Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 17

"How can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you?

Would you tell me

How could it be

Any better than this?"

- Everything by Lifehouse

ROMEO

I'm sitting in the kitchen, my breakfast untouched. Hammer comes in after doing another perimeter check.

"Everything looks good so far. Some looky-loos on the outer gate but they're realizing pretty quickly that there's no way to see into this place. They're miles away from the security post."

"Hopefully they lose interest soon." I say, but Hammer doesn't look hopeful.

"Speaking of, there's been a bit of chatter out there that Iago was up to something. I don't think he's stupid enough nor does he have the artillery to try to get in here but just wanted you to know."

"Geez. What am I gonna do, Hammer?"

"About?"

"All of this? How am I going to keep her safe? I just worry that someone with the right backing might think our families will pay a ransom. And I don't think they will. They'd rather us die to prove a point. That would be better than knowing we're living peacefully out here without them."

Hammer has nothing to offer and seems to feel bad about it.

"Sorry man," I say, relaxing a bit, "this isn't your problem."

"Well you do pay me to secure this place so it is my problem. But I have to admit getting another body in here wouldn't be bad as a start but I don't think we want to open the inner circle up yet either. That's why I haven't come to you with any plans to change things. I think with the budget we have–"

"Well, that's about to change, for the better." I assure him, "We're going to do an interview via video call with a journalist I know out of Verona. She's offering us enough to keep us comfortable for the next six months. Then we'll figure out the next step."

"Are you sure you want to give an interview?"

"No. But what's your concern?"

"They can open a can of worms."

"The worms are already everywhere, Hammer." I say.

I open a drawer and pull out Baltazar's weed.

"Can you move this? Get us some extra cash?"

Hammer takes the bag and takes a whiff, "That's that Verona weed. I can get a lot for this."

Hammer throws it in his toolbox as Juliet comes down ready for the day.

"Can we get some proper sneakers delivered for me?" she asks, giving Hammer a hug hello.

She greets me with a kiss on the cheek and starts eating the food on my plate without hesitation.

"What?" she says, "You clearly weren't eating it, it's all cold."

"Our fight training starts in the living room in 5 minutes." Hammer says, "I was hoping we could fight in the backyard but there's broken glass everywhere."

We both look at each other and laugh.

"Sorry, Hammer, that was our shooting practice." I say.

"I'll order some less messy targets." Hammer says leaving the room.