"Elena?" Marco again. He peers around the doorframe, hands up. "It's me. It's over."
I'm still holding the gun. Still pointing it at him even though it's empty.
He walks toward me slowly. Takes the gun from my shaking hands. Cups my face.
That's when I break.
A sob tears out of me. All the adrenaline, all the fear I've been holding back, it crashes over me at once.
"We're okay," Marco murmurs. "We're both okay."
I throw my arms around his neck, holding on like he's the only thing keeping me anchored to reality.
"We need to leave," he says after a moment. "There might be more coming."
I nod. Force myself to let go. "I need another gun."
He hands me his backup weapon, and something like pride flickers across his face.
We move through the bedroom. Four bodies now. Marco quickly cuts something from each one—fingers, I realize with a sick lurch—and puts them in a plastic bag.
Fingerprints. For identification.
I don't ask. Just follow him to the front door.
He clears the hallway, then leads me to the window with the fire escape. The same one I used weeks ago to give Tony the slip.
We climb down to the alley. Marco presses me against the wall behind a dumpster while he scans for threats.
A car screeches to a halt at the alley entrance. I raise my gun.
"It's Ren!" Marco grabs my wrist, lowering the weapon.
Ren is out of the SUV, his own gun drawn. When he sees us, he opens the back door.
We run for it. Marco covers me, his body between me and any potential shooters.
I dive into the backseat. Marco follows.
"Go!" he shouts, and Ren peels out.
I'm still holding the gun. Staring at it in my lap. My finger is still on the trigger.
Marco places his hand over mine but when he tries to take the gun, I won't let go.
My grip is like a vise. I can't seem to make my fingers work.
He leans close and whispers, "Give me the gun, baby."
The word breaks through whatever's keeping me frozen. I take my finger off the trigger. Release my grip.
He sets the gun aside and pulls me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on.
"Don't call me baby if you don't mean it," I whisper. My body is trembling now. The adrenaline finally leaving my system.
He smiles against my neck and hugs me tighter. "I've never meant anything more in my life."
CHAPTER 29
