ion all day, half-invisibl

eaked and groaned, every sound setting my nerves on edge. I flinched at footst

finally snapp

e. Men's voices are sharp, low, and tense.

co and Antonio flanked him, both in dark tactical gear

ng a word. "You two with me. Tell the other

ce up the stairs,

rl?" he

d, I thought he'd spotted me. "She stays.

some animal. Li

h a click that made my stomach twist. "Intel sa

hed. "Find out wh

he shadows. Our eyes met. His face was stone c

away. "M

door slammed so hard

rd, Enzo, apparently planted himself outside

g at the empty gates, replaying Antonio's w

wasn't business anymore. This was war, and I

ell, buried at the bottom of my bag. I'd forgotten

m an unkno

The man who answered your phone sounded da

opeful Lucas. My las

s shook a

t talk. I'

are you? I'll

can't. He'

ther said you got married

sage flashed on the screen. Differ

the phone

id he

he room felt dangerous. Wa

vibrated a

marriage. I'm in the city. Meet me tomor

or fle

here, palm o

im. I handed it over

king the doo

The hours dragged. Midnight came and

dark warehouse? Part of me, just a tiny, guilty part, felt

downstairs. Not the front do

someone I'd nev

hould've been outside, bu

ash, close

asn't

s. Fast, loud. More than one person.

tled. Then a bang hard. T

one barked from the hall. "He

. Insid

ain, harder. The fra

searching for anything to defend mysel

r explo

ces hidden behind ski mask

aller one said. "The

stepp

voice shaking but f

one laughe

rushe