Page 266 of Anti-Heroes in Love Duet

Bambi used the soggy tissue in her hand to blow her nose, then smiled at me weakly. “Thank you, Elena. You really are a beautifuldonna.”

I sighed again, standing up with Rora. “You pack quickly, okay? I’m going to lie her down on the couch and come back to help.”

The blonde nodded eagerly, her eyes already a little clearer now that we had a plan.

I moved into the main room and went to put Rora on the couch when there was a click at the door.

Just that.

A click.

But it set the hairs on the back of my neck on end.

Slowly, quietly, I crept away from the living room and its front door back into the shadowed kitchen.

Bang.

Something pounded on the door.

My back pressed against the kitchen cabinets with Aurora a heavy weight in my arms.

Bambi appeared in the bedroom doorframe, her hair a haloed mess, red-rimmed eyes wide as blue saucers.

“Is that him?” I mouthed.

She nodded hysterically.

“Where can we hide?” I asked as there was another bang at the door, and a voice yelled Bambi’s name through the wood.

She jerked her chin at the long, narrow wooden door next to the fridge. I opened it to find it mostly empty, only a mop, dustpan, broom, and vacuum inside. It was just big enough to fit us both if we squeezed.

“Go,” she whispered harshly, moving to us.

I folded myself inside, ducking my head and pressing Aurora tight to my body. Bambi took a long look at us folded in the enclosure before she closed the door on us.

My breath was loud in the dark space.

Aurora didn’t make a sound, out like a light.

Carefully, I fished my phone out of my pocket and sent a group text to Dante and his crew.

Come to Bambi’s. Agostino di Carlo is here. We need help.

I prayed fervently that they were done with whatever they’d been called to do, and they’d get here soon.

Next, I typed in 9-1-1 and pressed send.

It was too late to speak, but I laid the phone on mute next to the crack in the door.

“Why the fuck didn’t you answer the door?” Agostino’s cold, cruel voice emanated across the room like dry ice.

“I was cleaning,” Bambi tried to explain in her sweet voice. “And I’m a mess. If I’d known you were coming, I would have made myself presentable.”

His laughter was harsh. “You know I have no interest in you that way, Georgina. I’m in this for the intel. You didn’t show up at the shop yesterday. You know I get irritated when you miss our dates.”

Dates.

What a fucking psychopath.