The Art of Love

"You don't need to run from me"

Fabri listened to his man explain the situation which he analyzed quickly before standing and waving the man off. He walked over to the dining table and resumed his dinner. "It seems your ward, my daughter; is on her way here. Apparently she has become aware that her husband lives. I'm not sure if that's a good thing at this point or not. In any case I expect that you will leave me out of the conversation. She doesn't need to know I organized much of this. I already have a history of meddling in her life as it is". Osman nodded and finished his wine. Tonight would be a long night after all. He only hoped that when all was said and done Sanem would forgive him. Thinking about it as plainly as he could he hoped she could and would forgive Can too. He had been as much a victim in this mess of intrigue and lies as she was. He had only wanted to keep her safe and he had to respect the man for that. They had both danced with the devil in order to make sure Sanem was protected. Fabri's very existence was the reason she would most likely look over her shoulder the rest of her life no matter how much she disassociated herself from him. At this moment Can and Sanem were running from another of Fabri's enemies and although Fabri seemed to have spy's everywhere he hadn't seen this one coming quite this way. Knowing the man as he knew him now he knew he wouldn't tolerate failure and he would find the kink in the chain. He finished his wine and looked up at the older and still handsomely complicated man in front of him and thanked Allah that he wasn't in his sights.

They had been traveling for about an hour when Can pulled off the road and into a well lit strip center filled with parked cars and lots of activity from what she could tell by his ongoing narrative. She had reserved her conversations to no more than a few comments. Part of her wanted to lay into him and tell him exactly how she felt and the other part simply relished the sound of his voice and the fact that he was with her. It made for a very confusing and emotional dilema not to mention that they we're running away from some new or old danger. No doubt also brought on by her biological father. Can had managed to steal a car parked at the pier and hot wired it to get them out of the area. Traveling up the coast they knew they had only a short amount of time to get off the beaten track but they also needed fuel and shoes for her. When he found the diner he also told her that there was a sporting goods store at the end and that he would manage to get her some shoes. A half hour later he strolled up to the car as she sat waiting for him and listening in vain to all the goings on outside of the car expecting some thug to abduct her at any moment. When he opened the door she gasped but he quickly announced himself calming her rampant nerves. He handed her what felt like sneakers and she turned to him, "how did you get these- you have no money, no cash. Can?" He soon told her as matter of factly as possible "I stole them, now hurry up and put them on. Let's get inside, I need to make a call".  Sanem nodded her head and made quick work of putting the sneakers on that fit her perfectly. It surprised her to note that he had known her size but then again, he would. He had been adept at all that and had had the time to study her without her knowing it these many months. She was about to say something when he pushed her down into the seat. "Stay down. Something is happening out there". He pulled the hoodie over his head and sunk down into the chair making himself appear shorter than he really was. A car passed slowly down the aisle of parked cars across from where they sat and turned left driving slowly down their aisle. The seconds ticked on as the car rolled by. She felt her nerves about to crack. Then she felt Can reaching for her hand and signing into it. He quickly signed that they needed to get out of the car slowly and make their way around the parked cars and behind the strip center and into the neighborhood beyond. They needed to do it now and quickly with her climbing over the seat and exiting out in his side. She felt her stomach tighten in knots but nodded her head in agreement. She heard the door open softly and the rush of cool air sweep in. She heard the noise of the major street beyond and the buzzing of the parking lot lights. She felt Can tug on her as she slid across her seat, over the small console and into the seat he had vacated and then out of the car. He held her hand in one of his and positioned her to the right of him protected by the rows of cars between them and the car that had once again rolled down their aisle. She could hear the engine and knew it was the same car. Her hearing had become so precise now that her eyesight was impaired and she found some comfort knowing that she could rely on it instead. Can pulled her forward and in a crouch they both wound their way through the aisles of cars until he told her to stand and slowly walk until he told her to stop. She paced her steps to his and gripped his hand tightly as he led the way. "Sanem, we're about to walk into an arcade, there are lots of people and so many different sections that nobody will think twice about remembering us. Please just follow my lead" again she nodded and followed him. She could hear the busy noise of atmosphere and then heard as he explained to the attendant just inside the doors that she, his wife, had left sweater inside one of the washroom stalls. He must have motioned to her because the attendant soon said, "oh of course, which washroom did you use?" Can wasn't sure b it was Sanem who interrupted and save the moment, "oh honey you have the worst sense of direction. Miss, could you just point us in the direction of the ladies room nearest the food court. I know I used that one after we ate". The attendant replied "ok no problem, would you like for me to have someone look with you?" To which Sanem replied "no need, I need to use the ladies room again anyway". Her response seemed to satisfy the attendant and she waved them in and indicated to Can what direction to follow. Can soon pulled her toward the ladies room and when they turned the corner stopped and pulled her to the side. "What made you say the food court Sanem? That at the back of the arcade". Sanem smirked at him and said. "Obviously you've never worked in fast food. Every food court in any mall not arcade has exits to the backside of the building in order to receive food deliveries and throw out their trash and old food. We'll be able to exit the arcade that way and not have to leave through the front". His lack of response and then the quick kiss he left in her temple told her he appreciated her smarts just then. He squeezed her hand tight and pulled her down an aisle that led them toward the busy and noisy food court. They passed three different sections before he found what he was looking for. "Sanem, I found the doors that lead to the back. I'm hoping employee parking and a route out of here is back there. Are you ready?"... Sanem squeezed his hand and answered ..."yes!".