The AmericansSarah“Stop the car!” I order the taxi driver as we arrive at a deserted path.He steps on the break abruptly, his hands shivering as I step out of the taxi. I try to search for some dollar notes for him but he speeds off in the shortest notice.I pocket the pistol and head north. A train station is somewhere close by. Jogging my way down there would take nothing less than thirty minutes.My phone rings in my pocket as I scan the area.It's an unknown caller.I take another quick glance of my surrounding. The distant sound of the taxi engine fades as I run along. They might have laid ambush on the main streets. This is the shortest and safest path to the train station.The phone rings again. I take a pause, leaning on the pole of a streetlight to catch my breath.I pick the call and wait for the caller to speak. “Do you want a reward or not? I expected to find you at home.”“Betty?” I question in surprise.“Yea. We have who we wanted. You deserve a reward.”“You caught
Sarah“You don’t remember me?” he asks, adjusting the strap of a brown leather bag hung around his shoulders.“I don’t,” I reply, looking out for an empty seat around. But he stops me and blocks my view.“You are as good as alone now. If you know what’s god for you, don’t try to play smart.”I see a weapon in his pocket as he pulls out something from his bag. “Do you know this person? Apologies, that’s not even a question. Where is he?”It is a picture of Shawn, and another face. I know this person is definitely someone from my past. Although it’s hard to tell if he’s from the enemy’s side.“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never seen these faces.”He claps his hands and begins to laugh deeply, drawing attention from otuer passengers.“Isn't she funny guys?” he turns to them and back to me. His grin condensing immediately into a frown. “Good joke, Maria Giovanni. Now answer the question.”He pulls in closer to me, his pistol now in his hands as he runs the muzzle over my
MarcoMy request didn’t stop them from putting me in the cell for the night. My first night ever in a cell. One of the prison guard approach the barred gate. “You have a guest.” He cuffs my wrists and leads me back to the interrogation room. It's most likely the lawyer I requested for. Taking my seat, I expect the man to turn around to face his new client at least. “You must be the laweyer,” I say, with raised eyebrows. “Way more than that, Marco,”He knows my name. He turns around and immediately it dawns on me. “what were you thinking? That you could just walk away and rat me out to cheap cops?”“That was my only way out.”He laughs, taking out a tobacco stick, puffing the smoke to my face. “You really don’t know who I am up until now, do you?” he snaps his fingher and few cops walk in, including the fat man that interrogated me the previous night. I sit in awe watching as they saluted him.Even the cops knows Big Tom. “I want him transferred to the Russian police. He’s our
MarcoEveryone had their specific positions at the large hall. I was assigned to stay with Big Tom all night like some cheap body guard. Andrea hovered around him most of the time. Other times I caught him talking to some guests at the large garden.We arrive at a decorated hall. It is a chapel and a priest stands far ahead in front of empty pews. A man in black suits and dark shades stands by his side.Is Andrey planning a wedding or an actual coronation? I shoot Andrea a suspicious glance but he doesn't catch it. “Could that be him?” Andre asks Big tom as we approach the tall man in white shiny robe. “I don’t expect him to be here himself,” Big tom replies, suddenly halting and turning to me, puffing his tobacco-filled mouth to my face, “How about you go get yourself a drink.”I meet Andrea’s gaze only for him to gesture my compulsory exit, like father did whenever he had a bloody task.“Why do I have to leave?” I question, my gaze still resting on Andrea, instead of Big Tom. “Ma
MarcoA duct tape binds tightly over Andrea's mouth, muffling his desperate pleas. His eyes are wide with fear and a warning, for me, or for us I can't tell but his gaze meet mine amidst the tense silence of the chapel. His veins bulge on his forehead, glistening with nervous sweat that streams down his face."I know that look," I think to myself, my heart pounding hard in my chest. "I should have been here sooner. Maybe I could have turned the tide, but now... now it might be too late. Our ship is sinking."My foot grip the gun tossed to me on the floor. I scan the faces around me, squatting to pick up the gun, its weight heavy under my trembling hands. My gaze fixes on the guard opposite, his own gun leveled at my forehead, ready to pull the trigger at the slightest provocation."What do I do with this?" I manage to choke out, my voice barely a whisper as I try to keep my nervousness in check. The room feels suffocatingly small, the air heavy with the scent of impending violence. "
Marco A continuous buzzing sound fills the air, pulling me from the hazy fog of unconsciousness. I tilt my head, blinking against the blinding brightness that surrounds a tall figure standing before me."Took you that long," he says, his voice cutting through the silence and wind like . And in an instant, I recognize the face. The mysterious devil who holds my fate in his hands.I try to lift my arm, to aim at him, but my bad leg protests, sending a jolt of pain through my body. I'm stuck, my ass glued to a metal chair, and my hands cuffed behind me.Two more men enter the small, empty room, their presence adding to the suffocating tension in the air."I figured we needed to make something clear," the devil speaks again, with his usual smooth and dangerous voice. "If our collaboration is to work, I need to be sure I can trust you. Especially after last night's... incident.""You've taken everything from me," I spit out with bitterness and anger. "What more could you possibly want?""T
