Short+Story

She was running across the street to get to him, when she heard the first shot fired out. She kept running hoping it wasn’t aimed for her. Then she heard the second shot ring out in the silence, this time it hit her. She kept running though, she had to get to him. She had to prove her point that nothing was going to stop her. Then the third shot rang out, the bullet hit her again. She fell to the ground. The last thing she saw was the man she was going after looking down at her, yelling for help. ···   “Isabella Ricci. Downstairs now.” Aurelio Ricci yelled up the stairs at his daughter. “Yes, father.” Isabella replied as she came down the stairs. “You have a visitor.” He replied, gesturing towards the pallor. Isabella nodded and walked into the pallor. “Nico De Luca,” she smiled. “What are you doing here? It can’t possibly be to see me again today.” Nico smiled back at her. “I actually came to give Mr. Ricci some items that my father has acquired for him…” “Those items being guns and money from the mobs latest victims.” Isabella interrupted. “Yes, mostly from the Russian mafia.” He said without any emotion. Isabella’s stomach immediately dropped. “Please tell me Mikhail was not one of those victims.” She needed to make sure that he was okay. She needed to know that the man she was in love with was okay. “Mr. Ivanov’s son is still alive and in Russia. Or at least that is what I have heard.” Nico replied, looking at her, confused. “Why do you want to know, if you do not mind me asking?” “No reason. I just do not see a reason for this bloodshed is all and I hate to see innocent people get killed.” Isabella responded quickly, hoping the relief was not showing on her face. Aurelio walked into the pallor. “Mr. De Luca, I’d like to thank you for what you have brought me. Let your father know of my thanks as well.” “Yes, Mr. Ricci. I can pass along the message.” Nico replied. Aurelio nodded and looked at his daughter. “Isabella, could you give Mr. De Luca and I a moment please, maybe you could go help your mother in the kitchen.” “Yes Father.” Isabella said with a nod and went in to the kitchen to help her mother with supper. She helped her mother make homemade noodles for Fettuccine Alfredo. Mrs. Ricci was hard at work making the other courses, when there was a knock on the door. Isabella got up from her spot at the table to answer it. It was a Russian messenger, with a letter for her. She took it from him and thanked him, then sent him on his way. She excused herself from the kitchen and went to her room. She quickly closed the door behind her and ripped open the letter with great urgency. Isabella saw the handwriting and knew immediately that it was from Mikhail Ivanov. She read the letter. // Miss Isabella Ricci, // // I am writing this letter to tell you that I am still safe and that my father does not know of our relationship. I am hoping that one day we will be able to tell both of our families, but as for now we cannot do such a thing without getting ourselves killed. As for our next meeting, I am hoping you will be able to come to Moscow and stay with me. I have told my father that I plan on having a friend come to visit. He does not know that your father is Aurelio Ricci, head of the Italian Mafia. I have plans for you to leave tomorrow; my messenger will bring you back with him. Have a safe travel and I’ll see you when you get to Moscow. // // Your Love, // // Mikhail Ivanov // Isabella quickly put the letter with the rest of them in a box. She pulled out her trunk from under her bed and started putting clothing into it. Aurelio walked into the room. “Isabella Maria Ricci! Where do you think you are going?” He sternly said to her. “I was going to go to Russia and get some information for you Father, since I am the only one who can get into Rurik Ivanov’s household.” She replied sharply, knowing that that will get her father to let her go. “And how do you plan on doing that Isabella?” “I plan on using his son, Father.” “Do as you please, but I want that information when you get back. And it better be useful information.” “Yes, Father.” Isabella said and went back to packing. The next night Isabella left to head to Moscow with the messenger that Mikhail had sent. It was a long trip but she managed to survive it. Mikhail was waiting just outside the city limits for them. Isabella got out of the Chrysler Imperial E80, that Mikhail had let the messenger borrow. She ran right to Mikhail and into his arms. “Mikhail, I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed him slowly, making it last, since it was the only one she was going to get. Mikhail let her get away with it and pulled away with a smile. “I’ve missed you too, Bells.” He held her close then had her get back into the car. He drove the rest of the way to his house. “So who am I pretending to be this time around Mr. Ivanov?” She