ca

t came throug

ered. Eveli

just as a second bullet hit the espresso mac

dy reaching for the Glock

tinos always sent messages before they

s an ex

That meant they had inside help-maybe one of

anym

e to catch the first one coming through the hallway-black hoodi

e, eyes wide, shaking. "W

I said. "But they

ow

ne I didn't have

le pillars for cover. I flanked left, fired three rounds. He

en here

d turne

lin

f a gunfight, barefoot and half-dresse

d a pillar, adrenaline drowni

aos. Calm. Lethal. And beautiful

in five minutes

so wanted to follow him, to fight beside him,

m the stairwell. I smashed a vase

ed, saw m

e were

belonge

ca

her outside through the side door. My chest heaved. Blood dri

o go," I s

he

t that's safe," I said

t me like I

e I

uth's buri

ried to kill me to