66. Emiliana

I must not have passed out for long because I can still hear gunshots but they sound like they're coming from far. My eyelids flutter open to find Elena leaning over me. She looks scared, which is unlike her. Nothing scares her. She's reckless and jumps into situations without thinking about the consequences. Earlier today, she scheduled a murder with the head of the Russian mob. Until today, I didn't know fear was part of her dictionary.

"What's up with you?" I ask closing my eyes. The light from the chandelier above is too bright.

"Are you okay? Don't close your eyes, Em. You can't go back to sleep"

"I'm not. The lights are too bright. Have those idiots left? Who the fuck opened fire while I was in the middle of negotiating with them?"

"That would be me, ma'am" I open one eye and look at Fidelio "My apologies. I didn't know..."

"Know what?" I ask closing my eyes.

"Em, you've been shot" Elena answers but I'm slipping again. The dark pulling me under. The sound of sirens is