Page 122 of Pietro

The shotgun blast catches my shoulder, spinning me sideways. Blood sprays across marble. Another shot—sniper—chunks of stone rain down where my head was.

"Inside! Everyone inside!" I scramble through the shattered doors, glass crunching under my palms. Blood runs down my arm, hot and sticky.

The lobby is chaos. People pressed against walls, crying. Security guards with weapons drawn, scanning windows.

I grab the nearest guard by his vest. "Where is she? Where's Nora?"

"She—she got in the car, sir. The black sedan?—"

"You let her leave?" My fist connects with his jaw before I can stop myself.

The receptionist cowers behind her desk, holding something. I stalk toward her, blood dripping onto floors.

"Mr. Sartori, the package—after Ms. Kelly took it, this fell out?—"

She holds up a letter with trembling hands. I snatch it.

Get in the car within sixty seconds or the bomb in the box explodes. Come alone or everyone dies. Don't make me kill innocents for you, princess.

The paper crumples in my fist. She took the package. Got in the car.

"You called her down here." My voice is deadly quiet. "You told her about the package."

"I—I was following protocol. The package was from the courier service that

was on the pre-approved list?—"

"You're fired. Get out."

"Mr. Sartori, I didn't know?—"

"OUT!"

She flees, sobbing. I don't care. Nora's gone. Taken. Because this woman?—

"Pietro." Liam appears at my elbow, tactical vest over his suit, assault rifle in hand. "We need to leave. Now."

"She's gone. Declan has her."

"I know. But right now we need to move. That sniper's still active, and we've got movement on the north side. Could be more shooters."

I look at the blood pooling at my feet. My blood. It doesn't matter.

"I need to find her."

"We will. But not if you're dead." Liam grabs my good arm. "Armored car's in the garage. We go now, or I carry you."

Through the shattered windows, I see police cars converging, sirens wailing. The lobby still echoes with terrified whispers. But all I hear is silence where Nora's voice should be.

"He has her, Liam."

"I know." His grip tightens. "And we'll get her back. But first, we get you patched up and operational. Come on."

He pulls me toward the garage entrance.

Gone.

She's gone.