Page 280 of Lorenzo

I glance toward the opening between the buildings. “They’re coming around.”

Donna straightens and brings her gun up again. “Then we keep moving.”

The gap opens onto the side street I was aiming for, and from here it is only a short run to the next block. I look once toward the parking lot, judge the distance of the approaching footsteps, then nod toward the street.

“Go.”

We break from the cover of the buildings and run.

The side street is slick beneath our feet, rain shining across the pavement under the streetlights as Donna and I push toward the next block with Mocha keeping pace beside her. Behind us, the footsteps get louder, followed by another shout and the unmistakable sound of men rounding the corner we just left.

Then headlights flare at the far end of the street.

For one terrible second, I think Greco has people waiting ahead of us too.

The first SUV screeches hard into view.

I recognize it immediately.

“Mario.”

Donna looks toward the approaching vehicles. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

Two more SUVs follow behind him, moving fast enough that water sprays from the tires as they close the distance. Relief hits me hard, but there is no time to stop because Greco’s people are still behind us.

The first shot comes from their direction.

Mario’s people answer almost immediately.

The street erupts into noise as the SUVs brake across the roadway and doors open. My brothers are out before the vehicles have fully stopped, security spreading around them and returning fire toward the men behind us.

“Down!” someone shouts.

I pull Donna with me toward the recessed doorway of a closed business while Mocha presses close beside her. We stay there until the gunfire shifts away from us and toward Greco’s remaining people.

Mario reaches us first.

His gaze moves over me, then Donna, then Mocha, checking all three of us before he says anything.

“You’re hurt?”

“No.”

Donna shakes her head. “We’re okay.”

Ricardo and Diego arrive seconds later, but they are not alone. Matteo and Tomasso are with them, Dante only a step behind, and then I see Edoardo and Alessio moving in with the rest of the family, all armed and ready to protect us at all costs and eliminate Greco permanently.

My sons.

Even though they weren't in danger themselves, relief still hits me hard at the sight of them.

I turn to Mario. “Rinaldi? Do you know?”

Mario nods. “Alive. He was injured when the SUV went off the road, but he managed to make it clear of whatever they were using to jam the phones. He called me.”

The pressure in my chest eases all at once.