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“Mm,” he grunted, and I could only imagine what was running through his head.
Something strange passed through me, as if the wind took a sudden change of direction and sent a breeze of cold air over me. The hair on my arms stood to attention.
I felt the fear just as shadows emerged from the tree line all around us. I reached out for Elio’s arm.
“Who are they?” I whispered as a stillness draped around us. All that could be heard was the sound of flexed leather as their weapons were being drawn.
“Elio.” Piero pushed Andrea next to me, and the two men created a bubble of protection. “Four.”
“I see six,” Elio responded.
“There are another two behind the one in red,” I croaked and swallowed through a dry mouth, hoping I was helping.
“Just like Sicily,” Piero said harshly.
Niccola and Vinni gave their count, and I felt Elio tug on my arm to move me closer behind him.
“Vinni, take Sienna. Niccola, take Mama,” Elio ordered.
“Yes, boss.” Vinni reached out for my arm, and as much as I didn’t want to leave Elio in this crazy scene from a zombie movie, I hesitated but knew I had to move. “Come on, Sienna.”
“Take this.” Elio, whose gaze never left the men who were walking toward us at a slow, steady pace, handed me a knife. “Always aim for the inner thigh and then under the arm. Don’t stop until they stop moving.”
“I love you,” I breathed in his ear and grabbed the knife as Vinni shouted to run. As soon as we started to run, a frenzy broke out and everyone began to move fast. There was shouting, and bullets began to fly. The sound of it all sent the birds into a frenzy, and they took off into the sky in sheer panic. Some men were closing in on us as we veered off toward the cars.
“Come on!” I could hardly hear Vinni but saw his mouth moving. Andrea, who was just a few feet from me, pumped her arms at her sides as she suddenly tripped over a rock and tumbled to the ground. I quickly pivoted and went for her, but Niccola shoved my shoulder, sending me toward Vinni again.
“Go with Vinni!” he shouted as he scooped up Andrea and basically carried her off in a different direction toward a vehicle. So many things were going on at once. I frantically looked back. All I wanted to do was see if Elio was all right. Niccola shouted something as he nearly tossed Andrea into the car. Vinni was a few feet ahead of me and made it to the car first and opened the door. He shouted at me to move it. I was almost to the car whenBang!Vinni’sface twisted in horror, and I followed his gaze toward his brother.
Niccola had been hit. Andrea jumped out of the car and dragged Niccola inside. Then, with her in the driver’s seat, they peeled off down the driveway.
In those same seconds, someone grabbed Vinni and sucker punched him in the face, and I was grabbed from behind and dropped the knife.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you,” the man grunted into my ear.
My fight or flight kicked in, and I lost it. As I leaned forward like I was falling, I sent my elbow backward hard and drove it into his ribs, and he let go on a woosh of air. I kicked back and got him in the crotch. I spun around and used the palm of my hand and drilled it into his nose. Then someone grabbed me and pushed me to the ground. I flipped over and managed to get my knee between me and the new attacker. With all my might, I kicked upward and was able to knock him off balance just enough to wiggle free from his hold. I flipped on my stomach and scrambled desperately to get onto my feet, only to have his hand wrap around my ankle and yank me back onto the ground again. I hit my jaw with a loud crack. My ears rang, and my vision blurred, but my subconscious screamed at me to stay focused, and I had a strong will to live. One of the men crawled on top of me and pushed my face into the dirt.
“No!” I screamed as my feet and arms kicked and pushed up desperately as he tried to pin my arms. I looked to the side and saw Elio racing toward me, then he suddenly stopped, and the man let go of me and fell beside me with blood running from his head. I was lifted off the ground from behind and pushed into the back of a car.
Panic ripped through me. I looked desperately back toward Elio, only to see him give a quick nod, then he turned and shot at the men coming up behind him.
“Belt,” Francesco barked from the driver’s seat. I didn’t even realize I was obeying until he looked at me from the rearview mirror with a worried expression. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” I huffed, trying to catch my breath. My face hurt like hell, and I reached up and touched my jaw. “What about Niccola?” I felt tears prickle but chased them away, I needed to be strong. Niccola was like a brother to me; I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose him. I knew how close he was to everyone else, too.
“Gain got to him. He’s on his way with Andrea back to the Hill House.”
“Hill House? He should be going to the hospital.”
“There are doctors and a whole operating room in the basement, Sienna. He’ll have the best care.”
“Jesus.” I covered my face, trying to get my head on straight. What a rollercoaster today had been. “Who were those guys?”
“I don’t know, but I have my theories.”
“Do you think it was Greta?” He took a turn hard, and I had to hold on to the door and seat to keep from sliding around.
“No,” he finally said, “I don’t. Right now, I need to drive and get us out of here in one piece.”
