“Stay outside that door. I don’t want us all trapped in here. She’s breathing, but we gotta get her warmed up.” The air wasn’t actually as cold as I’d feared, but her prolonged exposure to it had her core temperature dangerously low. I carefully lifted her in my arms, but before I could take a step, a sound came from somewhere inside the shop.

My eyes met Michael’s, and a silent communication passed between us—I would keep Sofia safe; he would handle whatever was up front. I carried her out of the freezer but stayed in the prep room while Michael quietly snuck out to the front counter.

Seconds later, gunfire rang out in the small shop—a series of rapid shots shattering the quiet around us. I dropped to a squat, holding Sofia tight to my chest, my back turned to the entry. The exchange only lasted a matter of seconds, then the room fell back into silence.

“Fuck!” Michael barked in an angry yell. “You can come out, Nico. He’s gone.”

I rose to my feet, then peeked out the front, doing my best to keep my gun out while still holding Sofia. Michael was leaned against the side wall, hunched over, and blood was spreading out from a gunshot wound in his thigh.

“I can’t believe I fucking let him get away,” he bit out, slamming his fist against the wall. “Must have been the stairs creaking that we heard. I caught him just as he came around the corner, but I didn’t expect him to be armed. We both shot, and he took off. I got him in the shoulder but couldn’t chase after him.”

“We can’t worry about that now. Sofia needs to get warm, and you need a doctor. Can you get to the car, or should I call an ambulance?”

“Let’s get her home first. I’ll be fine once I tie it off.” He pulled off his belt, then cinched it around his upper thigh.

“Lean on my shoulder.” I opened the front door, holding it open as the two of us fumbled our way outside. Once he was in the back seat, I set Sofia in his arms, then drove like a bat out of hell toward Enzo’s place. I gave him a heads-up we were on our way, and he put a call in for the family doctor to meet us at the house. If at all possible, we avoided going to a hospital. They kept records and asked questions, and we weren’t a fan of either of those things. While Sofia could be treated at home, Michael’s injury would likely involve surgery, and thus, a trip to the hospital.