Page 39 of A Madness of Crows

But I’m watching Luciano Morelli.

Watching the expression that flickers over his face as he pauses. The longing. The agony, as he stares at her. The fury that tightens his eyes.

He walks straight past us, his mouth a thin line. Gio snaps his name, but Luc ignores him, throwing open the doors and stalking outside. His enforcer slips after him.

“What thefuck—,” Dante snarls, but I shake my head.

“He can’t, Dante,” I breathe the words in dawning realization.

I am a fool. But he was so fuckingbelievable.

“He needs Matteo to believe he doesn’t care.”

Lie upon lie, a facade he has crafted so well that even I thought he had turned.

But there was nothing but stark, devastated honesty in his face when he looked at her just now.

Gio swallows, his eyes darting back to that closed door. “I think he’s looking for Alessia. Dante and I are working on the plan to break Caterina out, as soon as she’s safe. The Asante estate is a fucking fortress.”

Dante shakes his head, as if he doesn’t agree. But he doesn’t say anything.

My hands curl into fists. “What can I do?”

Nothing. Useless.

Gio strokes Cat’s face, murmuring to her. She stirs. “Keep Matteo distracted.”

He looks at me, his eyes dipping to those bruises. “Survive.”

“I want to be there.” Pressure builds up in my chest, weighing heavily. The need to do something, anything. “When you go in for her, Fusco. You tell me, and I’ll be there.”

He nods. “I swear it. I’ll get word to you, if I can.”

The three of us look at each other.

How much we have changed, all of us, in these last weeks.

Shouting comes from behind the closed doors. The other enforcers glance at each other, back to us, and move down the hall. Ready to intercept if they need to.

“Dante.” His hand lingers on her cheek, ignoring me. “It’s time.”

He only shakes his head, his throat bobbing. “Not yet. She’s going to wake up, Dom.”

But we will not be here when she does.

“There will be a punishment if they see us with her,” I push the words out through the agony gripping my throat. “And we are not the ones who will receive it.”

Gio’s face flickers with agonized understanding. He lifts her wrist, pressing a kiss to her pulse before he gently lays her arm back down. “Soon, Corvo.”

A vow. He doesn’t meet my eyes as he stands. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m ready for this to be done.” My voice is grim.

“We’re all ready,fratello.” He casts a glance toward the doors, his eyes shadowing. “As long as Morelli comes through.”

For the first time, it’s not anger that fills me when I think of him, but something closer to… respect. “He’s playing his role well. I didn’t even realize.”

Gio rubs a hand over his face. “I pray that’s all it is. For Alessia’s sake.”