Shielding You ("The Shadows" Series: Book II)

3.

The yellowing bathroom floor turned red as freezing water cascaded down her front. She kept leaning on the wall for support and inhaled sharply when the injuries started to burn more than ever.

After what felt like forever, she stumbled her way out of the bathroom and through the small room, collapsing near her supplies kept beside the side table. She felt thankful for the dim light since it kept her from seeing the degree of injuries she had got this time. She could feel them enough to last an impression on her senses.

It was a confrontation because she had not counted the number of men in the hideout properly. Cursing her brain for not checking minutely, she started tending to her wounds.

A deep knife cut, a bullet graze on her upper arm, and several blue-black marks from the hand-to-hand combat adorned her body in different places, hiding the previous marks. Fortunately, none of them were in need of stitches.

It took her more time than she had calculated since she had to stop herself from passing out of pain. As the first ray of sunlight slipped through the small gap between the closed curtains, she stepped out of the room with her small bag. Her long coat did the job it was required to do as it swooshed along her body with her long, strides.

She had already paid for the room so she had no worries of checking out of the place, or precisely, confront the girl at the reception desk. Walking out the door, she took a detour, making sure she wasn't being followed and after finding the coast clear, went to the nearby abandoned building. Her eyes caught the sight of her hidden motorbike and closing the distance, she climbed her black beauty and rode out, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of the bandages wrapped around her torso, arms, and thighs. She was used to it.

A few miles from the motel, a drone was surveying the damage done to the hideout where they were going to barge for their mission.

'What the hell happened in there?!!' Matteo was the first to express what all three were thinking.

They kept their gazes fixed on the screen as they saw the dead men and signs of struggle and awkward position of the bodies. Through the CCTV that was hacked by Matteo, they observed the mayhem in different rooms.

'There was definitely some kind of beef going on between them. Who else would be responsible for this?' Matteo guessed but got no reply from the others. He looked at them after he had flown his drone back to where there car was standing on the side of the road, checking if their were any survivors around the premises of the building or around its few kilometers radius. After the drone's arrival, Angelo started driving back to their house. Matteo transferred the photos he had taken of the site to his hard disk and shut his laptop. They would be discussing this matter in the safety of their office.

'Am I the only one feeling hungry?' He asked to which Angelo nodded.

'Let's stop at the gas station. I'll get something for us, because if I don't, I'll probably die.'

'You won't. Besides we just ate at Lily's.'

'I digested all that. We're stopping. End of discussion.'

Angelo frowned before glancing at the backseat through the mirror. Lorenzo sat as still as a statue with his eyes closed and chin resting on his fist, legs crossed one above the other.

A Perfect Statue.

Matteo saw Angelo's glance and also noticed Lorenzo.

'Will you be seeing Ryan's mother?' Matteo threw the question not expecting any answer. Lorenzo opened his eyes and kept his gaze away.

'We're here.' Angelo announced and in the blink of an eye, Lorenzo was out of the car and was making his way towards the convenience store. Matteo and Angelo exchanged glances before getting to their own work. Matteo followed Lorenzo while Angelo decided to fill the tank.