I slowed.
“Amanda!”
My name cracked through the dark, like a clap of thunder. He knew. Vincenzo knew exactly what I was thinking.
Spinning around, I reached for the weapon.
“Don’t do it, girl,” the warlord warned.
I faced the threat. “I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be.” That voice was pure poison.
One shot. One bullet to end this.
“Amanda, don’t!” Vincenzo called, the word pure panic.
That note made me pause. My dark knight wasn’t scared of anything. Not the living, not the dead—
Oh, shit.
There was one thing.
“You thought you could trap me.” Maksim laughed, the sound similar to the rattle of chains. “But don’t worry, I’ll be back real soon to take that pretty body.”
This trap was for us. I didn’t know how, but I felt it in my bones.
Damn you, Dad.
But there wasn’t enough time or air to hate him for his manipulation.
“Stop! Police!” a shout boomed from behind.
I wavered. No.No!
Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me down. The voice of strength hissed in my ear, “Stay put.”
“No, I—”
“You need to hide!” Vincenzo’s voice was shredded in panic. “If you get caught, this is all for nothing.”
With a final shove, he rose to face the warlord.
I tried to scramble out, but my husband’s toe nudged me under a dumpster. The ground was sticky, rank with trash. Dropping the gun, I pressed my fingers against the pavement, trying to peer out.
“Enjoy prison, boy.” The warlord’s parting words were a deep chortle. “I’ll make sure to kiss your girl real good for you.”
Footsteps pounded from behind. I was about to wriggle out when something made me pause. It was a note of clarity. Reason sprang to my aid, fueling the line of deduction.
We would have known if there were cops in the area. Hell, the techies could have diverted them while we took care of the warlord. They had to have snuck up on us, trailing the warlord, with their equipment signals muted.
“Vincenzo Messina, you’re under arrest for attempted murder in the first degree,” the cop barked. “Put the gun down, son. It’s only going to make matters worse.”
Vincenzo’s voice was hollow. “I’m not armed.”
They couldn’t do that. They didn’t have evidence!
Unless….
