Page 72 of Code Name: Dante

Something about that number of people didn’t sit right with me. I stepped away, pulled out my phone, and called Alice.

“Hey, Alessandro,” she answered.

“Listen, I just arrived at the hospital, and the pit bull at the information desk won’t let me up to see Barbara. She says there are six people with her now.”

“That’s not right. Pershing and I came downstairs a few minutes ago to get Lark some tea. Blackjack is the only one with her and her grandmother.”

“She said two men just went up.” My stomach clenched. “I need to talk to Admiral.Now.”

His voice came on the line seconds later. “What’s going on?”

“Someone downstairs said two men just went up to see Barbara. They’re not ours?”

“Negative. No one else from the team is here.” The phone rustled. “I’m on my way.”

“What floor?” I asked.

“Five.”

I glanced at the information desk, where the woman was busy with another visitor, then sprinted for the elevator bank, hitting the button for the fifth floor after easing on one right before it closed.

When the doors opened, I found Admiral waiting with Blackjack, who had a nasty bruise forming on his temple.

“Lark is gone,” said Admiral. “Someone must have been watching, waiting for the right moment.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. Alice was already on her phone, placing a call. “I’m contacting Tex. We need eyes on the hospital parking lot immediately—satellite footage from the last fifteen minutes.”

Seconds stretched like hours as we took the elevator down to the main floor. Finally, Alice’s phone pinged.

“Got ’em. Two men forced Lark into a dark SUV.” She read off the coordinates Tex sent. “They’re heading north on Route 30A toward an old industrial park.”

“How long ago?” I was already moving, Blackjack right behind me.

“Less than fifteen minutes. He’s sending the coordinates to our phones now.”

“I called for backup, and I’ll drive,” said Admiral as the four of us jumped into the SUV I’d left parked near the hospital entrance. “All we’ve got is local PD, but at least it’s something.”

Alice plugged in the coordinates she’d gotten from Tex and navigated us there. When we pulled up, we could see a single gunman standing a few feet away, keeping watch outside a nondescript warehouse. He spotted us at the same time and raised his weapon. Blackjack was ready for him, though, and took him down with a single, clean shot.

“Check for vitals,” I shouted as I raced toward that entrance while Admiral and Alice, who was also armed, went around the back.

I kicked the door to the vast space that was filled with storage boxes. As I crept inside after it opened, my eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light. When I could finally see, a man stood holding Lark with his arm around her throat. Even in the poor light, I could make out the distinctive Mazzeo-family tattoo on his forearm.

“If it isn’t Vincent’s brother, the rat,” he called out. “I wondered how long it would take you to show up.”

“What do you want, Mazzeo?” I shouted, keeping my voice steady despite the rage burning through my veins.

“I want to know where my son’s killer is.” His voice echoed off the metal walls.

“He’s sitting in a jail cell.”

“We both know Vincent didn’t kill Anthony.” The arm around Lark’s throat tightened. “I want Summer. You know where she is.”

“Let her go, and I’ll tell you.”

Mazzeo snickered, and his lip curled. “Sure you will.” When he moved forward, pushing Lark with him, I saw he had a gun held to her side. I just prayed that Lark didn’t attempt any of the self-defense moves I’d taught her. They wouldn’t save her against a firearm.

A shot rang out, and the lights directly above us exploded in a shower of sparks. A scream pierced the air, and a split second later, everything went pitch black. When two more gunshots cracked through the void, I dove in Lark’s direction, knowing I had to save her even if it meant losing my own life.

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