I waited with bated breath for several minutes to be sure they had left and were not lurking around before I opened the back door and ran for it.
I didn't stop running until my lungs burned.
Every step echoed like gunfire in my ears, the thud of my heart louder than the footsteps I was so sure were still chasing me. By the time I stumbled into the shadows of the alley behind Massimo's building, sweat clung to my skin, and my hands shook so badly that I nearly dropped the gun.
The night air was sharp, cold against the heat rolling off me, but it did nothing to steady me. I crouched low behind a dumpster, clutching the metal until it rattled. My breaths came shallow, frantic. I counted to three, forced myself to peek past the edge.
Silence.
No more footsteps. No more voices.
They were gone. For now.
I pressed a hand to my chest, as if I could cage my heart that was beating frantically.
Massimo.
