Just as they made up their minds to run, shots echoed behind them, and the heavy thud of footsteps closed in.
"Well, what's next now?" Raven grumbled. "We don't even have Ms. Nightshade Express with us anymore."
"Thank God for that," Dante grunted. "Now we run."
"I know we have to run!" Raven snapped, wincing at her sore shoulder. "But where the heck are we running to?"
"The rooftop," Dante stated.
Finished Homework: Ambush.
She blinked. "The roof? Why the roof every time?"
"Because it's either up or directly into a shower of bullets. Your choice."
Raven clenched her teeth. "I loathe you for this."
"Noted. Now go."
Dante grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the stairwell, leading the charge as bullets ricocheted off the walls. Raven stumbled but forced herself forward, her boots slamming against the metal steps. The pain in her shoulder made every movement a fresh agony, but survival took priority over comfort.
Behind them, Morelli's men weren't slowing down. Their voices shouted orders, boots clanging louder as they gained on them.
"Faster!" Dante barked.
"I'm trying!" Raven fired back. "Ever sprint with a bullet hole? I don't recommend it!"
Dante came out onto the roof first, having already drawn his gun. He looked around—flat roof, some old ventilation housings, and just as he'd hoped—an overhanging rooftop within leaping distance.
Raven staggered out second, gasping. "Tell me you see something good."
Dante waved his head toward the ledge. "We jump."
Raven blinked. "Again?!"
"Would you rather wait and talk?"
A new burst of bullets ripped the air apart.
"Right, jumping it is," she screamed.
Dante took off first, vaulting the gap as if he'd done it a thousand times before. He landed in a roll on the other side, not even slowing down.
Raven didn't move. The alley below seemed an impossible distance away.
"Raven!" Dante shouted. "Now!"
She swore under her breath and gave a push off, soaring across the air in what seemed to be forever before crashing onto the other roof, rolling awkwardly.
"Oof!" She moaned. "That was terrible. I think I've seen my whole life pass in front of me. It was extremely disappointing."
"No time for regrets," Dante snarled, yanking her to stand.
Morelli's men weren't giving up. Two of them landed hard on the rooftop they'd just left, already raising their weapons.
"Down!" Dante shouted, dragging Raven behind a vent as bullets sprayed past them.
She peeked over their cover. "So, uh… Plan B?"
Dante glanced around, calculating. Then his eyes locked onto something.
A zipline.
It ran from their roof to a nearby building two blocks away—most probably for the maintenance crew. It was far from perfect, but it was their best opportunity.
"Do you trust me?" he said.
Raven glared at him. "Not on your life."
"Great. Hold on."
Dante grabbed the zipline grip, slung an arm around her waist, and pushed off.
Night wind shrieked around them as they zoomed over the urban landscape, bullets screaming by. Raven held onto him with a stifled cry.
"If we get out of this alive, I'm doing it myself!" she screamed.
Dante grinned. "Alright then."
They landed on the roof at a crashing speed, skidding to a jerky halt. Raven cursed, pulling herself to standing.
"Fine," she was breathing hard. "No rooftops. No leaping. No death slides."
Dante hauled her up. "Noted. Now run."
Morelli's men were still on their tail. And the night was far from over.