Chapter 27: Pursalt and Protection
trabel’s heart taved at the tone down the crowded street after the thit. The figure in the black hoode was already several paces ahead, alpping seamlessly through the mass of podesians, his moments skill and practiced.
“Stop” sheshouted, her voice nove le drowned out by the battling crowd around her.
The thirt glanced back for a split secosed, reevaling just a sliver of his face under the hoodle. She caught a glimpse of intense eyes, focused and unafraid, almost as if he was enjoying the chase on held her determination.
She pushed herself hander, dodging aromes people, her gazetted the retreating figure. Her bag soning at his side, a tantalising reminder of what was at stake. She couldn’t let hh disappo, not with that flash ter
He veered suddenly down a narrow alleyway, and she followed, barely slowing as she turned the pened the shadows. Her puke pounded as she nied to clear the distancebetween them.
The air was colder here, and the dim light from the street barely
The thier dated left, then right, moving through the maze of alleys with a familiarity that made her suspect he had done this many times before. She stumbled but regained her balance, her eyes locked on the black hoodie moving theal
Just when it seemned she was gaining on him, he vuilted over a stack of crates, his figure blending momentarily with the shadows. Babel hesitated, her breath coming in ragged gasps, but she forced herselt forward, lambering over the crates after him.
The chase seemed to stretch on, each tum and comer pusing her deeper into intendiar territory. She nearly lost him twice, his dark hoodie a deeting glimpse in the mose of alleys and side streets
Then, she rounded another eser, he disappeared entirely. Her heart sank. Had she lost him?
But then she saw hangam, standing near the end of the alleyway, silhouetted against the faint glow of a streetlight. He turned slightly, and her gaze del to his left wrist, where the faint outline of a tattoo—an eve, bold and menacing–stood act against his pale skin.
In that split second, he met her gaze. She could almost fool the disidan in his eyes before he tumed and bolted inta
She stumbled after him, but her pace was flagging her breaths coming hard and fast. Her muscles burned, and her legs threatened to give out just as she was about to lose hope, a familiar figure appeared at the alley entrance.
He moved with the ease and confidence of someone accustomed to action, his eyes darting between her and the thief in an instal
Without a word, Aberts langed toward the thief, who, startled by the sudden appearance of a second pursuer, hesitated for just a second too long. The hectation was all Alberto needed the grabbed hold of Isabel’s bagyarking it free from the thief’s grip
The third stumbled but managed to twist away from Alberto’s grap, and with one last look over his shoulder, bedarted down another alley, his figure swallowed by the shadows
Alberto watched him disappear before ting his attention to Isabel, his expression a mixture of concem and mild annoyance. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voce lour but carrying ancle of gener
Isabel nodded, het breaths still cousing in gasps. “Yeah…….yeah, 1 think so.”
He held out her bag his gor studying her carefully, she took it, her fingers trembing sightly as she checked the contents. The flash drie was still there, hidden among her other dings.Bellflooded through her, though she masked it with a nod of thanks.
Alberto’s eyes are owed slightly as if reading something in her expression. “Care to explain what you were doing out here alone?”
belforced a casual smile. “I was just grabbing some coffee, trying to clear my head, I didn’t expect to be followed, let alone chased.”
Alberto’s expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp. “This isn’t New York, bel’s wise to be more careful about where you go and who you meet.”
She hesitated, then asked the question, nagging at her. “How did you happen to be here?”
Atant smile touched his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I dollowed you,” he admitted, his voice matter–of–fact. “Matteo asked me to keep an eye on you and make sure you stayed sate.”
She stiffened, a flicker of cation mixing with her lingering relief. So you’ve been following me this whole me?”
“Only when necessary,” he replied, his tone unnuffled “you have a way of attracting trouble, it seems.”
She met his gaze, searching for any sign that he knew about the flash her, but he seemed genuinely obvious, nesly concerned for her diety,
“Thank you,” she said finally, her voice softer. “For getting my bagback”
Alberto inclined his head, his eyes glinting with a rare waith. “past be cautious, Isabel. Not everyone here is as they seem. Trust can be a dangerous thing in this world”
babbed his words, her mind whirling with the implications. Had he overheard her conversation with Johnny? Did he know about the information on the flash drive? the did, he gave no indication. He merely looked at her with that same strade, sent reminder of his loyalty to Matteo.
“Shall i escort you home?” he offered, gesturing toward his car parked nearby.
She hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Yes, I’d appreciate that ”
As they walked toward the car, Insense of detecuritati
settle within her. The close call had shaken her, but it had also steeled her resolve. She had come too far to
And as she climbed to the car beside Alberto, she knew that this was only the begining of a journey that would test every ounce other courage–and her judgment.
