"Get back!" Nico lunged, grabbing Matteo by the arm, but Matteo stood his ground for a fraction of a second, his eyes wide.
The beeping accelerated into a frantic, high-pitched whine.
Matteo's heart hammered against his ribs, not for himself, but at the realization of what would have happened if Anastasia had opened this.
"We use the secret exit behind the bookshelf. It leads to the tunnel and the armored SUV. We get you out, we regroup at the warehouse."
Matteo ripped his arm away, his eyes wild, fixed on the ceiling. "No. I'm going up. I'm getting Anastasia."
"The hell you are!" Nico stepped in front of the door, his hand flat against Matteo's chest. "My job is to keep you alive. If they've breached the gate, the stairs are a kill zone. You go through the tunnel, I will send a tactical team to retrieve the girl."
