Page 47 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“As one mother to another, I will do all I can to help them. I believe we have an agreement.” Mary touched Evie’s head. “What’s fascinating to me already is that at least two of your sons already pray to one of the angels on an almost daily basis. Perhaps this is already part of the Fates’ plan.”

“How will you contact me?”

“You will know.” She disappeared.

“Ahh,” she gasped and rubbed her right wrist. Atattooed picture of a Madonna now rested on the inside of her wrist. It winked at her.

“Inconvenient,” she said to the tattoo. “I’ll have to cover you. If I don’t, everyone will ask why I got a tattoo of you there.”

Outside, Efrem waited beside the car to drive them to a property they’d purchased years ago on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. He’d helped her buy many private properties across the world with their funds. They lived a nomadic life, hopping from one property to the next so that Willem couldn’t find her.

Crisp air bit into her skin. She zipped closed her jacket. The piece had been designed for fashion, not to be effective against icy gusts.

A bird cried out from where it sat on a light post. The falcon flew to a nearby building, glanced back at her, and cried its piercing call again. It reminded her of the one she’d seen in past times when Dom was nearby.

Chills traveled along her shoulders, settling into a dropping sensation in her stomach.

The bird flew farther away before landing to glance back. At her. It wanted her to follow.

She jogged after the bird. She increased her speed to keep up, weaving through the streets. The falcon settled on the doorway of a dilapidated building hidden by remnants of a wooden scaffolding to repair what had long ago been abandoned. All its windows were broken. It reeked of something chemical mixed with the smell of charred wood. Inside lacked light. Dawn would bring light within the hour.

Someone lay propped up against a metal chair.The closer she got, the stronger the smell of blood.

No. Don’t be dead.

“Dom?”

A huge spike protruded from his chest. It wasn’t wood or metal, but something organic. He pushed up as if he had something to do but collapsed. Blood leached around the base of the spike.

With that through his chest, he should be dead.

“This has to come out.” With a cringe, she pulled out the spike. Blood gushed in its wake. When she applied pressure, blood seeped around her hand. She resorted to using her jacket. His body slumped and his head lolled back. “Dom? Come on, wake up. Now isn’t the time to die on me.”

“Evie?” Efrem called out.

“Here! Help me stop the bleeding.”

Efrem stood above her, glowering. He folded his arms across his chest. “Who’s that?”

“He’s the one who helped us get free in Afghanistan. We’re helping him.”

“Whatever he is, he can heal on his own. Leave him. This place stinks of dangerous things beyond our understanding.”

“Exactly. We’re taking him. The falcon told me so.”

“The what?”

“The bird that led me here. You saw it, right?”

He cast her theyou’ve-lost-your-mindglare.

“Forget it.” Dom’s bleeding ebbed. Her lungs finally allowed her to breathe easier. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath.

Dom’s hand tightened around hers. His lips barely moved. She leaned close.

He rasped out, “It’s still here. Run.”

With an upright jerk she stared around the dark space. Something lurked. Something large.