment, I knew one thing: we'd survived because of him. He'd saved us, risked his life for us, and as I looked at him, I knew that Mr. Jackson's death wouldn't be in vain. We would rebuild, and we would honor the man he was, even if it meant trusting the one he'd feared most.