asked. “You’re pretending to be a friend of John Dillinger. You’re here on business for him and need a place to stay, so I offered my house as a refuge.” “So I’m pretending to be an American. Great.” Isabella said, faking excitement. Mikhail pulled into the driveway of his household and brought her and her bags inside to her room, avoiding his father. He quickly kissed her goodnight, and then left for his own room. Isabella fell asleep that night, finally happy with her life. The next afternoon she found herself wondering the streets of Moscow, only to find herself getting lost. She kept walking though, trying not to get into any trouble. Isabella managed to find trouble though. She happened to run into some of Rurik Ivanov’s men. These men happened to know she was Aurelio Ricci’s daughter. Isabella quickly kept walking, ignoring the men. She saw Mikhail coming out of one of the corner shops. “Mikhail!” She yelled his name and started running towards him. That is when Mikhail saw the three men following her with guns pointed towards her. “Isabella get down!” He yelled at her once the first shot was fired. Isabella dropped just in time for the first bullet to miss her. She kept running though. That is when she heard the second gun shot. This time though the bullet hit her in the shoulder, causing her the curse under her breath, but she kept running. She was almost to Mikhail when she heard the last gun go off. She tried to duck in time to get out of the way of the bullet, but she didn’t get down quick enough. The last bullet hit her in the chest. She fell to ground immediately. Isabella managed to get on last word out…”Mikhail.” The last thing she saw before everything faded to black was Mikhail running towards her, yelling for help. Isabella was woken up by the sound of beeping machines and a nurse poking her arm with a needle. She quickly pulled her arm away. “What are you…?” Isabella stopped mid-sentence and looked around. “Why am I in a hospital?” “Miss Ricci you were shot twice about two weeks ago. Once in the shoulder; once in the chest. The doctors were not sure if you were going to make it or not.” The young nurse explained. “Was my father informed of my being shot?” “Yes. Mr. Ivanov’s son informed him.” The nurse finished taking blood and put a fresh IV back in Isabella’s arm. Mikhail walked into the room once the nurse was finished and had left. “Your father said to tell you to get well soon and to get home as soon as you can.” He said not wanting to tell her, her father wanted her home. “Thank you Mikhail.” She managed a small smile, and then patted the bed, telling Mikhail to come sit next to her. Mikhail moved and laid next to her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling him into her. “I love you Isabella. I thought you were not going to wake up from your coma.” “Mikhail I am fine. It’s just a battle scar for what we’ve been through. That is all it is.” Isabella said unsure of herself and if she really is okay. Mikhail helped her out of the bed when the day came for Isabella to go home. “I am going to miss you Isabella.” “Mikhail do not say that. Because you know very well that I am not leaving you like that. I am going back home to get some of my items, then we are going to run off together. So do not act like we aren’t going to see each other ever again.” She said quickly, not wanting him to start worrying about it again. Mikhail nodded and kissed her goodbye as he sent her with his messenger back to Tuscany. Isabella looked back at the fading Moscow skyline behind them for the last time, because what she was about to do was going to test the limits of Mikhail’s trust for her. The Russian messenger dropped her off at the Ricci household and left immediately, needing to get other business done for the Russian mob. Isabella walked inside and went up to her father’s study. Aurelio looked up at the sound of the door opening. “Isabella you are home now. Please tell me my daughter is not to badly hurt.” “No Father. Just a couple battle scars, but what mafia member does not have battle wounds.” Isabella said with a laugh. Aurelio laughed. “That is a good way to see it Isabella. Did you enjoy your trip?” “Yes I did. Moscow is a beautiful city. And the Ivanov household is beautiful as well.” “That is very good to hear. And speaking of the Ivanov’s,” Aurelio paused. “Did you get the information I told you to get from the Ivanov boy?” “It wasn’t easy, but I got it.” Isabella told her father, laying a file on his desk. “All the information is in that file, with the pictures you asked for as well.” “Very good Isabella, you have just proved yourself to be a valuable asset to our mafia.” Isabella couldn’t help but smile to herself as she walked out of the room, tossing a final letter from Mikhail, into a box with the rest of the other letters.
 * // Battle //****// Scars //**