s dark, oppr

she tore through the empty streets, her

mixing with the sweat that pl

ldn't stop-not now. She had escaped h

footsteps thundered again

um in her chest, fear gripp

lled, his voice cutting thro

k a sob, her swoll

ught herself before

ain, and every movement sent sharp pain

no one in particular. Her voi

t me get

und hard. Pain shot through her knee, and wh

shin, staining the rip

ght of the men closing in sent

muttered, more to her

rself forward. The street was eer

sound of her pursuers

had been

ted, arguing over something trivial,

elt like her luck

ned as she forced h

in the distance-a flicker of ho

test, but she pushed on,

, blinding as she stepp

ively, shielding her face, bu

nd she collapsed ont

hummed as it came to an abrupt stop,

ttorio's sharp, piercin

e stared at the crumpl

o barked, his deep, gravell

o, the driver, replied, his hands

thinking, runnin

lared

pposed to know? Get o

from Enzo had him unbuckling his s

rising and falling rapidly as sh

utiously, his footsteps

Matteo crouched down

, the sound of approaching f

shadows, their expressions

en growled, his eyes narro

d, his eyes narrow

car, watched the exchange

owed as he too

Alessia's battered appearance tol

ce was tense as he gl

d out, his imposing frame casting a

nd a faint scar ran from the side of his neck down to h

Enzo's voice was calm but

nt, their confidence waveri

e of them said, though his voi

We're just he

curled into

ped closer, his eyes gl

ing, it looks like you've al

k, b

off, his tone sharp. "Then

before one of them lunged forwa

tack with ease, his mov

wisting it sharply until the k

zo dislocated the man's shoulder

pting another attacker with a

gasping for air, but

collar and slammed him a

rethinking his choices. Enzo no

them," he said, his voi

d charged, but Enz

he jaw sent him spr

tes, the fi

ed, scrambled to their feet and

off invisible dust as he turned

body still trembling a

, his tone firm. "G

ated. "Sir,

ped. His gaze softened

so fragile,

y was, he couldn'

Alessia into his arms and placing

sharp eyes scanning her face as

but different thought

what had she got