To start at the beginning of the story go here.
Feeling the broken revolver bump against my bruises as I ran, I cursed not picking up the vory’s weapon. I slapped my feet against the ground and hurried, changing directions only to turn back on course, hoping to shake off any pursuers.
Between the cloister of warehouses and the river’s edge was the long, empty road that separated the two. Moonlit and desolate, it held nothing but the promise of being seen. I hid with my back against a brick wall and tried to listen, my own ragged breathing filling my ears.
The best I could hope for was the absence of headlights. When the dark went on without interruption, I sprinted across the road, coming to a skidding halt at the chains, nearly taking me over and down the embankment.
While I had cursed the moonlight in the alleys and streets, it may have been the only thing that kept me from tumbling off the narrow path down. I shuffled as quick as I could, small landslides kicking off from my feet.
I was relieved to see the door of the hutch slightly ajar, a warm light spilling out into the night’s cool air. As I got closer I could hear voices within, words being exchanged in tones high and animated.
I pushed into the room quickly, bringing it to silence. In the small space was everyone; all three of the voyous, Nika and Lanzo, Sophie’s head nearly bumping into the ceiling. She strode forward to cover my face with a flutter of soft kisses and I think I could have been happy to die right there.
As distracting as that was, I couldn’t help but notice Nika staring around the dirty and subterranean room with a barely controlled horror. Even emptied of garbage the place was still a hole.
The voyous were too busy backslapping to notice. Lanzo held Nika as her mouth began to move sporadically. I slipped out of Sophie’s hug and moved to Lanzo. I placed a firm hand on his shoulder and indicated Nika with my eyes. “We should get her inside.”
Cradling her in their uncertainty and fear, he nodded back at me, and I let him lead the way. A quick glance at Sophie told her to keep the two groups separate.
Once through the door, Nika let out a gasp. The glow of the fairy lights created an unreal, bright island under the city. She involuntarily stopped, unsure of the mirage Lanzo had conjured. When the vision of this subterranean boudoir persisted, Nika squeaked slightly, letting go of Lanzo’s hand to touch the bed.
Confirming its solidity, Nika laughed quietly, the sound echoing across the arched ceiling like it might in Old Town’s cathedral. She hopped backwards onto the bed, landing on her butt, laughing, causing Lanzo to join.
This spread from Nika to Lanzo to Sophie, the latter floating a hand to softly land on my back. As Nika pulled Lanzo close to the bed for a kiss, I couldn’t help but ruin things by whispering, “We’re going to need to change those sheets later.”
Sophie playfully slapped my arm, mock punishing my crudeness. I just let out a long breath into the illusion Nika could be safe here for awhile.
Lanzo surprised everyone by bending down to retrieve something hidden under the mattress’ comforters. Looking every bit like Simon’s old-school waiter, Lanzo came up with something piled high under a cloth, holding it as if it were on a platter. As Nika stared at it in confusion, he whipped off the cloth to reveal a motley stack of books.
It took me a moment to realize that Lanzo was presenting her with something to pass the time and, judging by the widening of her smile, one of her favorites. I let out a surprised grunt. I had assumed that Nika and Lanzo didn’t know each other well, a cynical part of me thinking their reuniting would end in disaster, that we’d be lucky if they got along long enough to get out of town. But here was proof that Lanzo knew something of Nika and that he cared enough to cater to those desires. She glowed nearly as bright as the fairy lights before bringing Lanzo in for another kiss.
This went on for awhile. When I heard the voyous chuckling like schoolboys I decided it was time to intervene. I stepped back to the main room and said, “You’ll be staying here for a few days. It’s not much but it’ll keep you safe and hidden till we can get you out of the country.”
Holding Lanzo on the bed between me and her, Nika stared at me. Standing within those ancient stone walls, I must have resembled some kind of golem, a barely formed hulk that was both useful and frightening. Feeling a need to fulfill this role, I added, “We’ll bring you anything you need.” I waggled a thumb between me and Sophie.
Nika’s uncertainty gave way to an animated joy, her eyes brightening as she let go of Lanzo to bump around on the mattress like a kid at Christmas. It made her seem even younger than she was. I felt a sudden tightness in my chest that I tried to banish but wouldn’t go.
I got Lanzo’s attention and swiveled my head back the way we came. “Walk us out.” He nodded, promising Nika he’d return shortly while she held onto him. He kissed her, clearly as reluctant to leave as she was to let him go.
Eyes back on me, she said, “I didn’t think they’d be able to follow me.”
I realized then she was embarrassed, that she was surviving the experience all young people must survive in realizing that they aren’t as smart as they think we are. I thought about the one long road down from Mitnick’s and his palatial part of town and wondered how she thought they wouldn’t be able to follow her. Instead of saying that, though, I lied. “They probably had a tracker on the car.” Maybe they did.
I don’t know if this consoled her, but she let Lanzo go. I walked him and the voyou back into the main room. I spoke to all four as if we were one happy squad. “You’re going to need to stay here full time for the next couple of days. If you need supplies, only one of you goes,” I floated a finger across the voyous. I pointed at Lanzo, “You stay here, no matter what.”
Everyone nodded and I gestured at Lanzo. “Let’s talk for a minute.” I sensed that the Idiots wanted to follow us, but Sophie interposing presence dissuaded them.
Outside of the hutch, there was the distant sound of police sirens and I let those fade away before I spoke. The dark reflexively caused my voice to drop to a whisper. “You going to be able to hold it together?” I asked Lanzo.
He responded with a, “Oui,” and a stare out into the night that made me doubt him.
“You’ve turned the tables.” Lanzo’s eyes softened with hope. “Keep her safe for a few days. Then the two of you will be gone and none of it will matter.”
I think Lanzo may have fingered the roll of Euros he had in his pocket. He nodded and I said, “Good.” I gestured to Sophie. “We’ll be back.”
To read the previous chapter, go here.
To read the author’s published work, go here.
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