“Stay down.” The man whisper-yelled as another bullet hit the sidewalk to her left, pressing her lower and tighter into the stone planter as if he could keep her safer that way. With each gunshot she shook harder. How was this happening?
Only seconds ago it had been a normal day. She had been walking to work with her big shoulder bag bumping against her hip in a comfortable rhythmic pattern, pleased that she would be getting to work on time without rushing.
Next thing she knew this guy came out of nowhere, enveloped her in a huge hug, pulling her down to the planter, at the same time gunshots started ringing out. The noise made her repeatedly cringe, wishing she could melt into the cold stone pressing into her back. It wasn’t until the man who had tackled her glanced over and forced her to make eye contact that she came to herself. She didn’t know him.
“Are you ok?” He asked as he held her gaze steadily. He didn’t even flinch at all the noise.
Megan couldn’t stay focused. Her gaze jumped from him to the people screaming around them, to where she could possibly run to escape, back to him, then on to any and everything else until he gripped her chin with a firm but gentle hand.
“Megan, I need you to look at me and verbally confirm that you are ok.” His calm voice broke through the chaos rebounding in her mind. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I…no. I’m not hurt, I think.” Megan blinked, staring up into his eyes like they were a lifeline. He returned it, as if he knew that she needed the steady reassurance. He continued to stare as her senses struggled to make sense of everything that was happening.
“We need to move.” He declared. And suddenly his face was right in front of hers. “Now.”
“Who are you? How do you know my name?” She pulled away, shrinking further into the cold stone.
Immediately she was distracted from her own question by the wry smile on his rugged face. “Now?” His head tilted to the side as he asked.
“What?” She gave a little shake to clear away her rather vivid imagination urging her to lean forward just a little and give him a quick kiss. He was so close and so gorgeous, it was hard to resist. Megan barely had the presence of mind to take his outstretched hand.
“We have seconds to get you out of here before that guy realizes that you aren’t hit or worse.” He rushed to explain.
“ME?!” Megan’s heart dropped. “What did I do?”
“You didn’t. Your boss did. Please let me get you safe before we go through what happened.”
At her nod he hauled her to her feet. There was a slight pause in the gunshots.
“How did you…” She began to ask as he pulled her quickly around the nearest corner.
“Not now!” The man insisted as they ran down the street.
It was several blocks before he flagged down a taxi and immediately directed the driver to go to a high rise building across town.
Megan flopped back into the seat and began to cry. While she had attempted to sob quietly he still noticed. Gently his arm came around her as he pulled her slowly over to him. The soft embrace only caused her to cry more.
When the driver noticed, he drove faster, probably wanting them out of his car before she did anything hysterical.
“Who? Who are you?” Megan whispered up into his ear.
“Dante.” He whispered back.
“You don’t look like a Dante.” She confessed as she leaned back into him. He was so comfortable.
He chuckled softly as he squeezed her close for an instant. “I promise I will do my best to explain everything as soon as we get to my apartment.”
“Your apartment?” Megan repeated.
“Safest place I know.”
She nodded. That made sense.
Once the cab dropped them off in front of a tall apartment building Dante slid his arm protectively around her, leading her into the building and to the elevator. It only took a few short minutes to make it safely into his small apartment. Megan plopped down on the couch.
“What is going on? Why do you think that guy was trying to shoot me?” Megan immediately started sputtering out her questions that had been racing through her head since they had made it to the cab.
Dante shook his head. “Let me explain. It should answer all or most of your questions. I am Mr Alvarino’s head of security.”
“My boss?” She interrupted in surprise.
He nodded and continued. “This morning I went to his home to relieve the night guard, only to discover both the guard and Mr Alvarino dead. After reporting it to the police I was looking for clues as to why they had been killed. Several files were missing and I recalled a conversation I had with Mr Alvarino several nights ago when he mentioned he may have stumbled into a criminal’s business by accident and that he had given you the files for safekeeping. So I immediately tracked you down.”
“How come I’ve never met you before? And why would he give files to me? And how did he get mixed up with criminals, he’s a graphics designer?!”
“Do you have the files?”
“You didn’t answer any of my questions. And how do I know you are who you say and not one of the criminals after these mysterious files?”
He sighed. “I haven’t met you before this because I usually am more behind the scenes, orchestrating who goes where and clearing venues for Mr Alvarino to visit. I don’t have time for field work.”
“Then why come out today?” Megan tilted her head, curious.
His head dropped slightly before he raised his gaze to look straight at her. “I didn’t want you to be a casualty.”
“We’ve never met.” She pointed out.
He shrugged. “I’ve seen your personnel file. You were cleared through me just like everyone else. I’d say I know you pretty well.”
“And so you decided based on my picture and a few facts in a folder that you would ditch your desk and come dodge bullets to save me?” Megan laughed at the absurdity.
His gaze held strong, catching her heart on fire with his intensely sincere eyes. “Yes.”
“Oh.”
