Tangled in the Mafia’s Web

Episode Ten

Ginevra deftly weaved her way through the store, juggling her phone on her shoulder as she grabbed a few last-minute items. Her best friend's voice buzzed in her ear, urging her to come over for a movie night.

"Sorry, Chiara," Ginevra said, "I'm swamped with work this weekend." She tried to give it away. Although Chiara knew her as an FBI, she doesn't follow up on every of Ginevra’s works, and more, she wasn't aware her friend was in a different region at the moment.

Top secret, if Ginevra would explain it.

Chiara groaned. "You always say that. Come on, just one night off. We can binge-watch those old movies you love."

Ginevra hesitated as she reached for a few toiletries. But then Chiara’s voice crackled over the phone, "Come on, Gine. If you don't want to watch movies, we can go out for a night in the town. You need to let your hair down and meet some men. You're too focused on work."

Ginevra rolled her eyes, "Chiara, I'm not interested in meeting a man right now. I have more important things to worry about."

A sigh rose from Chiara, "Come on, you need a man in your life, don't be like those grannies. Even the Rev Sisters think of men sometimes”

Ginevra couldn't help but laugh, "I'm perfectly content with being single. And besides, going to a club isn't going to solve anything."

“I know, but a girl can dream," A desperate friend said, her voice playful. "Come on, let's at least go for a drink or two. It'll be fun, I promise."

Ginevra sighed, "Chiara, I appreciate the offer, but I'm really not in the mood for it tonight. I just want to go home and relax."

"Okay, fine," she said, sounding disappointed. "But you know where to find me if you change your mind."

Ginevra chuckled, "I know,” She said, but then she hesitated as she spotted a man at the far end of the aisle, watching her intently. It was the same guy she'd seen a couple of times before, always lurking in the shadows. Was he following her?

She thought as she tried to put the pieces together– but then she considered Leandro. Perhaps he was keeping tabs on her. Yet a part of her thought otherwise.

There was that possibility that he wasn't sent by Leandro, she was a spy herself and with the small details she has on Leandro, anyone sent by him won't be that foolish to allow themselves to get caught. And that rose the question, if he wasn't sent by Leandro, then who?

"Ginevra? You still there?" Chiara’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry," Ginevra said, her eyes still fixed on the man. “I have to go,” she said and immediately hung up.

It's been only a week or so and now she's been followed? What in the f*****g world did she get herself into? It didn't end that Leandro hasn't fully trusted her!

She thought of what to do to get out of this mess and the only thing seemingly possible at the time was to dial the line she was given by Leandro to call if she felt she was in danger. It was better to confine in them for more trust than handle the matter herself– only to realize he works for them. That would be a severe blow to her identity.

Ginevra hung up the phone after the call and stepped out of the store, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to act casual, pretending not to notice the man as she walked past him. But she knew he was there, watching her.

And just as she walked past the parking lots, she quickened her pace, trying to put as much distance between herself and the man as possible. As she rounded the corner, she saw a grey car parked on the curb. A chill ran down her spine as she realized it was the same car she'd seen outside her apartment complex last week.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw the man closing in on her, his face obscured by the shadows. She knew she couldn't outrun him, but she refused to give up without a fight.

With a burst of adrenaline, she spun around and faced her attacker. To her surprise, it was just a regular guy, with no obvious signs of being a hired assassin. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, but she still kept her guard up.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling just so slightly.

The man smirked. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm just here to deliver a message."

Ginevra tensed, her mind racing with his words. Was this a trap? Was Leandro Vinci behind all of this?

“For you," he said in a low voice. "It's a direct line to the captain if you need to reach him” The man discreetly handed her a small slip of paper and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Ginevra felt like a complete i***t as she stared down at the slip of paper in her hand. How could she have been so paranoid as to not think that this man may have been sent by the FBI? She had jumped to conclusions and now she felt like s**t for reporting the situation to Leandro.

She crumpled the paper in her hand, her mind filled with self-doubt and frustration. If it wasn't that the male held the piece before her, she would have chewed her frustration off the paper.

Shortly, she took the next turn, and as she approached a drain, she crumpled the slip of paper tightly in her hand, her frustration and embarrassment boiling inside her and then she tossed it into the drain.

But before she could even take a few more steps, she heard the sound of a car engine behind her. She turned around to see Leandro's car pulling up by her side.

The sight of the imposing mafia figure stepping out of the car made Ginevra's heart skip a beat. He was so close, she thought. She had narrowly escaped being seen with the man. But despite her inner turmoil, Ginevra managed to keep a cool exterior as Leandro approached her. He looked her up and down, his expression indistinct.

“What happened?" Leandro asked, his tone serious.

Ginevra's mind toiled as she struggled to find the right words. She didn't want to admit that she had jumped to conclusions and reported a false alarm– and there was no way in hell she would give him the detail of what happened.

“It was a false alarm” She gave it as such. Not bothering to find a better reply– but then it is as she had said, truly.

Leandro raised an eyebrow, his look was as if her words were the most outlandish line he had ever come across and so Ginevra held her breath, waiting for him to say something else, but he simply opened the car and with a familiar look on his face– “Get in” He ordered.