"Goddamn," Freddie mutters, picking up the pace. "Julian is not fucking around."
Another scream, this one abruptly choked off, followed by Julian's delighted laughter.
I swallow hard, my mouth dry. "C'mon." I turn away from the warehouse. "Let's get outta he?—"
But something collides with my back and I sprawl forward, barely getting my hands up to avoid a faceful of concrete. My palms scrape raw but I roll to the side just as a bullet hits the ground where my head was a moment before.
I kick out on instinct, connecting sharply with my attacker's knee. He crashes down with a bellow of pain, next to the two-by-four he just smashed into my back.
It's one of the fucking Bernardis who scampered out as soon as AJ was taken down. And there are a few more of them besides, firing at Oz and Freddie, who have to dive for cover.
I'm up and pounding pavement before any of them can get an aim on me. My back throbs and complains as I move, but there's no time to worry about bruises now. We make it clear, losing them in the maze of the docks. Oz grabs me when I stumble, helps me keep on staggering toward the car.
Jack, our wheelman, pulled out the big guns tonight: his boyfriend's blue BMW convertible, instead of his old Pinto. When I saw him pull up at Redwood, I figured he was expecting the need for speed.
And I'm glad he thought ahead, as we hear footsteps running our way.
"Hey, watch it!" Jack exclaims as we pile in. "No blood on the upholstery. Miller'll kill me."
"Sorry," I mutter, even though I know he's just kidding. Jack takes off as I ask, "What about Leo and Julian?"
"They have their own plan," he says. "Don't worry about them."
Their own plan. As much as Sandro wants a clean kill, I know Julian has different ideas. And Leo, too. I saw the state of themboth after their last encounter down here at the docks with AJ and his men, so I can't blame them.
But I also don't have to like it.
The car pulls up again at Redwood Manor, and my back seizes up as I try to get out. I make this undignified yelp that startles the hell out of everyone, and then they're all treating me like I lost a leg or something. Oz and Freddie insist on half-carrying me inside to one of the front rooms, where I'm looked at by the old doctor who's tended to countless injured soldiers of the Family. He cleans and dresses my wounds, hands steady despite his age, and tells me what I already know: the left side of my back is gonna hurt like hell for a while, but nothing broke.
"Let Darian sleep," I tell Jack. "He doesn't need to know about this, not yet."
"Too late for that," Jack replies apologetically. "He was waiting up, demanding to know what happened. And actually—" He lifts his eyes to the open door.
Darian walks in, looking angry and upset, but trying to maintain his usual calm facade. He nods to Jack and the doctor, and then he stares at me.
"Are you alright?" he demands.
"I'm good," I tell him. "I'm okay, D. I promise."
The room empties out once the Doc is done. Darian's gaze lingers on my bandages, and I can see the unspoken question in his eyes. But he doesn't push for answers, instead giving me atight-lipped smile. I watch him for a moment, trying to gauge his mood.
"You okay too?" I ask softly.
"I've beenterrified," he admits, his voice trembling slightly. "When I sawtwomen were helping you up the steps, I thought—I thought I was going to lose you."
I tug him down for a gentle kiss. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."
He gives a watery chuckle, resting his head on my shoulder carefully. I run my fingers through his hair, thinking again of Julian's catlike grace as he moved across the warehouse roof. There was something eerily familiar in the way he moved, his slim figure silhouetted in the moonlight. Where have I seen that before?
A shadow moving through shadows…
Not now. I can't deal with that now.
Darian lifts his head, studying me with a frown. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I force a smile. "Just—the job tonight. It was intense."
He searches my face, like he can see the lie lurking beneath. After a moment, he sighs and rests his head on my shoulder again.
