Chapter 3 : Bounty

'I am sorry that you had to know about the truth like that- I –we need break from each other.'' That voice echoed in her ear even when she slept.

'Why? Why are you being like this Cardan? Please.'' She didn't remember what she said next all she remembered was he walked away from her life just like that and even after months of lying she could never bring herself to hate him. He lied to her, he broke her trust, he betrayed her and he betrayed her heart and yet she could never hate him.

She was wide awake now and silently weeping in her bed, the warmth felt foreign to her. Her body was cold and her heart was wounded. Those memories haunted her every single night for past six months or so. His face was before her eyes the moment she closed her eyes and yet she could never push those heart wrenching memories away.

She pulled the cardigan closer to her body and padded towards the balcony. The air smelled of sulfur and the loud blaring horns below her was breaking the tranquility of the night. The loud obnoxious sounds didn't help her nerves at all but she was used to this feeling. She pulled a lit cigarette to her lips and start inhaling all the smoke and nicotine. She aimlessly looked at her surroundings but her attention span was short and soon she found herself heading back and stopped on her tracks. She could sense someone's presence in the room. She eyed her pillow where she kept her gun for protection sake. She made her way towards the bed as naturally as she could, whoever was in this room had wrong intentions. She with as much care as she possibly could reach for the gun pretending to reach for phone.

''Drop it.'' The gun was pressed at the back of her head. The metal digging at the back of her head was painful and the man was exerting more force against her head, she winced in pain and her outstretched hand stopped midair. ''Raise your head and get up.'' Another order barked at her. She followed his instruction without any complain. His hand was trembling.

She craned her head to catch a glimpse of her captor but one word of warning from him had her stop her futile attempts. 'Listen here girly you and I will cooperate and walk out of this hotel as naturally as we can. Don't try to act smart I will kill you and other people in this hotel so how about you be a good girl and do as I said.'' His voice sounded threatening and she could imagine the outcome of her defiance. The gun was hidden from plain sight but she could feel it pressed against the side of her stomach as his arms went around her waist and their bodies were pressed closer. The proximity between them even if forceful looked natural and didn't raise any heads on their way out. The receptionist just glimpsed from her position at the front desk of the hotel and then hides her head amongst the books. She remembered the brief conversation between them where she had mentioned preparing for her exams. She cursed her luck in her head. The man beside her looked so confident in his steps; his face was hidden behind the hoodie cap that was pulled over his head. One thing was certain he was going to kill her in one of the streets near the hotel.

But the real question was how he got access to her room; she didn't hear anyone entering her room. Unless he was in that room from the very start. But then why no one noticed a man with a dangerous weapon while cleaning the room. She came to two conclusions that either the room was never cleaned or the hotel management was in on the plan. But there was a possibility he had threatened them to stay quiet about his presence.' 'Who sent you.'' She finally mustered the strength to voice her questions.

''Shut it. 'He growled at her and dug the gun further in her skull. The pain was shooting through the spot and tears pricked her eyes. She hissed in pain but it made him drill the gun barrel further, by now her whole head was splitting with intense pain and she felt as if her movements were sluggish, his grip around her bicep tightened until she felt it numbing with the suffocating grip. She certainly had bruises now.

'Are you going to kill me.'' She asked him after contemplation.

He was at the end of his patience now. He jerked her to face him and slapped her across the face; the gravity of the slap was such that she lost her balance for a second. Cocking the gun at her head he pulled at the trigger, she closed her eyes and heard a gunshot. Expecting it to hit her but it never did. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the man who was standing in front of her few seconds ago was lying on the ground covered in the pool of his blood.

She faced her savior to see no one other than Yuri. He was eyeing the gun in his hand that belonged to her captor. Without meeting her eyes he simply went on mocking her fake bravery and knack for getting others killed. He was taunting her for always being the one who was reckless as if she expected to be killed. She was annoyed at his taunting and every single time he managed to get on her nerves until she wanted to slap that handsome face of his.

She turned to go back to the hotel; she needed to know why there was a man with a gun in her room. ''Where are you going? 'He questioned her the moment he catches up to her. ''Where I was dragged from.''

''Where that could be? 'Now they were walking side by side. It was as if they were strolling through the park. She remembers there were cameras in the area it was as if he could read her mind. 'Don't worry about the cameras- my people dealt with that issue.'' She signed out of relief or maybe out of tiredness. Her mind was being clouded by anger, sadness and regrets. It was as if he could read her mood so he spoke. ''About trespassing your home you don't have to worry I take back my offer and I won't be showing up at your place anymore unless you invite me yourself.'' His tone was playful at the end.

''Why? ''She asked him the questions on her mind all this time.

''What? 'He questioned back.

''I mean why go to great troubles to help me when I am your enemy and won't think twice before arresting you. By put your life on the line by helping me and betraying the mafia? Why watching out for me? What do you want from me? 'She was voicing every single suspicions of her.

''I don't know.'' He simply said that and went silent. She wanted to ask him more questions, she wanted to scream at him to give her answers but all she could do was stay silent and look on. She felt that he was not willing to answer any of her questions and looking defeated at his unwillingness she could only let out a sigh.

She didn't want him to know where she was staying but there was also this feeling that he knew where she was staying since he showed up at a dark empty street just to help her. Hiding here whereabouts from him was useless when he knew about it so she simply walked to the front desk. Anger was coursing through her veins. She needed answers and without wasting any time she was storming to the desk. The girl at the front desk face changed. She looked baffled for a second- probably at her being alive. Her face turned white but then she quickly fixed her expressions and cheerfully smiled at her as if they never set her up to be killed.

