Leo was startled by the intensity of the relief he felt at seeing Ruby unharmed. He was so relieved, in fact, that he didn't see the frying pan come swinging at his kneecap until it was too late.

"Mother fu - " His curses dissolved into Italian, into the phrases his father used to shout at Luigi the cat whenever he got underfoot. He sank down onto the deck, clutching his knee as searing pain shot up his leg.

The girl was quick. She was up the ladder and shoving past ...