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Danica

B reaking free of Diane’s chokehold, I gasp as I try to catch my breath. Panic threatens to overwhelm me, but I close my eyes for a brief moment, letting instinct and years of training take over as I knock her back, buying myself a brief moment of respite. I round to face her, and she is there once more, throwing a punch at me. With quick movements, I block her and throw a return punch, knocking her back several feet. Blood drips down into my eye from when she had me pinned and slammed my face into the ground, and I taste copper in my mouth.

With wild eyes, breathing heavily, she looks from me, to where the gun has fallen several feet away. She makes a dive for the gun that I liberated from the guard outside, but I see the calculation in her eyes, and move just a little faster. We land at the same time, and I fight for control of the weapon. She has a firm grip on it, but I hear the struggle behind me, knowing Theo is fighting for his life against Tony. I want it more than she does, and I am willing to fight dirty. Yanking her arms closer to me, I tilt my head and bite into her arm as hard as I can.

Her screams of agony fill the room as the taste of her blood fills my mouth. Diane pulls away from me, but it’s too late. She flinched when I bit into her, and I didn’t hesitate. Taking full advantage, I grasp the gun and roll out from under her reach, taking a deep breath, I don’t hesitate as I aim and shoot, and she drops. I fall back to the ground, desperately trying to catch my breath and still my racing heart but more shouts fill my ears, and I roll to my knees, trying to get a good sight on Theo but another gunshot fills the air, and then there is an eerie silence. I freeze, gun raised and ready to take aim at whomever is coming for us next, but a voice breaks through the stillness.

“It’s me, Ellis. Stand down.”

Without hesitation, I drop the gun and collapse to the ground, exhausted. Theo is at my side in seconds, his blood dripping onto me as he hurriedly checks me over.

“Baby, are you okay? La mia diavoletta, eyes on me.”

I stare blankly up at the ceiling as he pulls me up into his arms, but Jonathan is at his side seconds later.

“She’s going into shock. Danica, look at me. I need you to focus. Ellis!”

My attention snaps to him, confusion warring with relief.

“Are you hurt?” I know what he means. We have trained for this. No, I’m not hurt, at least, nothing I haven’t been through before. I just blink.

“Theo, I need you to put her down. She’ll be fine, but you need to see a medic. Come on, man. Let’s go.”

Theo’s grip tightens on me, as if reluctant to let me go. I smile wanly at him, and he bends down to kiss my forehead.

“I’ll be fine, Theo. Really. I’m okay. But you are bleeding all over the place.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t care. I’m alright.”

Moving to a standing position, he pulls me up with him, but sways on his feet.

“Alright there, Giovanni. You’re going to the medic right now. Ellis here would have my balls if I let you bleed out after the shit you just went through to try and save one another. Let’s go.”

Not taking no for an answer, Jonathan wraps one of Theo’s arms over his shoulders and guides him out of the room. Before I have a chance to blink, Finn is at my side, doing the same for me, and we are both led out of the room so filled with death.