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“Just some radiological equipment,” Aaron said, “courtesy of the US military. This was an easy one to take care of. Don’t worry about you and Emma. You’ll be fine, I’ve got you.”
“It’s just been a lot,” I said. “Emma has been getting cabin fever, and so have I. Have you heard anything about the warring gangs?”
Aaron nodded. “They’re looking for you two, it’s true. But there was some serious bloodshed. Frank King almost died, yet again. Reed’s handiwork, this time.”
I wasn’t surprised. As close as he got to death, that man seemed unkillable
We made our way back to Emma, and Aaron patted my back. “She’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. Her father’s fine too, by the way. Shooting at him was a good call, his guards took him to safety.”
I shook my head. I didn’t even want to know who had to die for the two leaders to stay alive. I couldn’t stand the idea of either the Kings or the Reeds finding us, for the very reason that they were so violent, ruled by oppressive leaders. I knew Emma didn’t want to be part of that life anymore, and I could feel that energy in myself. I even felt sorry for her father, who I had once considered rescuing.
I was done with that way of life. I just wanted to run and be with the love of my life. I wanted to raise a small family with her, and I wanted to treasure every moment with her. Of course, I could never deny her anything, and if she wanted her father I would go and get him. There were so many challenges we faced in getting out of the mafia, but the number one problem was that we were both tied to those people. Emma’s connection to her father was the closest one, and she had an odd, toxic relationship with him.
Is that what our love will be like ten years from now?
Emma’s actions didn’t indicate that, but I was aware that she could change over time. I didn’t want us to grow apart, and I didn’t want her resenting me for shooting at her father. I had to tell her.
“You’re father’s fine,” I said. Truly, I didn’t think anyone in that environment was fine, but then again, I was hiding on a secret base in the woods somewhere off of the Chicago River.
“That’s good,” she said politely.
Emma wanted out of the base, but I had to be sure it was ok to move on. One wrong move, and I stood to lose everything. She understood this, and bore the burden of living in hiding with me. It was still hard to live this way.
I had to find out more so I went to visit Aaron. “We’ve gotta get out of here.”
Aaron immediately rolled his eyes. “You mean you want to go to your funeral?”
“I’m serious. Emma’s tired of this life. And we can’t live in fear forever.”
“Areyou afraid?”
“No,” I said. “I just need to get to the next point.”
“Did you memorize your file? What about Emma?” Aaron asked. “How bad do you really want out of here?”
I sighed, and nodded. Aaron was right. The next day I asked Emma if she had memorized her file, and she laughed.
“Of course not,” she said. “Have you memorized yours?”
“Not yet, but we need to if we want out of here,” I said.
Emma agreed, and, while we waited for the right moment to escape the country, we studied. Study sessions would have been bland with anyone else, but with her they were largely distracting. I couldn’t help but tell her how beautiful she was to me.
“You’re just saying that for one thing,” she said. “And right now, we have work to do, mister.”
Her playfulness was adorable, and I was experiencing something I hadn’t felt before. It was almost as if her love was making me younger, and I couldn’t wait to be cut off from all of the mafia stuff. Forever.
“You mean I have to memorize several different profiles?” Emma asked me one day when I was quizzing her. She was close to getting her different identities down but still missed a few. I had nailed all of mine, much to her chagrin, but I’d had more practice.
As we continued studying, we bonded, and lovemaking became a closer, more intimate activity. Emma was always stunned by my energy, and I was always eager to show her. However, we grew tired being in such a cramped space, which was suffocating at times. I would take her out through the various pathways that Aaron had shown me, and we would at least get to enjoy the scenery, even though it was rather swampy.
This grew old, and Emma started growing impatient.
Luckily, our moment finally came. Aaron came to visit us in our room to give us the news.
“The Kings and the Reeds are looking for you two in Thailand. It’s time to head that way,” Aaron said.
Though it may have been counterintuitive, going to Thailand was the perfect move. Aaron had rented the house I bought for myself and Emma there.
