Page 41 of Little Deer
“Any new eyes helps,” Amara says with a smile.
“Alright, we have a plan. Dante, see if you can find out if it is Bruno Conti who’s in talks with Leonardo,” Papa orders. Dante nods. “Good. Then we have a direction.”
“We need a room for all this stuff,” Sienna states, looking at Nico expectantly. “I doubt you want us to take over this one, so where can we go?”
Nico grumbles something under his breath, but then he waves a hand dismissively. “I don’t care where you go.”
“I have the perfect room in mind,” Sofia says. “I’ll show you after to see if it will work.”
“And we need whiteboards. Oh, and one of those corkboards. Oh, and strings and?—”
“Make a list,” Sofia interrupts. “I’ll send someone out to get it all.” Amara nods excitedly, grabbing another sheet.
“Okay then, now we have to?—”
BANG!
The explosion fills the air, rattling the windows and shaking the house. I’m moving before the second follow-up explosion,this one closer to our location, and shattering one one of the windows. Thankfully no one is near it, but I’m grabbing Sofia first, while Lazaro, Alessio, and Nico all dive for their women. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zeno grabbing Kida.
“Get them into the passages,” Nico barks, even as Dante opens the one in this room his face set into a hard line.
“Where’s Lucy?” Kida suddenly screams frantic. “Where is she? Lucy!”
“I’ll get her,” I bark sharply. “Get into the passage with the others.”
“Someone text Alonzo and tell him to get Rori and Hades in too,” Sienna yells.
“I want a fucking gun,” Sofia snaps when I set her inside the passageway. “I don’t want another disaster like last time.”
I hand her mine. Alessio hands Sienna his. “None of you are to come out,” Alessio orders sharply. “Until we know what we’re dealing with. We’ll get you as soon as we can. Sofia, you know those passages, so make sure you have your phone and call if you need us.” Sofia nods.
“Massimo, if you don’t get my sister and nephew I’ll kill you myself,” Kida threatens angrily, but under it I hear the terror.
“I’ll make sure to get them to you,” I promise.
More explosions, gunfire, and screams. Fuck. We have to go.
The door to the passage shuts on the women, and I run for the door. “Dante, I want to know what the fuck is going on,” Nico yells.
“I fucking do too,” Dante snaps back, racing down the hall toward the front.
“I need to get to Lucy,” I shout over my shoulder as I head the other way. I need to get to the second floor fast. I don’t have time to waste.
“Go!” Papa orders. “Get Alonzo on the way.”
I take the stairs as fast as I can, and when I hit the top, I race for my room, heart pounding. People are running through the halls, mostly soldiers, but also staff, just trying to get out of the way or find a place to hide. “Get out of the fucking way,” I roar when some of them stop, unsure where to go. They scurry to the side, and I bark, “Get the fuck into a room and stay there or go back down to the staff quarters or something. If you stay here, you’re liable to get shot.”
That sends them running, terror on their faces. Good. I have no time to deal with that bullshit.
When I reach my room, I thrust the door open, already screaming for Lucy. “Lucy, where are you?” I hear Soren’s cries, and I race for the walk-in closet where I find Lucy huddled in the very back, clutching Soren to her, her face pale and eyes full of terror. “I have you,cerbiatta,” I rasp out, reaching down to grab her and lift them both in my arms. “I’m going to help you get somewhere safe, alright? You and Soren.”
“What the hell is happening?” she gasps.
“I don’t know anything other than we’re under attack.” I move to the other wall, put my hand on the shelf full of shoes, and the concealed door opens without a sound.
Thankfully, just as I set Lucy inside, the other women come rushing down. “Lucy!” Kida cries, pushing through to get to Lucy first. “Oh, thank God.”
“Lucy,” I say, pouring steel into my tone to get her attention. I don’t want her falling into hysterics right now. Lucy’s gaze whips to mine, but instead of looking angry, there’s a wealth of trust and hope there. It hits me hard. “I need you to promise me that you are going to stay with the others. Rori and Hades will be in here shortly, alright? Do not leave these passages without them. We don’t know who’s here, but we can’t take any chances. Do you understand?” She holds my gaze and nods. “Words, Lucy.” Lucy’s physical reaction to my order is telling.
