Page 127 of The Twilight Theft

I sniffled, playing up the sorrow for Liana and the other men. For Drew, I flicked my pinky finger twice.Please remember that’s our signal for needing physical cover and it means I’m ready to run.

A siren wailed in the distance, and everyone looked at Noah. If we’d needed proof he was in charge, that was it. And from the way he’d protected me from Enzo, despite the threats which were hopefully hollow, that was important.

“We should go.” Noah offered a hand to Liana, who stood with him. “We have a car downstairs.”

“In case those sirens are for us”—Enzo grabbed me by the hair, hauling me forward—“we should take her.”

“Ow, shit, stop!” I stumbled, crashing to my knees, and the tears started for real. The gun was almost better. I grabbed his wrist so he couldn’t rip anything out. No one intervened this time. Not even Drew.

Good, Drew. Keep them thinking you’re on their side.

Enzo forced me to stand and I played up my limp. Every step was like knives stabbing my leg, but I pretended it was worse. Noah and Liana took the lead, while Drew and Craig trailed behind us.

“Where are you going?” whispered Drew. “I can meet you.”

“If you’re serious, I’ll contact you once we’re settled.” Craig raised his voice, no longer speaking privately. “What about Vanessa?”

“She knows where the rendezvous is,” Noah said over his shoulder. “If she misses the flight, that’s on her. I have the beak and we can’t sacrifice it falling into anyone else’s hands.”

Blue lights flashed through the windows of Drew’s office as we passed. The elevator doors opened and everyone filed in.

“I’m going to miss this place,” said Craig.

As the door slid closed, Drew slammed a hand against one of them, halting their progress. He spun, punching Enzo square in the nose. The scarred Italian released me as he reeled back, holding his face with both hands. Liana cried out.

Noah and Craig?

No idea.

Because Drew yanked me out of the elevator, charged around a corner, and shoved me through the heavy door into the stairwell.

“Get them!” bellowed Enzo. “They know too much!”

“Can you make it?” hissed Drew, tucked in behind me while I took the stairs two and three at a time.

Easy peasy. No words came, every step rattling through my entire body. My head was about to explode.Use the railing for leverage. Land light on the left, propel with the right. I can do it, Drew.

A body collided with the door one floor above us and gunfire shattered the night. The bullet pinged off metal and footsteps thundered on the stairs.

“She’s already injured, Enzo!” yelled Noah. “Put that thing away.”

As we hit the landing between the first and second floors, I miscalculated. I landed hard on my bad leg, and it crumpled underneath me.

Drew stopped and grabbed my arm. “I’m not leaving you.”

But it was too late. Enzo paused a half-flight above us, leveling his gun. “Cazzo Madre di Dio!”

Drew’s head spun toward Enzo and he dropped on top of me, pain searing through my leg, my head, and every cell of my body. All I saw was a blur of red swinging down from the stairs above Enzo at the same time the muzzle flared. My ears rang. Vision swam with tears.

Through a gap between Drew’s arms covering my head, I saw Noah.

With a fire extinguisher?

“Go! Now!” Noah ground out.

“Drew,” I said. “Get up. We need to run.”

He groaned but was on his feet in seconds.

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