I was awoken by the phone. The landline phone that was only used for emergencies. I didn’t get calls on that phone. The only one who knew that number was…

I scrambled out of bed. And I nearly ripped the whole thing off the wall.

“I can’t leave.” I said when I heard breathing. “You know-”

“Momma is dead.”

A roaring started in my ears. If they found her then I would be next. I didn’t travel like my brother. I didn’t even go outside. Everything was delivered. Everything I did was under a false name. Years of my existence hidden behind a wall of code mother has erected. And she was gone.

“Meet me in the vineyard.”

Rizero replied but I couldn’t hear it. The phone was already dust in my hands. And I leaned against the wall next to the hole I’d made. And I tried not to panic at the thought of going out for the first time in 37 years. Instead I did the breathing techniques the therapist had taught me. For exactly one minute I stood there with closed eyes and breathed.

I could hear them. My neighbors startled whispers. The calls to the police department. Even the landlord stomping up the stairs. He didn’t even make it to my floor.

When my front door burst open, I was already on the fire escape with my go bag in hand. There were people with guns guarding all the ground floor exits expecting me to run for the streets.

But the roofs were more to my liking. I easily cleared the 20 foot jumps. And I ran.

There was so much space. The air was so clean. And the city so beautiful under the night sky. It had been so long since I’d seen the stars. It made me lightheaded. Made me want to crawl in someone’s window and under the bed. But my brother needed me.

So, I slipped down a drain pipe and into an alley. I picked the lock off a door at the very end and found myself in a storage room. Huge wine barrels filled the space. And I had no trouble moving them from a newly paved spot on the floor. I dug my fingers around the spot, digging out the new floor. And I slipped into the old tunnel replacing the floor as I did so.

It was quiet. Dark. But there was no need for light as I followed the hint of fresh air with my nose. After an hour run I arrived in open air. And I stumbled back into the cave. Just one minute of breathing. One minute to calm my heart. To stop my shaking. My brother needed me.

I stepped through the overgrown plants into the vineyard. Looking down at the ground I followed the sparkling stones set into the earth. Finally I was at the center where my brother waited with his hands up.

“Sorry, sis.” He said without turning away from the five people aiming guns at him. “They caught up to me.”

The leader stepped forward, her gun trained on me. “Now stop right there, Miss Forte. We’ve got you in your brother in our sights. Now if you come quietly there will be no need to spill blood tonight. Now raise your hands.”

I let out a breathe. My hands were shaking now. I looked to my brother. “Is this the best option?”

He nodded eyes still trained on the five people facing us. Only five! I chuckled. And I took a step forward. All guns shifted to me.

“Stay where you are lady.” The captain said. But her eyebrows had drawn together. “We’ll come to you. Now raise your hands.”

I laughed again and rushed her. Bullets pierced my skin. But it didn’t stop my punch. Her skull shattered under my fist. And I ran. A single kick broke ribs. An elbow broke a collar bone. And my heel pulverized a shoulder.

The bullets stopped and I turned to my brother talking to the last one alive. I didn’t know what he said. The roaring was too loud. So I closed my eyes and breathed for exactly a minute.

Rizero tapped on my shoulder. “I’ve got their boss’ coordinates. If we move now we can end this tonight.”

“And then I can go back?”

“I‘ve got another safe house for you in America. No one will bother you there.”

I let out a breathe. “Then let’s go.”