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“And that means . . .?”

“We cannot kill her as we planned.” His teeth flashed with his grimace.

“It basically puts U.S Alliance eyes on Crimson Coven.” Maddy fidgeted. I followed his gaze to the scuffle at the corner of the building. Two men shoved each other, shouting loud enough that their cursing reached my ears.

“Something is not right,” Bastien frowned. The shouting grew louder.

“Go,” I whispered.

“No.”

A loud bang echoed all around us. The buildings were so close together that the sound continued to resonate.

“I’m getting you out of here.” He cupped the bottom of my elbow.

I bunched his shirt.

“You have to check on the others, you have to! What if it was a trick?” Panic made my voice rise a few octaves. “Please, go fast.”

“I—”

“Bastien!”

His teeth clicked together. He looked over his shoulder.

“Please!”

“Do not move from here,” he hissed. “I will be back in moments.”

I nodded.

He slammed the door and disappeared. I slumped against the leather.

“Something is happening in there,” Maddy muttered, hugging herself. “I have a really bad feeling.”

A sharp scream stung my ears. Maddy straightened and peered out her window. I followed her gaze to the high-pitched shouts. Past the large garbage containers, within the ally, a male threw a woman against the wall, shoving her against it. She fought against him as he pinned her hips with his.

“We can’t just watch.” I yanked the door handle open. I didn’t like conflict, I ran from it, but she needed help. And now, I could actually hold my own—or at least not die so easily.

“No!” Maddy shouted, grabbing my arm. I yanked out of her grip. “Wait.”

“I have to help her.”

I dropped my hand from the door handle. Her heart pounded so fast it sounded like it would burst from her chest. I understood the fear in her eyes. It was the same suffocating sensation writhing inside me, bidding me to remain in the vehicle.

“Wear this with the hood up,” she handed me her sweater. She was right. No one could recognize me. I pulled it on as Maddy spoke, “If something happens to me, please protect Syd, my parents are old and can’t care for her.” She took a deep, raspy breath. “She knows about vampires.”

As she spoke, I shoved my head through the sweatshirt, pulling it on in time to watch Maddy yank the door open and run out.

“Maddy,” I shouted. A loud engine roared closer and closer.

Gunshots exploded through the windshield in a rapid-fire. Someone was shooting the SUV. I ducked, taking cover. Finally, the sounds tapered off. Using the lip of the car door to hide behind, I poked my head out and crept to the tail end of the SUV. I reached for a shiny bullet laying on the bumper. Upon my finger touching it I hissed, yanking my hand back. I flicked my hand like I could shake away the fire blazing my fingertips. I blew on the burned tips. Pure silver.

I needed to get away from the SUV, before they started shooting it up again. I reached up to pull the strings of the hood to cinch it closer to my face.

Across the street, Maddy huddled near the large garbage bin with the crying woman. She was alive. Thank God.

TWENTY-FOUR