Well, we’re almost out, and then I can ask him directly. He should be waiting by his car. From the sound of things, River is still fighting, and I think I heard Asch say he was going to help River.
Which means Blaze is safe, because Asch would never leave Blaze alone.
Not that Blaze can’t take care of himself.
I push open the stairwell door, take a quick peek. Nobody, although I do hear yelling down the hall.
“Almost there,” I say to Samantha. I take her hand again and lead her to the back exit, which is right around the corner.
The door opens easily. I’m a bit surprised there’s no emergency alarm, but I guess it would be inconvenient if fire services were ever called to the building. Better to let everybody inside burn than risk anybody snitching.
Snitches get murder, after all.
All in all, this went off about as well as I expected. Sure, River and Asch had to beat up some guys, but River does that on a regular basis anyway. He’s good at it.
He’s hot at it, too.
“So, the car is…”
Somebody steps out in front of us, casting a long shadow.
He’s holding a gun aimed directly at us.
“Hi, Pandora,” Ezio says.
I open my mouth.
“If you say a single word, I’m going to shoot her.” Ezio points his gun directly at Samantha.
Samantha clings to me, and one glance at her shows me that her eyes are full of fear. I guess she hasn’t been around guns very much.
Or at all.
I nod to let Ezio know I understand.
He taps his ear with his free hand. “Get rid of the listening device. We don’t need anyone spying on us.”
If it was just me, I’d be making noise, but with Samantha here, I can’t risk pissing him off.
Ezio’s shadow waves at me on the pavement.
Christ, now’s really not the time.
I take the earpiece out with one ear. I squeeze Samantha’s hand to reassure her and to signal that she should keep fucking still.
“Toss it over here,” Ezio says. “Your phone, too.”
I shrug and throw the device in his direction. It bounces on the pavement, landing a few inches from his foot. The phone goes a bit farther, and I wince as I hear the screen crack.
Ezio stomps down on the in-ear microphone, destroying the device.
“Do you know how much those—” I start.
“Shut the fuck up,” Ezio barks. “God, you’re an insufferable bitch, aren’t you.”
Considering I’ve barely talked to him, I don’t know how he can say that. Most people wait at least a few conversations before they declare me insufferable.
Also, most people find me funny.
