Page 81 of Caterina
Maybe I missed it.
Maybe he didn’t.
Maybe—
The door shudders under a sudden, violent impact just as Adrian has wedged a bar cart under the handle.
I let out a shocked squeal before I can stop it and jump backward so hard my shoulders hit the wall.
Not maybe.
Not imagination.
Someone slams into the door again from the other side.
The heavy metal booms in the narrow corridor and reverberates straight through me. Adrian moves instantly, grabbing my arm again and turning me away from the door.
He starts moving, fast, gun up, body angled between me and whatever is coming through behind us.
“Go,” he snaps.
I go.
Not because I’ve suddenly become obedient, but because the door slams again behind us with enough force to rattle the cart, and whatever lingering thought I had that this might be a misunderstanding dies right there.
We move quickly down the corridor, my heels clipping against the floor as I struggle to keep up with his longer stride, my pulse still hammering so hard it feels like it might burst through my skin.
“My shoes,” I say, frantic. “Let me just—”
I kick them off and keep going.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“The stairs.”
Which are all the way at the end of the hall. This section of the service corridor is a long, straight line of concrete walls, locked doors, and overhead fluorescent lights that make the space feel clinical and exposed. There is nowhere to hide. Nothing to use as a barrier except for another cart of cleaning supplies that he shoves out of the way as we pass it.
Another crash from behind us.
This one sounds like the lock is finally giving way.
Adrian doesn’t look back.
“Get to the conference room across from your office and call Roberto,” he says, not slowing down. "No matter what. Don’t stop, even if I do. Do you understand?"
Panic claws at me.
"What do you mean? Where are you—"
"Caterina," he barks. "Do you understand?"
"Yes," I gasp. "Yes, I understand."
We reach the end of the hall, and I make the mistake of looking back as a crash echoes behind us.
The door flies open.
Three men spill into the corridor.
