Page 49 of A Madness of Crows

It takes a second for the words to register before he pales, stepping forward as he gets a closer look at my face. “What the fuck happened.”

“Now,” I rasp. “Tonight. I’ll distract the guards. If it’s only you, there’s a side door on the far side of the estate that I can leave unlocked. It’s overgrown on the other side, but if you clear it—,”

He’s in my face, gripping my arms. “Why now? Whathappened?”

“I—.”

I shake my head. Gio steps back and I push past him. “Will you come?”

“Not even a fucking question,” he snaps. “Is she hurt?”

I stare around me. This is her space. Little pieces of Caterina are scattered around this apartment, pieces that Gio is careful not to touch as he moves to the table and starts pulling out his weapons, laying them out. Checking them. “Asante.”

I focus on him. “Not… physically. Not any more than what you saw. But you’ll come for her.”

His hands still, and he turns, slow and assessing.

I grunt as he lunges for me, his hand wrapping around my neck. The wall shakes as he shoves me into it, my head banging against the plaster. “Why now? Why now, when you could have done thisweeksago?”

He roars those words at me, the accusation landing like bullets against my skin. “She’s notphysically hurt? Isawher. Saw what you and your fucking family have done to her. You’ve done nothingbutfucking hurt her.”

The guilt. Theguilt, and the fear—

“We all have people we love,” I rasp. I don’t fight the grip on my throat. “People that they use against us, Fusco. I am no different to any of you.”

And this… this could cost me the only thing I care about.

Except that’s not quite true anymore. Now, someone else has found their way in, digging beneath my defenses. Knocking them down like a house of cards.

Not her.

The lines I drew years ago to protect the only thing that mattered to me have shifted. Refocused.

I will not allow them to break her too.

“You care about her.”

My head whips to his as he releases me, staring. I don’t answer him, and he pushes. “Don’t you?”

“She doesn’t deserve this.” Doesn’t deserve to be broken down, piece by piece, until there is nothing left of her. Until that light goes out.

“Tonight, then.” Gio is still watching me, but there’s a tremble in his fingers. “Where?”

As I’m leaving, he stops me.

“Caterina Corvo has a habit of collecting hearts, wherever she goes.”

There’s a question there. A question I cannot answer.

I don’t look back at him. “My heart is not hers to take.”

I wonder if he can hear the lie in my words.

Day 43 – Caterina

I’m pacing up and down my room when he knocks.

The fear and humiliation has faded a little, replaced by burning anger in my chest as I rip the door open. Stefano stares back at me with those black eyes, eyes ringed with shades of deep purple as the bruising develops.