Chapter TWENTY-TWO
In the middle of the day, Stefano, I, and a few of his men arrive in Rome. I have just finished checking into my hotel room. We plan to all meet downstairs and start our search for Petrova. She was staying in Sicily but recently travelled to Rome. We are hoping to find her before she travels somewhere else. I walk out of my room and take the elevator downstairs to the hotel lobby. I find Stefano and the guys waiting as I walk over to them.
'I am ready."
'Good, now we can leave, everyone remembers what we discussed in in Sicily. If you see her make sure not to alert her of your presence and call me immediately."
'Yes, sir," they say.
'Let's go," Stefano says, walking out of the hotel, with me following behind him.
We get into the car he rented for our trip here. We arrive in a poor neighborhood after an hour or so of driving. Where we are is really far from the city. We step out of the car and start our search. She was seen around this area a few times. Stefano is checking the house on the left while I check the ones on the right. I have knocked on a few doors, so far, no sign of her. This is the last door on this side of this, neighborhood, I am praying to God she lives here. I knock on the door, God has answered my prayer when a woman who fits the image we have answers the door.
'Are you Petrova?"
'Вот дерьмо (oh, shit)," she says slamming the door in my face. She jumps out the window and starts running. She must know we are looking for her. I quickly put in my ear pods, lucky for me, they were in my handbag and called Stefano while running after her.
'Hey Siri, call Stefano," I say trying to catch up with her.
'Did you find her?" he says, answering the call.
'Yes, I did, she is running away. I will shoot in the air to let you know where I am," I say quickly removing my gun from behind my back and shoot in the air. I usually don't do this, but I can't afford to lose her, she is the only lead we have gotten so far. 'Did you see it?"
'Yes, I will try to intercept you guys, make sure you don't lose her!"
'Okay."
Petrova throws things in my path, I push anything I can or jump over it. We keep running till we meet a dead end, thank God!
'Petrova, there's nowhere for you to run to. I promise I won't hurt you, even if you deserve it," I tell her honestly.
'So, you think, but you should be the one begging for mercy," she says, smirking. Suddenly, men step out from a door on the wall. 'Finish her boys," she says, exiting somewhere through the door the guys came out from.
'Who wants to go first," I say, preparing to fight, I take my stance. I am about to shoot my gun when someone grabs me by the neck and flings my gun away. I didn't see him behind me. I use my elbow to hit his ribs, but he only increases his pressure on my neck. Good thing I wore boots today. I dig my heel into his foot and use my head to smack his, making sure to use the back of my head to hit his face hard. I also have an advantage as he is a man, I knee him in the balls. He loses his hold on my neck and I use the opportunity to pick up my gun to shoot him in the head. I shoot all the men down while nearly being shot myself. More men emerge from the door, I don't think I have enough ammunition to take down all of them.
'What is going on?" Stefano asks, arriving on the scene.
'I lost her; we need to go." I say, pulling Stefano as I start running
'What do you mean you lost her?"
'I mean, I lost her. Run!"
We run as fast as we can but not fast enough away from them. They are catching up to us and the car is still far away.
'Do you know how to hot-wire a car?" I ask Stefano
'Yes."
'Find a car, if we don't leave here soon, I think We will lose our lives."
'That one," Stefano says, pointing to a truck in front of us. We both run to the car and get in. I fire back at the men following us while Stefano tries to start the vehicle. They shoot at the windows of the car, and the glass almost injures me.
'Any luck?" I ask Stefano.
'This should do it," he says, as the car roars to life. He drives like he always does and gets us out of that place. Luckily for us, they don't follow us in a car.
We drive for a few minutes before the car suddenly stops.
'Why did you stop?"
'I think the tank is empty," Stefano says, trying to restart the car but fails.
'Oh my God, this isn't happening right now."
'It is, now we have to walk."
'We can't walk, it will take us hours before we get back to the hotel."
'I don't see you coming up with a better idea."
'Let's try calling someone to help," I say, fetching my phone, there is no service, 'Why is there suddenly no service?"
'Do you think if I could call someone, we would have to walk?" he asks stepping out of the car.
'Do you even know where you are going?" I ask, stepping out of the car, following behind him. We came to this area using Google Maps, and without internet there is no way We will find our way back. We are doomed!
'I don't know but it's better than waiting for imaginary help to appear."
'Do you think we should walk back to the car?" I suggest.
'If I know anything about catching someone, it's to wait for them by their car. So, no, we are walking forward not to our death."
'You are right."
We walk for what feels like hours. My feet are starting to hurt from all the walking and I am beginning to regret wearing heeled boots today. I can feel a gnawing in stomach, I am so hungry.
'Stefano, can we rest for a minute," I say, squatting down to rest.
'We can't."
'I am feeling exhausted let's take a break from the walking, please!"
'You know, you are the reason we are in this situation right now."
'What do you mean by that," I say, standing to face him.
'If you had listened to my instruction and did not alert her, maybe all of this wouldn't have happened."
'I didn't alert her; I asked her name, and she ran. This isn't my fault."
'It is, let's get moving."
'It's not my fault," I say, getting angry at him.
'It is your fault; just accept it."
'It is not my fault, the only reason you are blaming me is because you are hungry and tired. I am hungry and tired too; but you don't see me blaming you for our situation."
'Blame me?"
'Yes, blame you for not checking the fuel tank of the truck you were stealing."
'Are you really trying to shift the blame for our situation on me?"
'No, I am not, so, can we drop this topic. I am too hungry to argue."
'Better."
'Thank you," I say, closing my eyes for a moment to calm myself. I could feel myself on the verge of getting angry because of his useless accusation, I don't think we need that right now.
Suddenly, a ray of light appears, before I can open my eyes, I am spun around into someone's arms. I hear a motorcycle pass by, that is where the light came from.
Stefano has his strong arms wrapped around me. They make me feel so safe. I open my eyes, and lock eyes with him. Stefano is staring back at me with the same expression I have in my eyes, admiration, and wonder.
I wonder how someone could be so handsome, I wonder what he is thinking about me. I feel his lips only a breath away from mine. This is not the first time our lips are this close; I feel like I am not the only one who wants them close together, for some odd reason. I see his lips suddenly getting closer to mine, oh my God, does he want to kiss me? Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? I don't have enough time to think about all of these, so, I just close my eyes and allow God to decide. I believe God isn't on my side anymore, because the skies open up and down pours the rain. This makes Stefano remove his arms around me and take a step back.
'We need to find shelter."
'Yeah," I say, barely audible, still thinking about what almost happened.