Page 81 of A Madness of Crows

His eyes soften. “I’ll be outside, Cat.”

Just like he did when I first arrived.

My hands curl over that bottle, still tucked away inside my hand. “Goodnight, Stefan.”

“Goodnight, Caterina.”

Day 91 – Stefano

When morning comes, her door is still closed.

I stretch, getting to my feet. “I have to piss.”

The guard is almost asleep as he stands opposite. His eyes dart between the door and me.

“Two minutes.” I hold up my hands, already jogging. “I’m desperate.”

As soon as I turn the corner, I run.

The door handle opens easily under my hands. Nobody really gives a shit about this room. Other Cosa Nostra families hoard their history like treasure, mapping and archiving and storing.

The Asante history is too dark for that. So anything relevant is just tossed in here, left like trash.

I pull the phone from my pocket as I wade through the boxes, heart sinking at the sight of the low battery.

My phone stopped working after I contacted Gio the first time. Any tech I had vanished from my room, another silent punishment. Praying, I lift the phone to my ear.

Come on. Come on.

“Luc.”

Gio sounds relieved as hell.

“Fusco. I need a burner. Now – I have five minutes at best.”

The line goes dead.

Boxes tip, paperwork flying everywhere as I collect what I need and more. I lay it out, one by one, snapping photos as quickly as I can.

When the message finally comes through, I hold my breath as the first batch goes through. Slowly, so fucking slowly—

The screen goes dead.

I toss it into one of the boxes, and walk out.

The guard looks irritated. “Where were you?”

I sit back in front of her door. “Want a fucking play by play?”

And the smile that creeps across my lips is genuine.

Day 91 – Gio

Lorena taps my arm. She’s strolling up and down between the empty chairs around me, her cane tapping as she reels off legal jargon like she’s reading from the dictionary.

It’s actually become soothing.

My eyes open, and she points silently at the phone on the table.