Our Cruel Hearts

Chapter Two

I'm violently shaken awake by a flight attendant a few hours later. The plane has already been drained of all the passengers and apparently my sleeping pill worked overtime. I hastily gather my things and apologise to her profusely as I get off the plane. I am in a state of disorientation and stand just outside the gate looking at my phone to try and figure out where I'm supposed to pick up my luggage. People are moving all around me, bumping into me and swearing under their breath. I've never been in an airport alone and this is not an experience I am particularly fond of. A woman taps on my shoulder, "Did you just get off that plane?" She asks, pointing toward my plane.

"Yes I did, why?" She only points across the airport to the baggage reclaim area that I just now notice.

"Thank you-" I turn to her but she's already headed off in the opposite direction.

Half an hour later I've claimed my luggage and am waiting outside for an uber to arrive when it starts pouring rain, my sneakers are soaked first and discomfort immediately sets in. I'm tracking the uber and it says he's 2 minutes away, so I refuse to head back into the airport. Five minutes later he pulls up and nearly soaks me in road water as he comes to a stop. I throw my bags onto the backseat out of convenience and sit right next to them. The drive to my hotel is short and each window is fogged up, I'm barely able to decipher which route we take. He pulls up outside the hotel foyer and practically shoves me out the car - he just asked me to hurry up. I grab my bags and the rain is still pouring perilously. The doorman rushes out to grab my bags and holds the door open for me, I grunt out a thank you I'm not quite sure he hears over the rain. The receptionist at the front desk has perfectly tanned skin and waist length brown hair, she looks expensive. Not a look I resemble at the moment. I approach the desk, my sneakers squelching with each step. She does a double take and looks me up and down with the most disapproving look on her face. She clears her throat and speaks with unadulterated privilege and disgust, lacing her voice, "And who might you be?"

"Ayla Reyes,"

Her face immediately drops in realisation. "Miss Reyes, glad to see you've arrived safely." She smiles with the most ingenuine smile I've ever seen and hands me my key, I head up to my hotel room and struggle with the key card for a moment before I get the door open. I push it open with a grunt and the metal drags across the concrete floor.

The room smells of fresh flowers and fresh sheets, the room has floor to ceiling windows that allow the moonlight to bleed into the room. I wonder what strings Luca pulled to get me here, he wouldn't answer any of my questions before the flight. I scan the room for anything out of the ordinary. There's an envelope on the marble kitchen counter, I cross the room to it and lean against the counter as I peel it open. The cold from the counter permeates through the clothing that hangs at my backside. It smells like wood, like Luca. It's expensive though, the paper feels rich between my fingertips.

Ayla,

You have each of our cell phone numbers in the notebook on your bed, just in case of an emergency. Please call Dom often to fill her in, I think she might drive us all insane if you don't. Hide your weapons, remember you're a normal assistant for however long you're staying in New York. Be smart, remember your training.

Es fortis, Omnia es, haedus.

I fold up Luca's letter and keep it in my hand as I explore the rest of the room, I make sure it is safe and secure before I settle down. I place the letter into the drawer of my bedside table and rest my eyes for a couple minutes. It's 2am, I wouldn't want to wake Dom and check in right now. I'll leave that for later.

I wake to the ring of my phone ricocheting through my brain, I groan as I wake up, my eyes trying to adjust to the light streaming in from outside. I forgot to close the curtains last night, hell I forgot to change out of my soaked clothing too. I scramble for my phone, not sure where I put it down last night.