"Go," Dante says. "I'll handle this piece of shit."
I run. Down the hall, down the stairs, around the corner?—
Pain explodes in my shoulder. I duck back as a shot rings out. I check my shoulder. Bullet caught the vest but it still hurts like hell.
I charge out from behind the wall, gun raised. The guy fires. I fire back.
His bullets hit my vest. Mine hits his forehead.
He drops.
I kick him aside and rush through the iron door.
The corridor of cells is lit dimly by a small window. And there, in the last cell, I see her.
Elena lies on the stone floor. Soaking wet. Naked. Hands and ankles bound.
Not moving.
"Elena!" I shout, fumbling with the key. "Elena, baby, wake up!"
The lock clicks. I wrench the door open and drop to my knees beside her.
Her skin is ice cold. Her lips have a blue tinge.
"Elena, please. Please wake up." My hands shake as I check for a pulse.
There. Faint but there.
"Dante!" I yell into my comm. "I need you down here now! She's alive but barely!"
I cut the ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Pull off my jacket and wrap it around her over the shirt she's wearing.
"Come on, baby. Come on. You're safe now. I've got you. Just wake up for me."
Her eyelids flutter.
"That's it. That's my girl. Open those eyes."
She makes a sound. Barely a whisper.
"Marco?"
"I'm here. I'm right here. I've got you."
Her eyes open slightly, unfocused. Then they find mine.
"You came," she breathes.
"Of course I came. Did you really think I wouldn't?" I gather her into my arms, holding her close. "I'm never letting you go again. Never."
Dante appears in the doorway. "Jesus. We need to get her out of here. Now."
"Can you walk?" I ask Elena.
She tries but her legs won't support her. I lift her into my arms.
"I've got you, little fox. Just hold on to me."
