~ ALEXANDRO'S POV ~

The door to the safe house burst open with a bang. Mario rushed in, looking like he'd been through hell.

His usually perfect suit was wrinkled, his hair messy, but at least he wasn't bleeding.

"Thank God," he said, eyes immediately finding me.

Then his gaze shifted to Lauren, who was silently packing away the first aid supplies, her movements mechanical.

"You're both okay."

I finished buttoning a fresh shirt I'd found in the bedroom, wincing as the movement pulled at the fresh stitches in my side.

Lauren had done a remarkable job…steady hands despite the tears streaming down her face. Now she moved like a...