The first shot wasn’t aimed to kill Jaxon knew it by the way it bit into the wall inches from his head, sending concrete dust into the air. It was a warning, a declaration.

Raven didn’t need telling twice. He shoved her behind the crumbling pillar at the edge of the courtyard, his arm braced protectively in front of her as the air cracked with gunfire.

“Stay low,” he ordered, voice rough, eyes scanning for a path out.

She could barely hear him over the pounding in her ears. ...