There can be only One

The flank of soldiers provided a stunning battalion poised and ready for the apprehension of this particular nuisance. One hand raised to instruct five men to move in. “Putting up a fight would not be in your best interest, Miss Kraft,” he instructed through a dulcet tone. “Be kind and you might even make it out alive.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not accustomed to people like you showing up at my door. So, I’ll ask again: what are you doing here?”

“No one is used to the president showing up at their door, so I’ll say again: that is no way to greet someone. Watch your tone.”

Ricardo stood, imperial stature of a man with unchecked power looming over the blonde like a bird of prey. The richness of his dark tone cascading out over the rooftop. “And how do you think you’re going to do it?” he asked, daring her to answer once she’d seen him.

Calliope had lost track of time. Again. Only now it was no longer an adorably redeemable quirk, she would be in danger if she left the museum after sunset and she only realized it as she stepped into the courtyard under the gaze of an unobstructed moon. Auburn tresses drenched in a wash of pale blue, Calliope stood with her back to the world, fingers typing in a code to secure the museum. Something moved behind her and the curator gasped, turning around to find the source of the sound. Her back pressed against the thick glass as a figure emerged, stepping into the moonlight.

“No need for a heart attack, Calliope.” Ricardo spoke as he stepped into the light, the same that cast a bright glow on her golden fury hair. “You have nothing to fear from me.” even if he were to find out she would be in a gang, which he hoped he wouldn’t, there would be some affection for the woman, if she believed it or not. “You’re safe. I’ve got snipers all over watching us like a hawk, and a team of guards three seconds away from us. Rest easy.”

“So then what is the solution, getting rid of him, or not?” the man spoke, standing behind the blonde whose name was all over his ledger, yearning for her head, so that he wouldn’t be noticed yet. Except if she recognised his voice.”

It had been several minutes now—too long to simply be a coincidence. The hacker finally paused in his tracks, listening for the faint tap of footsteps which continued just a split second after his had stopped. A glance over his shoulder revealed an empty street.

“My apologies, a man knows when to be cautious.” Ricardo spoke, stepping closer towards the men. His security team stayed behind him, but their guns were aimed at the man at all time, while another small select group kept an eye out at their surroundings. “Your name echoes through these streets, Signore Flores. But I recognise a man who is held in chains from where he wants to go, or am I mistaken?”

         ❝ No – Listen, I’m fine, I’m just….I’m going fucking stir crazy in here, that’s all. ❞

"You’re about to get even crazier.” A voice rang from behind her, the tall man surrounded by at least ten of his personal security -- the bulletproof vest he was wearing wouldn’t be enough to keep him alive. “Hello, Miss Kraft.”

Carlos was sick of the bullshit that was going around. He sat on the floor of whatever the hell was at and looked at the person beside him. He wanted all of it to end. “It’s civil fuckin’ duty” he said in a hushed tone. He leaned into the other person. “If they’re blowing up our fuckin’ homes for these two girls, then fuckin’ hand them over” He looked around, wondering if anyone else could hear him.

“Now you, I like.” Ricardo spoke, eyes set on the man who had just spoken his (unpopular) opinion. Surrounded by at least four bodyguards, with six walking behind, he felt a lot safer to walk amongst the treacherous kind of people the citizens of Rome had become, even with the bulletproof vest he was constantly wearing. “I wonder, is that the first time you mentioned your opinion, or is this more a ‘saving your own skin’ kind of situation?”

“Not really a nice way of greeting someone, now is it?”

Shadys back