The Mafia Assassin

Chapter Twelve

The morning light seeped in through the windows of the building, creating soft golden beams on the dusty wooden floors. Nicholas didn't sleep, his body stiff as he sat by the window, gun in hand keeping watch.

Alison stirred on the old blankets Nicholas had found by the corner. She eventually sat up recalling the dreadful events that occurred the past day.

Nicholas glanced toward her. “You’re awake.”

She nodded, her voice still sleepy. “You didn’t sleep.”

“I didn't need to,” he replied, his voice void of emotion. “ We can't afford a situation where none of us won't be able to fight”

Alison wrapped a blanket around her body “How long do you think we can stay here?”

“Not for long,” Nicholas confessed. “Adrian’s men won't rest till they find us”

Alison’s stomach churned. She hated the feeling of being hunted and being vulnerable, the constant fear that everyone might turn out to be an enemy.

Nicholas got up, stretched his arms for a few seconds then moved around the room for some time. “We’ll leave as soon as it gets dark. It’s safer to move at night.”

“Where will we go?” Alison asked

“ I know a safe place, the only problem is how to get there without getting caught,” Nicholas said dryly.

Alison nodded, though she feared the thought of another long journey.

Nicholas offered her a small piece of bread and a bottle of water he had located in the building’s storage room. “Eat. You’ll need your strength.”

She felt compelled to say the same thing to him but she held herself from doing so.

She collected the bread from him, her mind raced as she ate. “Do you think… do you think Adrian will stop”

“Yes, when one of us is probably dead,” he said without hesitation.

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and Alison looked down at her hands, attempting to control her breathing.

A sudden sound from outside pierced the silence — a gentle rustle of leaves.

Nicholas stopped and drew his gun at once. He motioned for Alison to keep quiet as he pressed on the door.

“What is it?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“There’s somebody outside,” he answered, his voice low and threatening.

Alison's pulse quickened. “Are you certain?”

Nicholas nodded, his look penetrating. “Remain here.”

He walked slowly toward the door with intent. He cracked it open and looked outside. Early morning light had a soft glow across the forest.

He glanced for a moment and everything seemed normal.

Then he saw it—a glint of metal in the distance.

Nicholas’s blood ran cold. A person was out there, and they were armed.

“Alison,” he said quietly, his voice steady but rushed. “We must leave instantly.”

Alison struggled to her feet, her hands shaking. “What? Why? What did you see?”

“No time to explain,” Nicholas said, grabbing the bag of supplies they had packed the night before. “They found us.”

Panic filled her, but she nodded, trusting his judgments.

Nicholas took her wrist and led her to the back of the station. There was an old hatch in the ground that led to a crawl space under the building. It wasn't much, but it was enough to save them time.

"Get in," he ordered, opening the door.

Alison paused. "What about you?"

"I'll be right behind you," he said firmly. "Now Go.”

She carefully stepped down into the narrow, dimly lit space, her heart racing. The air carried a damp and musty odor and the ground felt cold beneath her hands.

Nicholas followed closely behind her, just as a faint noise caught his attention—the distinct sound of boots walking on dry leaves.

They gathered together in the darkness, breathing heavily as the noise grew louder.

Through a c***k in the wooden floor above, Alison could see the shadow moving. There were at least three of them, their voices low and muffled.

"Search the whole place," one of them said in an authoritative tone.

Nicholas tightened his grip on his gun. He could eliminate them, but that would attract more attention. For now, staying hidden was his best option. The men moved around the cabin, their footsteps heavy.

Alison closed her eyes, her breathing short. She could feel Nicholas beside her, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike if needed.

After what seemed like an eternity, the footsteps stopped.

"They're coming outside," Nicholas whispered. Alison opened her eyes, overcome with relief. But Nicholas's hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Don't move," he warned.

A new sound reached her: the distinct click of a radio.

"They're calling for backup," Nicholas said, his jaw clenched. "What should we do?" Alison whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

Nicholas' thoughts raced. Staying here was no longer an option, but escaping without being seen would be nearly impossible.

Then an idea occurred to him. It was dangerous, but it might work. “Follow me,” he said, his voice barely audible.

He motioned for her to stop as he carefully opened the lid. The men were outside now, his voice cracking.

Nicolas led Alison to the back of the crawl space, where a small opening led into the forest. It was narrow and partially hidden by the bushes above, but it was their best chance.

"Go," Nicholas whispered, motioning for Alison to crawl inside.

She hesitated, fear etched on her face, but his determined expression gave her the courage to move. He squeezed through the opening, the cold morning air hitting him as he emerged into the forest.

Nicholas followed, his movements quick and silent.

They huddled behind a group of trees, watching the men search the area around the cabin. “We have to keep moving,” Nicholas said quietly. “If they find out we’ve escaped, they’ll scatter.”

Alison nodded, her fear mixed with her determination.

Nicolas led her deeper into the forest, her senses alert. They moved quickly but carefully, avoiding open spaces and staying in the shadows.

As time progressed, adrenaline faded away, giving way to fatigue. However, they could not afford to stop just yet. As the sun began to set, they stumbled upon an abandoned hunting lodge. Although small, it offered them shelter.

Nicholas inspected the premises before leaving Alison. Once he was satisfied with her safety, he assisted her in getting settled.

Alison sank to the floor, her body trembling from the day's events.

"Are we safe?" she inquired, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

"For the time being," Nicholas responded quietly. "But this is not over yet."

He positioned himself facing her, his pistol resting atop his knees.

Alison observed him intently, her eyes searching for any form of expression. "Why are you doing this?" She found it difficult to understand why he was taking such risks to protect her.

Although she had heard him and Luke talking about a certain Amelia, she didn't hear the whole thing from him. She didn't want to die but she knew he would be able to save himself the stress if he would just hand her over. Not that she wasn't grateful, she was just curious.

Nicholas met her gaze, his expression unreadable. He didn't answer her

"Why are you protecting me," she asked quietly. "Leaving me behind would make things easier for you. He was silent for a long moment, his jaw tightened.

“Do you want me to leave you behind,” he finally said quietly.

“No, but–”

“ Then be quiet; I have limits to my kindness,” he cut her off.

Alison wanted to push him further, to understand the man behind his cold appearance, but she knew better.

Instead, she leaned against the wall, her eyes heavy with fatigue.

Nicholas observed her as she was on the brink of sleep, his thoughts racing. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not now, not ever.

Somewhere in the shadows, Adrian was probably tracking them, and Nicholas knew it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed.