Page 103 of A Madness of Crows

“I lost her a few minutes ago. I think she came this way.”

Gio twists to look over his shoulder, scanning the hall. “Let’s move.”

Slowly, I lower my weapon. Keep my eyes on Stefano Asante. He sent us the blueprints to get in, but that doesn’t make him trustworthy.

We move carefully, on guard for any sound.

When more footsteps echo, we pause. A single pair, light andfast.

Stefano throws his hand out in front of me, stopping my gun from lifting. “Cat.”

My feet burst into movement, as more footsteps ring out. Shouting.

And she rounds the corner, hair flying as she races toward me. I run,runas I take in the blood covering her, her bare feet.

“Cat!” Her name tears from my chest.

Her head jerks up, a sob slipping free when she sees me.

A gunshot sounds, splintering the wall next to her head as men follow her.

No. I force myself to stop.

Too far. I’m too fucking far.

And I roar the words caught in my throat, raising my gun as she staggers and those footsteps grow louder.

“To me, Cat. Don’t you fucking stop.”

I force my arms to steady, force my mind to clear as I aim.

One shot.

Two.

They rip past her as she keeps running, her face crumpling.

Beside me, Gio and Stefano are still as I aim again. Barely breathing, as my bullets rip through the air just inches from her head.

Three.

Four.

Five.

They begin to fall back, to take cover, as I keep shooting.

When I run out of ammo, Gio steps forward. Covering us, as she collides with me in a sobbing, frantic movement. I wrap my arms around her, squeezing as Gio continues to shoot, Stefano stepping up to cover him. “Caterina.”

“Dante.” She’s crying as I scan her, my hands running over her, searching for injuries to explain the blood on her body.

But I don’t find anything as I wrap my arms around her again.

“Go.” Gio shouts it as he steps back. Stefano has added his own weapon to the wall of gunfire, holding off the large number. “Before they pin us!”

I grab her hand, my mind racing as we take off. Gio and Stefano follow, turning only to shoot as we turn into another hall.

But Cat is flagging, her steps slowing.