Page 95 of A Madness of Crows

If something’s gone wrong… “How do I get this door open?”

“There’s a latch to your right.”

The click of the door coincides with the sound of footsteps in the pitch black. Straightening, I keep the gun steady—

Amie’s pale face appears through the dark.

“Grazie a Dio.” I breathe it, stepping back to let her slip out into the dimly lit kitchen.

She came. And in her arms, sleeping peacefully, is Alessia.

I gesture toward the exit, but Amie shakes her head, twisting to look behind her. “Matteo called for me just now.”

My body locks into stillness as she holds out Alessia. Her voice shakes. “Take her. Quickly, Luc. I have to go back.”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

Her hands are trembling badly as she thrusts the little girl into my arms, unslinging a rucksack from her shoulder. I shift, tucking my gun away. “They will come in and get me if I don’t go. I have a few minutes at best. Please – gonow. If they come inside and see that she’s gone—,”

We’ll have the whole fucking house looking for us.

But they’ll still find out at some point. And she’ll behere, forced to answer for it.

I stare at her for precious seconds, wracking my brain for a solution that gets them both out. “Take her and go. I’ll go and hold them off.”

She takes another step back, away from me. And her small smile fuckinggutsme. “I would have liked to have someone like you, Luciano Morelli.”

I lunge for her, but my arms are filled with Alessia. Amie slips back into the tunnel, and her face crumples when she looks back. “Get her somewhere safe, and it will be worth it. And tell Cat… tell her I’m sorry.”

“Stop—,”

But she’s gone.

She vanishes back into that tunnel until she’s swallowed up by that darkness. And Fernandez is pushing the door closed behind her with a grim expression, making sure there’s no trace of it showing. “In case she gets chance to use it again. Go.”

My arms tighten around Alessia as she shifts, one small arm freeing from the pale green blanket Amie wrapped her in.

I have to. I have to gonow.

Wrenching my head away, I stride for the door with a nod to Fernandez. This might be our first and only shot, and I cannot waste it. If we’re caught, Amie will no doubt still face a punishment for letting her go, and it will be for nothing.

I have to get Alessia out, no matter the cost.

My footsteps pound against the packed mud beneath our feet as I race through the copse of trees behind the Corvo house. I’m careful to watch my steps, mindful of the warm bundle held against my chest. My breathing speeds up, adrenaline and disbelief and guilt warring for space as I burst out of the trees.

A soft, sleepy noise comes from Alessia as I strap her into the car seat I bought.

Go.

It echoes in my head as I throw myself into the driving seat. Tremors make me clench my hands, taking a breath before I start the engine.

Once I’ve put several miles of distance between us and Matteo, I pull up at the side of the road and tap out a message, turning to glance at Alessia.

Bright green eyes blink back at me, wide and curious. She waves a chubby little fist in my direction, her kicking legs making her curls bounce.

My voice is… unsteady, as I take her in. “Ciao, Alessia.”

I receive a loud, unintelligible burble of words in return. Alessia stares at me, as if waiting for me to respond. When I only blink back at her, she inhales before more words pour out.