XVI

We walk for a few minutes, not intending on going anywhere specific. I look down and my eyes catch sight of blood plotted around my shirt in large splotches. I attempt to scrub it off with my bare hands but the damage has already been done, the claret tint has stained the material.

"For fucks sake, I can't be seen like this." I complain. Marco rolls his eyes and quickens his pace, walking ahead. "Ignoring me now, are you?" I ask in a more fierce tone.

"Just stop fucking talking." He yells. His face displays pure wrath. He clenches his right fist but quickly buries it deep in his pocket. "You're saying that to the very person who just saved your ass." I call out, tucking the loose strands of hair behind my ears.

I pull away from him just in time to avoid a left hook coming straight for my head. For a few moments, we both take each other in, breathing hard and fast. I tilt my head to the side a little and raise on eyebrow.

"You mad at what I said? Or are you mad because it's true?" I ask. He spits on the ground, breathing heavily.

"Don't start now. This whole city is fucking after us." He yells, I smile at how easily I can make him go manic. "You'll have to work on some of your moves, amateur." I say, crossing my arms.

"Oh really, come at me then." He replies.

I charge at him and land a blow to the ribs as I duck behind him, under his arm. I spin, delivering a roundhouse kick to his ribs again. He falls back slightly, the impact of the kick rupturing his ribcage.

I take a little bow.

"Oh and did I also mention I had dancing lessons?"

Marco doesn't respond to my taunt. He holds his side, gaping for breath.

Fuck, did I break his ribs? I was careful with that kick!

"Oh don't be a baby." I taunt.

Worry starts to gnaw at me. Without thought, I step forward to check if he's alright. But Marco wastes no time. I only glimpse at the wicked smile before he lunges at me. He forces me against the wall, pinning my hands above my head, his body pressed against mine, keeping me trapped.

"The only reason why I haven't killed you yet is because you're fucking with my head. Keep you're pretty face out of my damn thoughts." He whispers into my ear.

I roll my eyes.

"I should know better than to worry about you." I spit. I thrash against his hold, but he's just too strong.

"Stand still." He demands. As anger grows, so does my arousal. Feeling Marco's body against mine, throbbing with what must be the same feeling. "I won." He informs. His smile hurts even more than hitting my back against the wall. I try to wiggle out but it gets me nowhere. "Easy there, love." He says, pressing me harder against the brick barricade.

"What if I don't want to take it easy?" I ask, pressing more firmly into him. His bulge digs into my lower belly as my voice grows sultry.

"What if I want you to take me ha-" Marco presses his lips against mine, shutting me up.

I melt into the kiss, the familiarity and taste of him bringing down all of my defences.

The memories of the last few days swirl hazily in my mind as my instincts fight the lulling sensation of the kiss. Using Marco's moment of distraction to my advantage, I quickly lunge out from his embrace. Confusion lines his face for a moment, but he lets go of me, bashfully stepping away.

"We need to get out of here. Get in the car." He demands, tossing me the keys. Marco leads me down the alley, rounding a corner to see his car parked not too far away. Picking up the pace, I walk briskly to it and get into the affluent interior.

As I gun the engine and take off down the street, the neon building lights bathe the car interior with soft red light. Raindrops begin to gently drip on the windshield, creating palliative sounds. "Back to my place. I have a lot of business to tale care of." He says. My mind races as we drive, the evenings events blurring in my thoughts.

I turn a sharp corner, glancing into the rearview mirror to see a black SUV trailing not far behind. It's darkly tinted windshield makes it difficult to identify the driver. "Finally some excitement. We have company" I say, speeding up. Marco glances back at the car, as an endeavour to compute the amount of people inside. He attains his gun from the shoulder holster, checking the number of rounds in the magazine. Marco then points to an approaching intersection.

"Turn left up ahead. We can try making a loop, and if they're still behind us, we'll know we're being followed." He says.

I wait for the last possible moment to make a sharp left turn, heading down a narrow city street. At the next intersection I turn left once more, the SUV trailing not too far behind.

"Oh shit, now for some real fun." I yell.

Suddenly the SUV speeds up, and I see a masked figure leaning out of the passenger side window, bullets rapidly hitting the ground next to Marco's car. "Fuck." He mutters. I put the pedal to the metal and tightly grip the steering wheel while Marco glances back, scowling at our pursuers.

"Lose them, Milana." He orders. As a busy intersection with cross-traffic approaches, my mind races to formulate a plan. "Let's do a U-turn." I suggest.

He glares at me, resentment filled eyes, and for a split second I feel as if he is about to kill me. "Are you insane?!" He yells in fury. I speed up, preparing to make the turn. "Maybe." I answer back, biting my lip roughly.

Gripping the wheel tightly, I veer the car into the opposing lane of traffic, tires screeching. As I turn sharply, the perusing SUV turns as well, bullets flying and punching holes in the side of Marco's car.

"Careful, these assholes are relentless." He outlines. Blood is pumping in my veins as I attempt to come up with the perfect plan to lose the pursuers. "Watch this." I state as I increase the acceleration of the car.

His car charges into a parking garage, taking the twisting pathway up the top and back down again as the SUV struggles to match the car's agility. The city lights flash by in a blur as Marco's car roars down the road. The SUV manages to my diversion, inching closer and closer.

"Think we can take out the driver?" I ask with a smirk. Marco glances back, assessing the distance. "It's a moving target, might be a tough shot." He explains.

"Take the wheel. I'll take the shot." I demand as he takes his gun from his shoulder holder. He hands it to me and nods. "Don't miss." He says with a simper.

Hastily, I switch places with Marco, letting him plop into the drivers seat. I grab the gun, roll down the side window and aim for the approaching SUV. The SUV engine roars as our pursuers edge closer and closer. I squint through the windows to see several figures through the tinted windows.

"I need a better angle." I call out.

"Come here." He suggests. I look at him and roll my eyes for a split second but ultimately do as he says. I roll on top of him and spread my legs over his body. I grind up against him a little to get into the perfect position. He rests his hands on my hips, holding me still in place. I look out of his window and position my gun so it is lined with the drivers head.

Squeezing the trigger as I aim for the windshield, I vaguely make out the figure in the car's drivers seat clutching their shoulder as the SUV comes to an abrupt stop.

"Gotcha." I whisper.

"Fuck, Milana... You are good." He says as I roll off of his lap and sit back into my seat.

We pull into an alleyway, killing the engine. For a moment, me and Marco simply lean back in our seats, our breathing the only sounds in the cabin. I pull my bottom lip down slightly, looking in the mirror, and become aware that I bit down so hard it drew blood. A trail of dark liquid swirls around my mouth, mixing with my saliva.

"I am going to fucking kill Luca." I yell in rage.

"Milana."

I pause, the inflection in Marco's voice as he says my name silences me as he brings a hand under my chin, tilting my head upward to meet his slowly approaching face.

"Do you trust me?" He asks. I stare into his eyes and slowly, hungrily lick my lips, eager to tease. "Don't look at me like that." He comments.

As my tongue gently slides over my upper lip seductively, Marco sits a little straighter, watching my every move with hungry eyes. "Like what?" I ask through innocent eyes. "Don't act like you don't know what you're doing." He says as his voice drops to just above a whisper.

I glance out of the window, looking back into the street for any sign of cops or other strange cars. Nothing seems wrong, but my instincts scream in my head.

"Drive." I demand. Marco revs up the engine and takes off down the dark city streets.

What a fucking night

As the neon-bathed city streets pass me by outside, gentle rain starts to fall on the windshield. "Where to from here? Back to your place?" I ask curiously.

"Not just yet. I've got other ideas." He replies.

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