Page 1 of Humility

Chapter One

ANGELO

TWO YEARS AGO

“Shit,” I growled as the alarm sounded. I looked at Enzo. “What the fuck? I thought you shut it off.”

“So did I,” Enzo said as we heard the guard’s shouts over the screeching.

Thump. I looked at the locked door. Thump. It rattled again. This was not how this was supposed to happen. I quickly rolled the delicate Fabergé Egg in the protective cover and placed it in the padded lockbox. Thump.

“We need to move now,” Dario said as he peeked out the window—our only escape. “More guards are coming up the driveway, all heavily armed.

“I’m hurrying as fast as I can here,” I said as I stuffed the box in the large backpack. “This wouldn’t have been a problem if Enzo had done his job.

“I did do my job. There must be a secondary alarm that wasn’t on the instructions your guy gave us.”

“Sure, blame the instructions.” Reaching into the safe again, I grabbed a stack of folders and a velvet pouch, tossing them into the bag before zipping it up.

“You two can argue after we leave. Let’s move,” Dario said as the door thumped again, this time cracking.

“Okay, go,” I said, running around the desk. Dario opened the window and pulled out the grappling hook. It clicked as the four claws locked into place. He tossed the black rope out the window, and I shooed Enzo out first as I struggled to get the backpack on. He was quick and disappeared.

Bang. The door gave way a little more, and suddenly, bullets burst through. Dario jumped on me and rode me to the ground as he covered my body with his own. The door splintered, and small pieces flew into the room like it was raining wood.

“Don’t hurt the egg,” I growled at Dario.

My best friend glared at me before yanking me to my feet when the gunfire stopped.

“That egg won’t mean anything if you’re dead.”

Dario grabbed the hook off my pack and locked it into place.

“Fuck, are you guys alive?” Enzo called up from the bushes below.

“For now,” I answered as we stepped up onto the window frame together. The door burst open, revealing a mass of guards dressed in traditional black suits and Don Falcone at the front.

“Shit.”

His eyes scanned the room and landed on me just as we jumped out the window. It was dark, and the moon wasn’t bright, but I hadn’t pulled down my mask. Fuck. He saw me. This was not how this was supposed to go. I would take the egg and look like the hero when I found the assholes who’d stolen the Falcone family treasure. Not only would I bring honor to my family name, but I would demand a reward, and I knew exactly what I wanted.

“Leave the ropes,” Dario hissed as we reached the ground, and he unclipped me. He shielded my body as we raced to Enzo just as a hail of bullets rained down on us. I had no idea how we avoided being hit as we rounded the back of the house.

A few guards running toward the alarms came straight at us across the backyard. Dario was quick and shot them both before they could get their guns raised. There was a reason he was my personal bodyguard and best friend. I’d never met another man who could kill as quickly, efficiently, and without remorse as he did. I’d also seen him take a bullet in the leg and still keep fighting like it never happened.

The Falcone alarms grew louder, and lights flashed all over the property while the barking of dogs sent a shiver up my spine.

“Shit, dogs,” Enzo said, echoing the same thought in my head.

“Move faster,” Dario growled as he hauled me along. I ran every day, so I was fast, but fucking Dario was a machine, and he pushed me now.

The snarling wasn’t close yet, but we could hear the guards yelling to cut the dogs loose. We didn’t have much further to go, but each footfall didn’t feel fast enough. Blood coursed through my body as we weaved between the trees and over a fallen log. I could see the road and the glitter of streetlights ahead.

Looking back, I could just make out the shadowy outlines of dogs cresting the knoll we’d run down moments before. Shit. Their snarls were loud now, and I gave the final sprint everything I had.

The lights on our car flashed as we got near. The dogs were so close that I could almost feel their feet hitting the ground and their hot breath on the back of my neck.

“Doors open,” Enzo panted into his remote. The doors silently opened, and I aimed for the backseat. “Start car.” The fancy sports car fired up, and the engine was loud as it revved.