The gunshot cracked through the air.

But it wasn’t Noa’s gun.

The world detonated in white, the sound swallowed by the roar of the blast that ripped Ivy off her feet and slammed Noa and Alessio into the floor like ragdolls.

Noa’s scream never made it out.

Alessio’s arms caged him, shielding him as debris rained down around them, the shockwave rattling the bones out of his skin.

When the fire died and the dust settled, the silence left Noa choking.

His ears rang. His body throbbed. His ...