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Men surrounded Nico, and none of them touched Gio, covered in blood, panting in the middle of the floor.

Gio reached for one of the guard’s weapons, nails scrabbling against the grip. As one, the entire team drew, movement jerky as they looked between Nico, the girls, and the crowd surrounding them.

One turned to Saint, gun swinging. “Who are you—”

Wheeler’s gun was already at his side, Kristi suspended in one arm.

They had moments.

“Stand. Down.” Saint boomed out, over Riley’s head.

Wheeler flinched.

Nico’s team lowered their weapons, if only for a second. It was enough to get all their attention.

Nico snapped an order, and their weapons stayed lowered.

Gio jerked, and his eyes flicked to where Saint’s arm was around Riley.

“You little sl—”

“We’re leaving.” Saint met Nico’s cold eyes.

Riley shook.

Nico grabbed Gio’s shirt and hauled him back without taking his eyes off Saint. Nico assessed him, his gaze intelligent, flat. He glanced at Kristi, and something like regret flashed across his face.

“Take them and go.”

Done.

They left the arched doorway and descended the stairs without a word. Saint half-carried Riley as her feet pedalled along the ground.

The four of them left the old building, breathing hard. The bouncers watched them from the door but didn’t move, heads tilted as they listened to their ear pieces. Nico had given them free passage out.

Why?

It was a blessing, although now he had to wonder why he’d done it. What it would cost him later.

Saint pushed them all behind the truck and dropped the tailgate.

Wheeler set Kristi down and kept a hand on her back to steady her. The fresh air seemed to be helping, and she focused on Saint’s face.

“‘Bout time,” she croaked.

Wheeler pressed two fingers to her throat, voice low. She murmured back, dazed but conscious.

Riley pulled away, arms wrapped around herself, and shivered. She was pale, eyes wide as she watched Wheeler.

“That was really bad,” Riley whispered, her breathing shallow. “Gio drugged her. It was meant for me… but Kristi grabbed the drink, to make him leave us alone—”

Her voice was vacant, eyes glassy and getting paler by the moment.

“I need you to take some deep breaths. Can you do that for me?” Saint held her shoulders gently, but they kept shaking. She sucked in a breath and held it, looking from the club doors, to the partiers that turned the corner towards them, to Kristi and back.

He swiped his thumb over her lip, pulling the torn skin out from between her teeth.

“Breathe in.”