I pressed my ear against the door, heart racing. More shots, closer now. Shouting. Running footsteps above me.
Cassian.
It had to be. He'd found us.
The lights flickered, then went out completely, plunging me into absolute darkness. Emergency lighting kicked in seconds later, bathing everything in red.
More gunfire. Sustained now, the rapid crack of automatic weapons. Men screaming orders, feet pounding on stairs.
I grabbed the bucket and positioned myself beside the door. If someone came through, if they tried to move me or hurt me, I'd fight. I'd buy time for Cassian to get to Leo.
The building shook with an explosion. Dust rained from the ceiling.
Please let Leo be okay. Please let him be far from the fighting.
The door handle rattled. I raised the bucket, ready to bring it down on whoever entered.
The door flew open, kicked in with brutal force.
A man in tactical gear filled the doorway, weapon raised. Not one of Matteo's guards—the gear was too professional, too military.
His eyes locked on me. "Isla Quinn?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He lowered his weapon slightly. "Marco sent me. Cassian's orders—get you out. Now."
"My son—"
"Being extracted by another team. Come on, we don't have much time."
"I'm not leaving without Leo!"
"You don't have a choice." He grabbed my arm, not rough but firm. "Cassian was very clear. You get out first. The boy is his priority, and he's going for him personally."
Another explosion rocked the building. The emergency lights flickered.
"We need to move now," the man insisted. "The building's been rigged. Matteo's scorched earth—if he can't have the victory, no one gets out."
The words hit like ice water. Leo was somewhere in this building, and Matteo was willing to bring it down around all of us.
"No." I wrenched my arm free. "I'm not leaving my son."
"Ma'am—"
"I said no!" I pushed past him into the hallway, ignoring his curses behind me.
The corridor was chaos—smoke, flashing red lights, the distant sound of gunfire. I ran toward the stairs, toward where Matteo had said Leo was being kept. Two floors up.
The tactical team member caught up with me. "You're going to get us both killed!"
"Then leave!" I didn't stoprunning. "I'm getting my son."
He swore again but fell into step beside me, weapon raised. "Second floor, east wing. That's where the last thermal signature placed the child. But Cassian's already heading there—"
An explosion, close enough to knock us sideways. Part of the ceiling collapsed, showering debris.
"Go!" He shoved me forward. "Stairs, now!"
