Annika Remo, a beautiful and innocent young woman, hides a painful past while living with her unsympathetic uncle and aunt, relying on her fantasy novels to escape. Unbeknownst to her, her uncle has put her on a dangerous blacklist. Matteo King, the...
We ran as fast as we could, our feet pounding against the pavement. I could hear the men shouting behind us, their footsteps getting closer. I didn't dare look back, but I could feel their presence looming over us. We needed to find a place to hide, and fast. As we turned a corner, I spotted an alleyway up ahead. It was narrow and dark, but it was our only option. "This way!" I yelled, pulling Ruby towards the alley. We darted into the darkness, hoping that we could evade our pursuers and that the market would distract them.
My heart was pounding in my chest as we huddled in the shadows, trying to catch our breath. I peered around the corner, watching as the men ran past us, shouting and cursing. Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived. We were still in danger, and we needed to come up with a plan. I turned to Ruby, my mind racing. "We can't stay here," I whispered urgently. "We need to keep moving." She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "But where do we go?" she asked. I paused, scanning our surroundings.
"What the fuck, Annika, is happening? What trouble? Has that mansion got anything to do with you?" Marco whispered angrily.
I shook my head, trying to focus on the present situation. "Those men that are chasing us are trying to kill me. They attacked the mansion we were staying at. We were staying there to hide from them." I replied, my voice low.
"I can't tell you more. I'm sorry." I couldn't look at Marco, knowing the danger he could be in just by being with me.
"I'm so sorry, Marco." I whispered, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I never wanted to involve you in any of this. I didn't even know you were going to be there that night." Marco's expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch my arm. "It's okay, Annika." He said it reassuringly.
"I know you didn't mean for any of this to happen. But I want to help you both if I can." His words brought a wave of relief over me, and I felt grateful for his kindness. We sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in thought. Finally, I spoke up. "What do we do now?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. Marco looked at me with determination in his eyes. "We figure out a plan," he said firmly.
"We? Marco I've already gotten you into so much trouble. You've already done so much for us. We can't ask for more." I protested, feeling guilty for involving him in my mess. But Marco just shook his head. "No, you didn't get me in trouble. I chose to help you because I wanted to. And I still want to," he replied. His words touched my heart, and I felt a surge of gratitude towards him.
"We need to find a place to hide until Matteo and Diego get the news. Hopefully, they will see." Ruby replyed. I know in my heart that he will. Please Matteo.
"Okay, but where do we go?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Marco rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Everyone is going back to the farm for picking season, which is 6 hours away. You guys can come with us. It's remote and private," he suggested. Ruby nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a good plan," she said. "But we have to be careful. They'll be looking for us." Marco nodded, his expression serious.
"Thank you, Marco. We really appreciate it."
***
The Marco family seemed happy that we were coming along on their family trip to their farm. For them, it meant an extra pair of hands, which I was happy to help out with, but the lingering anxiety always stayed.
As we drove deeper into the countryside, the landscape became increasingly beautiful. I could see why this place was so remote and private. It was like we had left civilisation behind and entered a different world altogether. The road turned into a narrow dirt track that wound its way through dense trees.
I missed Matteo. I hope he is safe and gets the news. I want to be in his arms again. The silence in the car was palpable, broken only by the sound of the tyres crunching on the gravel. My mind kept drifting back to Matteo and the reason why I had to leave him behind. The guilt gnawed at me. We were almost at the farm, and I needed to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.
I closed my eyes and opened the window, letting in the fresh air. The cool breeze swept over me, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. It was a welcome relief from the constant worry and anxiety that had been plaguing me for days. As we drove further down the narrow dirt track, the trees seemed to close in around us, casting eerie shadows over the car.
We came to a stop, and my breath was taken away when I noticed the beauty of Marco's farm. Trees stood in rows, all with apples and oranges. The vibrant colours of the fruits were a stark contrast to the dark greens of the leaves. I couldn't resist the urge to get out of the car and take a closer look. As I walked through the orchard, the sweet scent of ripening fruit filled my nostrils. I plucked an apple from one of the trees and took a bite. The crisp, juicy flesh exploded with flavour in my mouth, and I couldn't help but smile. It was a moment of pure bliss, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly content.
Marco smiled at my reaction, clearly pleased with my appreciation of his land. "We take pride in our orchards," he said, gesturing towards the row of trees. "It's been in our family for generations."
I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Well, your family has done an excellent job," I replied, taking another bite of the apple. "I don't think I've ever tasted one this good before." Marco's smile widened. "I'm glad to hear that. It's important to us to produce the best quality fruit possible." As we continued to walk through the orchard, Marco pointed out the different types of apples and explained the differences in taste and texture. I listened intently, fascinated by the knowledge he had about his family's business. It was clear that this land meant a great deal to him.
When I walked into their farm house, Ruby was already inside, helping Nonna. "Papa, now that Annika and Ruby are here, does that mean we wake up later, not earlier?" Luca said from the couch, looking up from his phone.
Luigi chuckled, "No, Luca. We still wake up early to tend to the orchard. But having Annika and Ruby here makes the work easier; it's always good to get help," he replied.
"Thank you for having us again." Ruby said with a smile. Luigi nodded, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "It means a lot to me and to Nonna that you two are willing to come all the way out here and lend a hand. This land is more than just a farm to us - it's our heritage and our home. And seeing young people like you appreciate it... well, it warms our hearts." I felt a lump form in my throat as I took in Luigi's words. I looked over at Ruby, and she could tell I was breaking under all this pressure.
"Excuse me." I walked out of the house, holding my chest. "Breath Annika. Breathe." I took deep breaths and tried to calm myself down. I knew I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me, especially not in front of Nonna and Luigi. They were counting on us to help them with the farm, and I didn't want to disappoint them. After a few minutes, I felt my heart rate slow down and my breathing return to normal. I walked back into the house, feeling more composed.
Matteo, please come quickly.
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