MarcoThey pull up at the entrance of an old cemetery, the car coming to a halt as I feel this strange nervousness. Stepping out, I'm met by the guard, whose eyes haven’t pardoned a minute away from from me."Over there, pal. The party's almost over," he sneers, thrusting the jar of my brother's ashes into my hands.My gaze sweeps over the small group ahead. Not one familiar face and I can't help but ask, "Where's my sister?""What, you think we take orders from you now?" the man behind me retorts, delivering a sharp kick to my healing leg. I grit my teeth against the pain, limping forward. I’ve to cage my anger and come up with a plan to take down all these bitches one by one.Among them stands the familiar figure of the pope from the chapel. Two other men in dark coats stands adjacent to him with shaded glasses. I know their presence there is anything but for a good purpose."What's the point of a burial if my only family isn't here?" I question, turning back to the guards who brough
One year laterSarahA sharp, urgent knock startles me from the soothing rhythm of rocking Carlos to sleep in my arms. It had taken more than an hour of tender care to pacify his incessant cries, and I couldn't bear the thought of him waking up again. I lay him in his crib and answer the door, desperate to silence the noise that threatens to disturb his nap time."Who is it?" I called out, my voice a little above a whisper."You have a package, ma'am," the voice says from the other side.I hesitate, my mind racing. I hadn't ordered anything, and I rarely spoke with the neighbors since arriving here. A sense of unease settles over me as I cautiously open the door, revealing a delivery man with a pen and paper in hand."You need to sign here, ma'am," he says, his voice having no emotion."Who is it from?" I ask."Look, ma'am, I don't know. I'm just doing my job."I glance around, scanning the peaceful surroundings for any sign of danger. Satisfied, I sign the paper and carry the package
Marco"How many times do i have to repeat this? I'm not Betty," she responded in a frenzied whisper as Ricco's voice overshadowed every other sound in the room. There's another task. Never an end to his missions, but thankfully, amongst all the people he called out, I don't fall in the list.Celebrating the temporary freedom, I watch as Betty gets up from me to join the selected crew.I don't pay much attention on the instructions. It's none of my business.Big Tom is addressing them but Betty and i exchange eye contact. I need to find the truth from her and the only way to do that is to exploit her witnesses.It's not my fault that she provided me one on a platter of gold.After a brief discussion with Ricco about the delivery of new sets of ammunition, i head out of the mansion, in search of Betty.I find her standing by her car, about to get in."Elizabeth Maguire," i announce, few metres away from her. I watch her reaction as she stiffen. Definitely Betty. One doubt crossed. N
SHAWNThe fucker is standing right next to her. I hate to see her cry but she deserves to be punished. Everything I've ever done has been for her, yet she chose to trust this fucker over me. Brought my very son to him. I try not to think about how many times he's had to touch her. My Maria.She can't belong to anyone else and she knows this.The anger grows rapidly inside of me as the doctor halts in front of her."Please, don't do this," Maria pleads. She's managed to crawl to the door. Her cry stings my heart as the fucker attempts to land a kiss on her.That's when I reach my limit. The guts he has. All I wanted was to scare her, to make fear me, respect and just follow me.I'm more than enough for her. That has to sink in her tiny sexy brains.Three close shots. He goes limp, and falls right by her side.She screams, shutting her eyes in terror."You've forgotten who I am so soon," I say, approaching her and kicking the body away from her.Now that I've details about the doctor
SarahHis grip over my mouth is so hard. All my attempt to get away proves futile. My heart beats even faster as he pulls me out of bed.My back is against his chest but as we walk past the large mirror in the room, he halts.His gaze rests on my reflection. "Maria, i dont like that look on your face. Everything I've ever done has been for your own good."All i do is shut my eyes, hoping this is a dream. A lucid dream Michel assured me that Shawn was a forgotten past.I didn't bother to ask how he knew but i believed stupidly.Shawn leans towards my ears, his grip tighten against my mouth."I've something to show you. Please, Maria, please, dont do anything stupid."He grabs the sheets on the bed to cover my naked body up."Do you miss me? There's no doubt. You do. But i'm mad at you. Maybe I'll be able to forgive you afterwards. Just maybe..."He pulls me towards the door. The tears trickle down my cheeks over his palm."I hate to see you cry," he continues as he unlocks the door,
