Page 134 of Descent

“Andare con Dio, fratello.” Alessandro steps back.

Three blades sing a song of death, making the hooded one proud. Blood spills down Dom’s sides, down his back. He sinks to the floor, one hand reaching for Alessandro.

My brother steps back.

Ciro and I distance ourselves.

Adriano pauses. Takes his hand.

“Tell Gloria…I-I—” Dom croaks, drowning in his own blood.

“No.” He sets Dom’s limp hand back in his darkening lap. “But I will take care of her.”

A faint smile twitches at the edges of Dom’s mouth. He nods. Like he’s proud of us for this.

One final hiss passes the serpent’s tongue.

Domenico Vipera is no more.

37

CIRCE

“There’s too damn many of them!” Artemis stomps another soldier, swiping her blade through another one of the gangbangers wearing tracksuits. No idea where they’re even from.

“She went this way!” I wave, ramming the sword Haru brought me to the hilt in the belly of a professional bodyguard, the man’s clear earpiece flopping out.

Fucking Secret Service … ?

Not that shocking.

At least one United States Senator was there.

Haru’s men regroup around us, clearing a path. Utter devastation guides us onward.

Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with designs on trying to kill Ananke. Piles of her men and her potential clients clog the path toward a cluster of vehicles.

Nearing the lot, I scan for lights, the sound of an engine. Too much noise. Too many opportunists trying to make it here to snag a ride. We’re beset on all sides, all different groups, all fighting each other as much as us.

A flash of a golden mask catches my eye, rushing from the cover of some large rocks, flanked by guards.

“There! Don’t let her get to the SUV!”

Like I gave a command, the white vehicle suddenly lurches into the air, engulfed in fire and smoke as it crashes down. The next vehicle in line goes up. Another.

It’s a goddamn cascade.

One after another the cars explode, coming right toward us from the left.

“Get clear! Now!” I roar, shouldering Artemis and practically lifting Haru by the back of his suit coat and dragging him along with an undignified yelp from the small man. We leap over hoods, skidding between, sprinting for the far side.

Stumbling at the edge of a dip in the land, I lunge forward, flinging Haru ahead of me just as a final rippling tidal wave of car bombs converges in the center of the parking lot, compounding the explosion and incinerating everyone left within the radius. Smoke chokes me as I skid down the slope, staggering to my feet.

“That was?—”

“Fucking badass!” Artemis howls, lost in the heat of battle. Looks like she got her spark back. She always had that Valkyrian bloodlust.

“And humiliating,” Haru snaps, dusting himself off.

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