"Sorry, sir."
"It's Nis. What were you told of this-" I gestured, hoping he didn't notice the sheets were torn from the bed or the table with Artemisia's bra still on it. Somehow, I doubted this greenhorn would notice if his own shoe was untied.
"Just we're transporting a high profile target somewhere downstream. Go time is 0800."
"Care to tell me why you're two hours ahead of schedule then?"
The guy looked as if he were about to choke. "Man, my wife gave birth last night-" I had an alarm set, and I just moved, didn't even think to look at the time.
Artemisia sighed. Nis looked ready to throw something. "I swear to God and on my Oma's grave we are not this disorganized!"
Knowing he was talking about his organization as a whole; Artemisia couldn't help but begin to laugh uncontrollably.
Gasping for air, she pulled at him trying to speak. "It's okay, we have one too."
She couldn't stop thinking about her little cousin who tried so hard to be cut from a bad man's clothes, but whatever he touched turned into a catastrophe. He was precious to her for all the reasons he couldn't fit in the underworld.
Some men's feet ran toward darkness, while other men tripped them up so badly they had no choice but to stay in the light, and for that, she was grateful.
The New Guy, as they'd taken to calling him had driven there, parked his car in the lot as expected and just traipsed up the stairs like nothing doing.
No plan, just action.
Nis' mind worked, trying to come up with a solution that didn't involve them being shot. Dude had a new baby to get home to.
He'd finally figured out what had his nerves on high alert. Artemisia's brother had found them. He recognized him from the pages of family he studied to prepare for his role.
"Give me your shirt and hat." He decided at last.
"Hunh?"
Artemisia blanched. You saw something, didn't you?
"Yeah." He weighed telling her it was one of her brothers in case things got a little heavy.
"I can tell from your face that it's my family. Isn't it? Isn't it," she repeated.
I nodded, saying nothing more.
"You know who?"
Nis rattled off the name.
Artemisia sat down on the bed hard. "Let me go to him."
Nis knew it was a gamble. She could double cross him and leave, she could have them blast in guns ablazing and do some gang style decorating or she could save their lives. He'd made the first mistake already in falling into her arms. He wasn't keen on making another.
"We have nothing if there is no trust, Nis." She squeezed his hand. "This is the only way."
"He may very well kill you."
Artemisia made her way around the room, slowly gathering her things. His back was turned when she took a worn ring he had removed earlier and placed it on her thumb. A reminder of at least one night of freedom.
She opened the door, and slid into the night. Nis stood by the window and watched his new found world walk away.