Sarah"I got a call..." Michael begins, resting both palms on my shoulders, like he's about to give a long speech.His reaction makes me uneasy. At least I made sure no one noticed when i left. "Remember i mentioned something about my sister living in the same neighborhood with you."I nod in agreeement. "There was a fire."I pretend to be shocked, but i am. How did he find out so quickly. "Is your sister okay-.." i ask."Yes. But," he hesitates but continues, "The fire started at your place.""My house is on fire?" I force the tears to leave my eyes.Michael pulls me into a hug making it easier for me to fake it as I cry aloud against his soft fabric."This is now your home, Sarah. I'll also replace everything that was lost in the fire," Michael adds. I pull away from him, thankfully my face is wet enough."You don't have to. Maybe this is a sign for a fresh start indeed," i blurt out. "I don't want to look back anymore.""I agree, Sarah. The police have begun investiagtion on th
SarahI knew the doctor to be comfortable, but i would never have guessed that he could own such a massive place. There are a few staff around, as they help us unpack the few luggages we brought. A bag for Carlo and one for me. "It's massive," i whisper under my breath as i pat Carlo on my shoulder. He's still fast asleep."I have something to show you," the doctor says, guiding me away from the lobby with bright chandeliers at the centre, towards the flight of stairs ahead. We arrive at the first floor. The first door to our right leads to a room. "Are you ready?" he asks. I nod, gaping around like some lost stranger. I've lived in luxury all my life but with the doctor, it's different.I'm not a prisoner.As he opens the door i find a beautiful nursery all set up.My palm clasp over my mouth, stopping me from exaggerating my emotions, careful not to wake Carlos.The emotions rush in as i step in. It's blue-themed. A typical baby-boy room."I'll call in a nanny to take care of hi
MarcoThe old woman doesn't seem to buy my story. Her look spells suspicion.I retain the smile on my face, closing the gap between us while I continue,"I'm surprized Elizabeth never mentioned it. She told me she'll be here also.""I'm going to call the cops on you. Stay away," she yells making her way back in."Grandma," the little boy comes running out, stopping the woman in her tracks.He's holding a picture frame, extending it to the woman. The boy for one is certainly smart.The woman takes a glance at the picture, and back at me.I catch a faint view of it. A picture of Andrey. For some reasons, he looks almost like me. It's part of the reasons i don't believe Ricco and his lies.Andrea and I have always shared a striking resemblance."Do you believe me now?" i say to the woman, squatting in front of the boy and ruffling his hair."What's your name big man?" The boy doesn't smile. Not a word escaped his mouth. Just the surprise written all over him."Your story had better b
Shawn For a doctor, he sure is a hard man. I barely escaped him. Not without a severe hit on my arm and a bruised knee. For one, i acquired the vehicle, in on piece, however broken my bone feels right now.I've to lay low. Get these fuckers off my track for now or i just might be a cheap prey for them. I'm heading north, with no direction as i try to set up the GPS of the car.They will try to find the village now that I've exposed one of the hideouts.Even though it will be no use to them. There's no way they can crack the vault without the clues in my possession.Still, i'm living nothing to chance. Not the inheritance I worked for. Not ever. I drift into a sharp corner, viewing the rare view mirror for any sign of my enemies. It looks all clear. I keep driving, searching around the car for notes. I'm dead broke, for a man entrusted with such wealth.I find a dollar bill and make a brief stop at a grocery store.Before i get out of the car, I clean off the blood stains on my
ElvisA tall man in clean suits and black shades draw my attention. Immediately I turn around he says,"Come with me."I follow behind closely. Soon, we arrive in front of a black limousine parked by the corner of the road. He opens the door for me as I step into the unknown.There's a woman sitting opposite me in the luxurious car.She has a white hat on and every other clothing on her matches her hat, except the red scarf around her neck and the dark shades. The white hat covers a good portion of her face, making me catch only a faint view of her nose and a deep-red lipsticks, matching the scarf around her neck.The whiff of her flowery scent subdues my sense of smell for a minute."We've been expecting you, Mr. Elvis Griffin," she says. "Let's say, we have a better offer for you, that'll make you reject the one your boss offered.""Who are you?" I ask, my voice frantic, the air in the vehicle suddenly feels more tense."You don't need to shout. Besides, if i had ill intentions tow
MarcoShe attempts to keep driving, threatening to knock me down but I stand my ground. I move no muscle.She can't hit me. I know that for sure.Besides, it's a weak attempt. The frustration is evident in her expression as she storms out of the car."what the actual fuck are you? Get out of my way," she yells. Instead i fold my arms, staring at her with a cold smile."Really? That's how you treat an old friend?" I tease."I dont know what you're talking about," she replies, turning off her headhlights. The dim lights in the garage is the only light source we have now. She walks up to me, still looking flustered.But she can't fool me.“Quit the pretence, Betty.”“Look, I don't know who you're and why you were hired. But it's best we stick to our roles here. And who the hell is Betty?”"What I don't understand is why you brought Sarah into all of these.”“There's definitely a mix up somewhere. I'm not who you think I am. Now get lost before I knock you down," she breaths, yelling fr