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“Maybe he thought some of his minions survived,” Maxsim comments.
“The place is gonna blow,” Rodrigo chokes out.
I move closer. “What did you say?”
“Boom!” Rodrigo swallows slowly, color leaching from his tan skin. “There’s a bomb. The timer’s ticking.” His eyes close. “I’ll see you all in hell.”
“Look forward to it,” Maxsim comments.
I glance at my brother, who tips his head to the left. “You picking up a signal.”
“Yeah, and it better be the right one.”
“Let’s fucking go!” Maxsim charges ahead, and we all move toward the dimly lit corridor. The scent of sweat and gunpowder lingers in the air as tension coils in my chest like a tightly wound spring.
Throwing open door after door, we curse as each room comes up empty. “Check the signal, Franco.”
“We’re right on top of it,” he replies in a low biting growl.
A door at the end of the hall opens slowly, and we all raise our guns. Holding my breath, I step closer and feel my heart stop when Ari and Abby step out. Bloody and bedraggled.
Franco surges ahead. “That better not be your blood.”
Ari accepts Franco’s hug and pushes her face into his chest. “Like a Sicilian woman would let that happen.”
Abby stares at me like I’m an apparition as she moves slowly in my direction. I pull her into my arms and hug her tightly, vowing to find a way to…something. My brain is too scrambled to come up with an answer.
“Should we get out of here before this place blows,” Maxsim asks, his eyes never leaving Ari.
“Like fireworks?” Ari asks as she hugs me.
“More like no one survives, kinda thing.”
“Why are you always so dramatic?” Ari asks as she stalks toward the large Russian, looking at her like she’s the most valuable painting in the museum. “And what are you doing here anyway?”
“I never miss a good party.”
“Enough!” Franco moves toward the door. “You two can fight in the car.”
“Ready to get out of here?” I tuck Abby under my arm and see her nod. Whatever happened in the last several hours must be more than her system can handle.
We make our way through the dark corridors, and a faint rumble echoes through the building, causing the walls around us to shudder. Abby stumbles slightly, and I reach out to steady her.
She meets my gaze, her eyes wide and vulnerable. “We’re gonna make it.”
I tug her along as we run for the door and push through. A full moon still hangs in the sky as it lightens and our men stand ready, guns drawn.
“Almost there.”
Ari stumbles. Maxsim scoops her up, holding her close as the building explodes behind us.
My ears ring, and I squint through the dust and debris swirling around us. “Is everyone alright?” I ask, my voice rough and strained.
“Y-yeah,” Ari stammers, brushing soot from her face. “I think so.”
“Thanks to you,” Abby adds, her grip on my arm tightening. The intensity in her eyes is undeniable, and I can feel the strength of our connection despite the chaos surrounding us.
The doors to the SUVs are thrown open, and Franco enters the first car with his phone pressed to his ear as Maxsim follows with Ari in his arms.
