Page 118 of With this Ring

Bullets tore through the drywall, kicking up clouds of plaster dust and raining debris over them. Gregorio was already moving, his grip on her wrist like iron as he yanked her toward the far side of the room.

The realization hit her with crystal clarity—they were being herded.

“We’re cut off.” Her voice barely carried over the chaos, but she knew Gregorio heard her.

His gaze swept the room with tactical precision, dark eyes taking in and discarding options with ruthless efficiency.

“Up the stairs.”

From the landing, they headed through the first door—into a bathroom.

He studied the far wall, and she followed his line of sight.

The window.

They had seconds. Maybe less.

A second-story exit was as stupid as it was dangerous, but what choice did they have?

Gregorio released her wrist just long enough to fire twice down the stairs, forcing their would-be assassins to take cover. Then he spun, weapon transitioning smoothly to target the window.

His first bullet struck the glass, creating a spiderweb of fractures.

The second shot blew it out completely, sharp fragments raining down like lethal diamonds.

“Go!”

Sasha didn’t hesitate. She threw herself at the opening, twisting mid-air as she crashed through what remained of the frame. The drop was farther than she’d anticipated, and she hit the ground hard, the impact jarring through her knees and up her spine.“Fuck.”

She forced herself to her feet.

Gregorio was right behind her—

A single shot rang out, distinct from the rest of the chaos.

Sasha whipped around in time to see Gregorio’s body jerk violently mid-leap.

Her stomach plummeted to her feet.

His landing was wrong—all his usual control absent as his body folded, crashing to the ground with brutal force.

“Gregorio!”

Terror clawing at her, Sasha scrambled to him, hands shaking as she grabbed at his jacket, desperately searching for the wound. When her fingers came away wet and sticky, her heart nearly stopped.

Darkness bloomed across his side, the fabric of his shirt growing steadily darker as blood seeped through.

Not his chest. Not immediately fatal. But still bad. Too bad.

His teeth clenched, jaw flexing as he sucked in a sharp breath. He was conscious, still moving, but she could see the strain in his features, the way his usual fluid strength had deserted him.

Another gunshot cracked through the night. Closer this time.

Sasha’s head snapped up, tactical awareness flooding back. “We gotta go, Gregorio.”

Figures were moving toward them, shadows outlined against the harsh glow of headlights. Their actions were coordinated, professional—the kind of efficiency that came from extensive training.

They were being hunted by experts. Definitely Argentum.