Page 105 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
Behind us—footsteps, heavy and fast. Not ours.
Damn it.
“Go!” I snapped, spinning around just as bullets tore through the plaster. The crack of gunfire felt too loud and too close. I fired back, two shots. I heard one grunt and a thud. But more were coming.
The hallway split ahead. Smoke already rolled down from the west wing, curling like fingers around the ceiling.
“Left!” I barked. We ducked into a side passage, barely dodging another hail of bullets. The corner of the wall exploded in dust beside my head.
Maria stumbled. Matteo slipped halfway from her grasp.
“Don’t stop!”
She righted him and kept running, her breath ragged. I could see the terror carved across her face—raw and real. She wasn’t just scared of dying. She was scared he’d see her scared.
Twenty seconds, maybe.
The service stairs. It was the only exit Enrico’s men wouldn’t expect.
We pounded down them, metal rattling beneath our weight. I counted every clank like it was a heartbeat.
One, two, three—
The door at the bottom groaned when I shoved it open. It was rusted and jammed. I threw my shoulder into it with everything I had. It gave way with a screech, flinging open into the blinding sunlight.
“Out!” I roared.
We stumbled into the alley behind the building. But we weren’t safe.
“Luca’s on the other side,” I growled, yanking Maria behind a dumpster as more shots cracked out. “Cover Matteo!”
She hit the ground with him, her arms curled around his tiny frame. His eyes were wide and scared but dry. He was a brave little guy, like his mom. Like—
No. Focus.
Ten seconds. Maybe less.
I spun and fired again, forcing the shooters to duck. My gun clicked empty.
Shit.
“Run!” I screamed, throwing the gun down and grabbing Maria’s free hand.
We sprinted. The ground trembled beneath us, just a ripple at first and then a deep groan. A sound like the world holding its breath.
Five…
The wind shifted. Heat licked my neck.
Four…
A blast of light behind us. The air grew thick and angry.
Three…
The explosion slammed into us like a wall. I barely had time to throw myself over them. Fire roared, glass shattered, and debris flew like bullets.
Two…
