PROLOGUE.
"Marcia, you can't be here anymore. It is too dangerous for you!" Griselda, the old lady who had been keeping her in hiding for weeks, whispered loudly.
It was already late, as late as three o'clock in the night, and Marcia had been awoken from her sleep by the old lady, only to be told that she couldn't be accommodated anymore. At first, she thought she was in a dream, but it was all real now.
Marcia stood to her feet. She was dressed in tattered clothing, and her hair had lost colour. She was pale and sickly, looking like she was a cancer patient.
"What is it, Griselda? Did I do something wrong? Did I measure the ingredients for your cake incorrectly? I promise I'll fix it tomorrow," She pleaded and tried to take the old woman's hand, but Griselda pulled away. "I know you're mad at me, but please, don't throw me out into the streets. It's too dangerous out there for me. You know I will be dead as soon as they find me."
Griselda sighed. "Child, I am not throwing you out because you did me wrong. You have always been good to me, mi carso, but you know, The Devil's claw has placed a bounty on your head."
Marcia reeled back in shock. "That's impossible."
"It is true, child. I heard it on my way back from the bakery, and many gangs are starting to search for you. Your name is everywhere, and so are your photos. They will search from house to house, and even if they have to tear it down to find you, they will! That is why I want you to leave before dawn!"
She felt her world crash to her feet. Staggering backwards, she sank into her bed and slipped her fingers through her hair as tears escaped her cheeks.
Just when she thought things were getting better. Just when she thought she was far away from her killers, just when she thought she could live a new life— they were here again, in search of her. They were never going to give up until they found her. She remembered the words in Tarantino's letter.
"I will not stop until I find you. And when I find you, I will start by plucking out your eyes from your angelic face. I will utterly ruin you till you wish you were dead. I will make the dead far better than you are."
Griselda placed a hand on her trembling body. "I have arranged a train ticket for you to the next city tonight. You will arrive tomorrow morning," She grabbed a bag from the table and handed it over to Serafina, whose face was already messed up with tears. "In this bag, there's enough money to carry you. Make sure you avoid public scenes till you are out of the city."
And so, Marcia set out into the dark of the night, avoiding the roads and passing through the dark, scary alleyways as she prayed to Mary to protect her from muggers and rapists and her enemies.
She hated her parents for this. She hated that they had left her alone to figure out something she didn't know. Until now, she had no idea why she was being chased after by the gang her father was once a member of, but she knew she had to keep running and running till she was safe.
Finally, she got to the bus stop and hailed a cab. Tossing the small bag, Griselda handed over to her, she looked around before slipping into the car.
Unbeknownst to her, one of the gang members who had been sent to search around for her caught the reflection of light on her face and quickly jumped into an SUV, tailing her to the nearest terminal.
Marcia rummaged through the bag Griselda handed over to her. There was money in there. A lot of it. Little food and water and then a gun. Marcia hid it in her belt, knowing that she would need it at a point in her journey, and when she finally alighted the cab, she paid him and began to hurry down to the train station.
But she noticed something. She was being followed by a man dressed in a black hoodie with a mask over his face. Her sixth sense told her this man was dangerous, so she began to weave through the crowd to lose him and finally escape.
But the man seemed to follow her wherever she went. She made quick payments, boarding a train for the next city before slipping on a cap she found and hiding her dark shock of hair underneath it.
She waited along with the others, besides a policeman, to keep the other man away, and as soon as it was time to board, she fell into line, waiting impatiently till it was her turn.
She tried not to look back, but the fear in her heart— the angry thud of her heart against her ribcage, the uncertainty of the fact that he might pull out a gun and shoot her right there refused to leave, so she immediately turned but was met by a pair of mesmerizing stormy grey eyes.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" He asked in the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard.
Marcia smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am. Thank you."
She turned back and faced the train. She still had a long way to go. She kept looking around.
"Are you sure? If you are in danger, speak so I can call the authorities."
Marcia forced a smile. Tears built up in her eyes, and her jaw trembled as she tried to speak. How could she tell this handsome man, who looked like he only knew riches and a good life, that she was being hunted after by a mafia gang who had placed a heavy bounty on her head?
He was probably on a vacation to Italy, and she didn't want to ruin that. "I am okay, thank you. It's nothing."
"I would like to agree, but I can see it in your eyes. You are afraid. What is your name?"
"Marcia."
"Marcia, you are safe, okay? I am right beside you, and nothing will happen to you."
She nearly hugged this stranger, but she didn't want to touch his very expensive coat with her worn-out dress. So she muttered a soft thank you.
And he did stay with her the whole time, slipping his hand into hers at one point and letting her sleep on his shoulders. The silence they shared was so natural.
When Marcia woke up, he was gone.
