The thought makes me shudder as she shakes my arm.
"Mama, finish the story," Sofia murmurs into my chest, and I swear I hear her growing sleepy.
I swallow hard and continue.
"The rabbit stayed in his burrow all through the storm. He listened to the thunder and the rain, but he wasn't afraid because he knew his home would keep him safe."
The monitor flickers again.
I watch as a figure moves across the garden camera, running toward the house.
He's too far away for me to identify, but I can see the rifle in his hands.
"And when the storm finally passed," I say, my voice cracking, "the rabbit came out of his burrow. The garden was still there. The sun was shining. Everything was safe again."
Sofia's eyes are closed now, her breathing slow and even.
She's fallen asleep while the world unravels around her.
I envy that ability to find peace in the middle of the storm, then quickly realize that Iamher peace.
And Dante is mine—and my peace is being threatened.
Marta finishes her prayer and crosses herself.
"God will protect them," she says quietly. "He always has."
I want to believe her, but all I can think about is the fact that Antonelli Gerard will stop at nothing to end Dante's life.
I get Sofia situated and stand up, moving toward the monitor. "What's happening?" I ask in a low tone so I don't wake her, and I'm shocked the gunfire outside these walls isn't keeping her up.
"I don't know," the first guard admits. "Communications are breaking down."
Breaking down? That can't be good.
If Dante's men can't coordinate, if they're scattered and disorganized, Antonelli will pick them off one by one.
Marta moves to stand beside me and studies the screen too.
"I can't see anything through the smoke. The cameras are useless."
"Can we switch to different angles?" I ask.
"I've tried. They're all the same," the guard grumbles and backs away from us, and Marta pushes a few buttons.
All I want is to know this is almost over and the man I love is safe.
My legs are numb from sitting on that hard bed for so long, and my lower back hurts from standing on the concrete.
The monitors show nothing, and without radio contact, all we have to go on is that there are still gunshots being heard.
I hate this.
The radio erupts with noise again.
This time, it's Rico's voice speaking frantically.
"We've got men down on the east terrace. I need backup now. Now!"
