Page 217 of Merciless Daddy

“What?”

“Industrial overpass. Union lorries have blocked both ends. Communications are jammed.”

A burst of broken audio tore from his phone.

Gunfire.

Then Tonio’s voice, loud and ragged.

“Move the vehicle! Move it now—”

A second sound came through.

My brother.

“Lena!”

Everything inside me broke toward the door.

Sal caught my hand.

“Pietro and Tonio have him,” he said.

“I heard him.”

“I know.”

“I have to go.”

“No.” His fingers tightened around mine. “Not into an active ambush.”

Serafina’s voice cut through the phone. “Salvatore. Get to the convoy. We need you.”

His eyes closed once.

I felt the choice in his grip.

Then he spoke into the phone.

“Pietro has command. Tonio is with Kiryl. I stay with Yelena.”

“Sal—”

“I stay.”

He ended the call.

I stared at him.

“You should go,” I said.

“No.”

“Please. Sal, he is my brother.”

“And you are mine to protect.”

That’s when the fire alarm started. A harsh mechanical shriek. Sprinkler lights flashing red. A voice over the building speakers instructed us to evacuate calmly.