“Don’t move.”
The SUV is tilted sideways in the ditch. The airbags have deployed. Dust fills the air, making my throat burn.
Stefano groans from the front.
“Stefano?”
“I’m here,” he says, voice rough. “Everyone, stay still.”
Blood runs down the side of his face as he reaches into his pocket.
Livy cries softly behind me, and it takes everything in me not to panic.
The second vehicle sits above us on the road, headlights pointed into the ditch. It’s not dark outside, but I don’t see much light apart from the other car.
We hear a car door open, and Stefano goes completely still.
“Mia,” he says quietly. “Unbuckle Olivia.”
“What?”
He reaches across my body and uses something to slice through my belt.
“Now.”
There’s something in his voice I’ve never heard from him before.
Not panic.
Urgency.
I force my shaking hands to move, twisting carefully until I can reach Livy. Her face is streaked with tears, but she’s awake. Bleeding from a cut near her temple. Holding one arm close to her chest.
“I’m scared,” she whispers.
“I know, baby.”
Boots crunch on gravel outside.
Stefano pulls himself free from his seatbelt with a pained grunt. He reaches for his gun, but the angle is bad, and his movements are slower than they should be.
The back window shatters inward, and I throw myself over Livy.
“Don’t touch them,” Stefano snarls.
A man laughs, and my blood goes cold.
Stefano drags himself through the broken space where his window used to be and stumbles onto the ground, gun in hand.
For half a heartbeat, I think he’s going to save us.
Then I hear the click of another gun.
I look up and see the man pointing a gun at my friend.
I can’t see his face from down here, but I can see Stefano’s, and he can clearly see the man.
I know the exact second he recognizes him.
