Page 116 of Blood Vows

“Check the exit,” she grumbled. He turned away, and Valentina exhaled. What the hell was wrong with her?

Marco cracked the door open and waited for any sounds that would alert him to danger. Then, he stepped outside. It was only for a few seconds, but Valentina’s heart started hammering in her chest again.

“Marco,” she whispered. She heard nothing. Valentina moved closer to the doorway and a hand shot through. Valentina gasped as Marco caught her wrist.

“What did I say?” he asked.

She smacked his arm. “You scared the hell out of me!”

“You were supposed to stay put,” he said.

“You were gone too long,” she challenged.

“I was gone twelve seconds,” he said.

“Well, it felt longer,” she said.

Something in his expression changed, and he released her. “It’s clear.” Valentina followed him out. They emerged into the garage of another house, and a black SUV waited inside. Marco pulled out his phone, and there was no signal.

“Jammer,” he muttered. “They’re blocking cellular traffic around the safehouse.”

Valentina’s stomach dropped. “That sounds professional, right?”

“Yes,” he breathed.

“You keep agreeing with me, as though it should make me feel better.”

“It shouldn’t,” he said. At least he was honest. Marco opened the passenger door to the SUV and whispered to her, “Get in.” Valentina climbed inside as he circled the SUV, got behind the wheel, and pulled a second phone from the center console.

She stared. “How many phones do you own?”

“Enough,” he growled.

“Normal people have one,” she said.

“Normal people aren’t trying to keep you alive.” That shut her up, because he was right. The man currently trying to keep her alive wasn’t normal at all. Marco started the engine, and the garage door opened. He waited until it was barely high enough for the SUV to clear, then accelerated out.

Valentina grabbed the door handle. “You could have warned me.”

“You could wear a seat belt,” he said.

She snapped it into place. “Happy?”

“Not particularly.” He drove three blocks before touching the second phone. A call connected immediately through the car speakers.

“Marco?” a man answered.

“We’re out,” Marco said. Valentina heard something shift on the other end of the call.

“How bad is it?” the man asked.

“Safehouse is burned to the ground,” Marco said.

“Casualties?” the man asked.

“Don’t know yet,” Marco admitted.

“Is Valentina with you?” the man questioned.