Instead, he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of the bedroom, down the hall, his movements fast, controlled, deadly calm.
“Atlas—”
“Neve, stay close to me.”
He dialed again.
“Gianni,” he barked the moment the call connected, “Bratva are in the house.”
My stomach dropped.
He listened, then: “No, Alessio’s not answering.And Marcello’s out.Find him.Now.If Alessio’s down?—”
A pause.A muttered curse.
“Gianni.Get whoever you can and get here.I’ve got maybe ninety seconds before this place turns into a fucking war zone.”
He ended the call and pulled me through the kitchen so quickly that my feet barely kept up.
He pressed his palm to a panel hidden beneath the kitchen counter.A portion of the wall slid open silently, revealing a narrow metal platform descending into darkness.
“There’s an elevator?”I asked, breathless, confused.
“There’s a safe route,” he corrected.“You’re taking it.”
I jerked back.“No.No, Atlas.I’m not leaving you.”
“You are.”His voice was final.
“I’m not—Atlas, I’m not leaving you here alone!They’ll kill you!”
“You arenotstaying here,” he snarled.“Not with the Bratva inside my fucking walls.”
I froze.His chest rose and fell like he was fighting the urge to break something.
“Atlas,” I whispered, grabbing his arm.“Let me stay.I can’t leave you…”
His hands came up around my face, rough and trembling.“Neve, baby, listen to me.”
“Don’t call me baby if you’re sending me away?—”
“You need to stay alive,” he murmured quietly.“Do you hear me?Alive.”
I swallowed hard.Terror rose like water in my lungs.
He nodded toward the open elevator.“You go to Zelda’s.Don’t stop.Don’t look back.Don’t wait for anyone.You run, Neve.”
My voice broke.“I don’t want to leave you.”
He leaned his forehead against mine.Just for a second.Long enough to brand the moment into my skin.
“I’ll come for you,” he promised, his voice low and shaking.“I’ll come for you, Neve.I swear to God.”
“Atlas—”
A crash echoed somewhere deeper in the house.Something shattering.We heard low voices and footsteps.
He jerked, shielding me instinctively.