Speeding off
736 Words
*Karolina*
The café's atmosphere shatters as the informant collapses, and a gasp escapes my lips. My mind reels, struggling to comprehend what just happened. "Ryan, what did you do?" I whisper, fear threading my voice.
"He was going to shoot Sebastian," Ryan replies, urgency in his eyes. "I had to stop him."
Sebastian glances between the informant and Ryan, his expression a mix of shock and reluctant understanding. "We need to move. Now," he urges, his voice tight with tension.
The patrons around us are beginning to stir, their curiosity morphing into suspicion. Holly steps closer, her words clipped and urgent. "Too many eyes. We can't stay."
Ryan grabs my hand, his grip firm yet reassuring. "Karolina, you're with me," he says, his tone leaving little room for argument. “We better split up.”
I nod, my heart racing as fear knots my stomach. "Okay," I manage, casting a nervous glance around the café.
“Meet you at the duckling,” Sebastian says.
Sebastian and Holly head off in another direction, their movements swift and practiced. Ryan leads me through the narrow alleyways of Venice, the city's labyrinthine paths both concealing and confounding us.
The sound of footsteps behind us sends a jolt of panic through me. "Ryan, someone is following us," I whisper, my voice trembling.
"I know," he replies, his voice steady. "Stay close. We'll lose them."
As we dart through the winding streets, I struggle to keep up, my civilian instincts at odds with the situation. My breath comes in ragged gasps, but Ryan's presence is a lifeline amidst the chaos.
We turn a corner sharply, ducking into a shadowed alcove. Ryan presses a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. I nod, trying to calm my racing heart as the footsteps grow louder.
I know I should not notice, but I can’t help realizing that he smells enticing, fresh and masculine at the same time. Then the footsteps stops for a moment, before they fade as the pursuers pass by.
After a tense moment, Ryan peeks out, ensuring the coast is clear. "Alright, let's move," he whispers, taking my hand once more.
Ryan and I barely catch our breath, when the footsteps of our pursuers thunderous, echoing off the narrow alley walls returns. My heart races, fear tightening its grip on me. "Ryan, they're coming back, and they are close," I whisper, desperate to keep my voice steady.
"Stay calm," he murmurs, peering around the corner. As the pursuers rush past again, oblivious to our hiding spot, he gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Alright, let's make this interesting."
We bolt from our hiding place, weaving through Venice's twisting streets. The air is thick with tension, each step a frantic flight toward safety. My instincts scream at me to slow down, to hide, but Ryan's presence is my anchor.
Ahead, the canal glimmers under the dim light, and I see a speedboat bobbing gently, moored to the side. Without breaking stride, Ryan flashes me a quick grin, his eyes alight with adrenaline. "Ever wanted to try canal surfing?"
Before I can respond, we're upon a speed boat. Ryan doesn't hesitate; he practically lifts me off my feet and deposits me into the vessel. "Hang on tight!" he calls, leaping in after me with the agility of someone who's done this a hundred times.
The engine roars to life, and the boat lurches forward, slicing through the water. I cling to the side, my heart in my throat as the city blurs past us, the canals a twisting, turning racetrack. The wind rushes by, mingling with the distant shouts of our pursuers, now left behind on the docks.
"Remind me to get a postcard!" Ryan shouts over the roar of the engine, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His confidence is infectious, a balm against the fear clawing at my insides.
The boat skims around a tight corner, the wake crashing against the canal's ancient walls. I can't help but let out a breathless laugh, the exhilaration of the chase mingling with sheer disbelief at our escape.
"Hold on, Karolina," Ryan calls, his eyes on the path ahead. "We're not out of this yet!"
As we speed through Venice's winding waterways, the sense of danger is palpable, but with Ryan at the helm, I find a strange comfort in the chaos, knowing that somehow, against all odds, we'll make it through.
- Writer
