“Not without bleeding to death,” He lifted his hand from where it was pressed against his side. Bright, fresh blood gleamed on his palm.
“Then get the fuck down.”
We all dropped as Nico raised his gun and emptied his clip down the thin opening, my ears ringing. He instantly dropped the two leading soldiers, then the rest threw up a wall of… shadows.
Black, living shadows.
Shadows that looked exactly like Nico’s.
“We’re on foot.” Nico dropped his empty clip, slammed in a new one, no expression on his face except concentration. “Follow me.”
We cut through alleyways, over bridges full of startled tourists, the city blurring into a maze of golden stone and nighttime shadow, but they were still behind us.
And closing in.
“Arsenale,” Nico ordered, and we made a sharp right turn.
“Luca. The sigil.” My brother yanked it free, tossed it over to Nico, who muttered something as we flew past the wrought-iron gates and the lions, bursting through the heavy metal doors, slamming them shut behind us, the echo reverberating through the cavernous interior, empty except for the twin rows of enormous brick pillars.
I pressed my back to the door, chest heaving.
“How much magic do you have left?” Gabriel asked.
“I can read minds,” Luca said drily. “So, I can tell you the many ways they’re planning to kill us if that would be helpful?”
“Smart mouth, just like your sister.” He looked to Nico. “How much?”
“Enough to hide us, but they saw rightthrough my shadows before, so I’d just be wasting my energy.” He checked his weapon. “A full clip, one in reserve, two blades.”
“I’m out.” I spread my hands. “No magic, and Giovanni’s soldiers took my gun and blades.”
“Well, I’ve got nothing,” Gabriel muttered. “Where the fuck is my brother when you need him?”
Clicking heels echoed from within the building.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Confident.
We turned as a door creaked open, Nico bringing his barrel up just as she stepped inside, like she was arriving at one of Rocco’s fancy galas.
Against the rugged history of this place, Valeria Demente looked amazing. A long evening gown clung to her like liquid, priceless yellow diamonds glittering at her throat and wrists, catching the light. Her pale hair fell perfectly over her shoulders in a sweep of gold, her expression composed.
Almost amused.
Behind her, four Demente soldiers in Armani suits and sunglasses fanned out, weapons trained on us, movements precise but not threatening.Yet.
I straightened despite the exhaustion clawing at me. This was the female who’d tried to lure Dante away, bribing him with her body and their past to join her father’s corrupted little empire of secrets.
My fists balled at my sides.
She said my pathetic bloodline was too weak.
“Come to finish the job Giovanni started?” Nico challenged softly, his voice like steel, gun pointed at her heart. Valeria tilted her head, considering him.
“Not exactly,” her smile turned savage. “If I wanted you dead, Nico Draconi, you would be.”
