Page 138 of The Fates We Tame

The first bullet hits the dust by my feet. The second pings off my bike. The third slices through the hem of Alessio’s suit jacket.

It’s rapid fire, but before the fourth shot is fired, I’ve dragged Sophia behind Alessio’s car. “Theo,” she cries as she lands on the ground.

“Stay down, Sparrow. Until we know where the shots are coming from.”

Halo pulls his weapon on Alessio and drags him by the collar behind a low wall. “You fucking betrayed us, motherfucker.”

“It’s not me. I swear,” Alessio says, pulling his own but aiming it toward one of the buildings. “Don’t know who the hell this is.”

“They’re aiming for Sophia and Alessio,” Clutch shouts. “Can we draw fire?”

Vex drops down next to me behind the car as one of the car windows is blown out. “We need to get Sophia out of here.”

Sophia clutches the laptop to her chest. “I’m okay. Do what you need to.”

I climb to my knees and peer over the hood of the car as a bullet bounces off it, missing my face by inches.

I feel the heat and air of it as it blows past me.

Spark and Saint close in on the building under the cover of Bates and Niro to commence a cordon-and-kick search. Vex and I add additional firepower as four men come around the side of the building. I take down one; Alessio takes down another. As we provide cover, King and Clutch take out the remaining two.

A handful of shots are fired inside, and then Spark shouts, “Clear!”

Alessio sprints to the four downed men, and I follow him. One of the assailants is injured. I can’t tell whether it’s a fatal wound.

It sure as hell doesn’t help that Alessio kicks him in the gut, making him groan. “Who the fuck sent you, and how did you know I was here?”

The guy opens his eyes and attempts to stare Alessio down.

Alessio responds by shoving the muzzle of his gun into the guy’s mouth. “I’ll find out who the fuck you are. I’ll go to your house. I’ll kill anyone I find there. And then I’ll find your mom’s house and kill her too. Now. Who. The fuck. Sent you?”

The guy almost chokes until Alessio removes the gun. “Your father.”

“Fuck,” Alessio says before putting the gun to the guy’s head and pulling the trigger.

The sound of the last bullet ricochets through the air.

The bullet fest is over.

Vex has helped Sophia to her feet.

Alessio takes a deep breath and turns to Sophia. “Our father’s done.”

Sophia comes to my side, wincing as she walks. “You have my vote,” she says to Alessio.

Clutch squeezes Alessio’s shoulder, and I remember something about his father getting shanked in prison.

Alessio faces King. “What would it take for you to help me make it happen?”

King blows out a breath. “We aren’t a hit squad.”

“Yeah. But this solves both our problems. Because if anything happens to my sister while she’s on your watch, I’ll kill each and every one of you.”

I huff. “Wow, you really know how to ask for a favor.”

Alessio shrugs. “It’s obvious I can’t ask any of our men yet as I’m not sure who is on my father’s payroll.”

“Technically, they are all on your father’s payroll,” Niro says.