Page 144 of Brutal Legacy

Isat at the kitchen table right by the window and stared out at the moonlit garden. Right now, outside somewhere, Elio could be fighting for his life against Massimo. I was terrified. I felt sick. I couldn’t even think or worry about what would happen to me if Elio lost. If he did, I didn’t care what happened. They could carve me up and ship me to my father inch by inch. I would be dead anyway.

There were about ten guards standing around the kitchen, watching me. It should have been comical. I didn’t know what they thought I could do by myself. I didn’t even have a weapon to defend myself with, but apparently Sergio Ravelli was taking Elio seriously. I wished he weren’t. If only he’d underestimate him.

That didn’t seem to be the case.

A slight breeze blew through the gap in the kitchen door. I stared at the yard and then looked up at the stables, remembering that night we’d first slept together. Life had seemed so shiny and full of hope then. I’d been excited to live, because I’d met him, the man who made every second exciting. We were going to leaveCastel Amaro and see the world. We’d had our whole lives ahead of us… and now, I might lose it all again.

Elio was right; I hadn’t really been living alone, without him… I’d just been waiting.

I was staring at the dark stables when I saw it.

A light flashing in the darkness.

Flash-flash, pause…

I’d know that pattern anywhere. That code had lived in my brain for fourteen years.

Come to me.

Adrenaline surged through me. I considered my escape. Elio was telling me to run to the barn, and I’d follow his orders off the ends of the Earth, trusting him to catch me when I fell. I didn’t stop to think. I didn’t let my panic take over.

I trusted Elio’s plans to work.

I trusted him, period. If I was going to die here, I’d do it trying to reach him.

This time, I’d trust him until the end.

I glanced around casually, checking the guards’ positions. They were chatting among themselves, clearly feeling safe. I waited until the one closest to me turned around and started to argue about the latest football match and then lunged for the door.

The handle moved beneath my palm, and then I was outside. The men closest to me grabbed at me, but I twisted away, putting my head down and running toward the stables with everything I had.

Someone beside me reached out for me, and a strange zipping sound echoed around before he fell. Someone got close on the other side, and he also fell. A fine spray of blood hit my cheek, but I kept running. The men beside me kept falling, picked off one by one. Some still had their hands outstretched toward me, just about to grab me.

Not one managed to touch me.

They fell as I ran, perfectly protected by my merciless mercenary. There was no hail of bullets. Each shot was exactly precise. Not one of the men got up.

I reached the stables and slammed inside.

One man was still behind me, doggedly on my heels. He’d been right behind me the entire time and had clearly used me as his shield.

I ran down the central aisle of the stable, aiming for the ladder at the end. I didn’t make it. The guy behind me grabbed my hair and yanked me back, just as Elio’s legs appeared from the space above the hayloft. He dropped and landed smoothly, pointing a gun at the man behind me. A sharp feeling pricked me under the chin.

“Move and I’ll cut her throat,” the man’s voice wavered. He was terrified.

Elio didn’t bother answering him. His gaze fixed on me.

“You trust me,cara?” he asked. “Nod if you trust me.”

I didn’t stop to think. I bent my head and nodded.

The bullet zipped over my head and hit my attacker between the eyes. His hold went slack. He fell to the floor, and I stood there, shaking all over.

Then Elio was in front of me, bundling me into his arms.

“It’s okay now,topolina, you’re safe.” He smoothed my hair back and looked me over, his gaze running across me, searching for injuries. It snagged on my bloody lip. A remainder from when I’d bitten Sergio, and he’d clocked me.

“Who?” Elio’s voice was utterly lethal.

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