'Welcome back-'' The girl at the front desk was greeting her with a broad smile. But she abruptly cut her off. 'How the hell did that man get into my room.'' She was shouting those words at her face, fisting her hands in attempt to stop the urge of punching her.

''I don't understand ma'am. Come again.'' She was frigging ignorance for sure.

'How the hell can you let a stranger get into a guest room? Isn't this hotel management's responsibility to keep their guest safe.'' She was screaming at the top of her lungs now. Some of the guests were out of their rooms when they heard the chaos.

'But miss you left with that man so we thought you two know each other.'' She was pinning the blame on her and trying to make her look like the person who was in wrong.

''Stop lying- because of you guys I would have been killed by that man. He was in my room with a gun and he kidnapped me and dragged me to a alley where he assaulted me and was going to kill me if it wasn't for this man here.'' She signaled towards Yuri. People around them gasped and were whispering to each other.

'Someone call the police.'' Someone amongst the crowd suggested. She heard several people agree with him but if the police would come here this would cause more trouble for her and Yuri. Both of them exchanged looks and it was as if they reached an understanding. She turned to face the crowd- 'Please head to your rooms first since there might be more dangerous people out here and lock your rooms. I and this friend of mine here are from the police department so let us handle this issue on our own for now and call for reinforcements if we will feel a need to. ''The people were murmuring among themselves and finally one after another they cleared the area.

'I want to see your camera footage.'' She demanded in an authoritative voice to the girl who looked so frightened as if she had seen a ghost. Her hands were trembling. ''The cameras aren't working ma'am but if you want we can refund you.'' She said apologetically.

''Are you fucking kidding me right now I almost died and all you have are excuses.'' Her voice came out hoarse and finally at the end it cracked with emotions. Tears of helpless welled up in her eyes.

'Let me deal with this.'' He put a hand on her shoulder. She could simply nod and stepped away. Yuri pulled out the gun from the pocket of his jacket and cocked the gun to the girl's head and she trembled at her place and was ready to burst in tears. 'What are you doing sir? Please put the gun away.''

''And what if I don't- what are you going to do about it? 'He was mocking her as he played with the gun in his hand.

''Please sir- Please let me go I have family.'' She was pleading with him.

''Then what about this girl here. Now that you are in the same spot as her do you feel her fear and misery?'' He had pushed the gun against her temples and she closed her eyes.

''What are you doing Yuri? Put the fucking gun down.'' She warned him. He simply smirked as he loaded his gun. The girl at the front desk let out a frightened high pitched scream. Now he was pointing the gun at the girl again. '' the cameras are recording everything. You won't be able to get away with this. ''

''But you said the cameras aren't working. So you really were lying.'' Anastasia couldn't believe her ears at what she just heard. The intention to slap the girl in front of her was so strong she had to restrain herself.

''I-I –.''The girl in front her was stammering and profusely sweating.

''Tell me everything about that intruder.'' She said in an authoritative voice.

''I don't know. He came here with a gun and threatened me to give him access to your room." The footage showed him entering her room while she was in shower so she didn't notice the room's door opening and closing as he entered. The fact that he was watching her sleep made chills run down her spine. It made her feel violated and vulnerable. He placed a hand on top of her badly shaking. She looked at him and he just nodded for her and a part of her felt as if everything was going to be alright.

" I am sorry Miss Anastasia. I wanted to warn you but he threatened my safety and my families if I tried to warn you or act up so I was helpless. Please don't report me I have a sick mother and little siblings depending on me and if the police took me away or if you reported me I would be fired and my family will be forced out of our home on the streets .'' She was on her knees begging and crying. Her tears and begging pulled at Anastasia's heart and despite Yuri's protest she forgave her and promised not to take any actions against her. The girl was very grateful.

She picked her stuff and checked out of the hotel. 'Where are you going now? Hopefully not your home since who so ever wishes to kill you will see that as the best chance so I will recommend staying with one of your police buddies.'' They were walking on the small pavement together he was helping carry her stuff for her- he volunteered and like an idiot she simply allowed him to. If someone saw them right now they would think they were friends when it was far from the truth.

"I am so desperate for a place to stay that I might just crash at your place. 'Then she realized her mistake and blushed, that was merely a thought and she wasn't supposed to voice it yet she did and looking at him she could tell he was taken aback by it. There was awkward silence between them and finally he was the one to break it first.

''Let me drop you to wherever you want to go.'' He offered. She didn't want to be seen with him by her coworkers who would definitely get the wrong idea and it would cause trouble for her so she was quick to deny his offer and hailed herself a cab.

''Thank you for helping me today and that day. I hope you keep your promise of never showing up at my place unannounced and ones again thank you if it wasn't for you today and that day I don't know what would have happened to me.'' She was grateful at his help but she made up her mind that she would avoid him at all cost if she was to avoid trouble.

He waved her goodbye and then headed towards his car. She showed up at Eric's place and rings the bell but when no one answered she opened the door with the spare key he gave her. It was already dawn, exhausted she headed to one of the room that he had allotted her whenever she was to crash at his place.

The moment she closed her eyes thought of Cardan came to her mind. His memories had the same effect on her as usual so she let sleep consume her voluntarily and soon she was fast asleep. Eric entered the house to see light streaming from her room; she covered her with the duvet cover and closing the door behind him headed to his own room.

XOX