Page 104 of There Is No Love

Alora

Wecrepttothe edge of the roof and peered over. I pulled the binoculars out, looking across at the trucks. Women and girls piled out of the building and into them. Some looked barely twelve. My blood boiled. “There are so many. What are we going to do?”

“We can't get them all out. We can only get one truck.” Arturo said.

“I looked at him, what if they're both here?”

He shook his head. “I don't think Charlie is here. These are Gabriele’s girls; our intel tells us Stefano’s are already being moved and split to different places but staying here in the US. This is your only chance to get Elena before she’s moved out of the country.”

I nodded, searching the faces looking for her. Would I even recognize her if I saw her? What if she was already on a truck and we missed her? I glanced at Arturo looking at the picture of her, scanning faces just as I was.

The trucks were full and started to pull off. “Shit, what if we missed her?"

"What if she's not even here?”

“Just keep looking, don't give up.”

I took a deep breath, scanning the scared faces. “Wait.” I pulled the binoculars away, looking across then pulling them back to my face. “I think that’s her. A third truck from the left, standing at the warehouse door helping girls out of the building.”

He looked where I was pointing, looked at the picture, then at me. “You think?”

“That picture is really old, I saw her just a few years ago. That’s her.”

He nodded. “Alright, as soon as she gets on a truck, we go.”

We stood there watching the trucks pull off. Five in total, the last one filling up now. A young girl fell, tears streaming down her face. Elena picked her up, and carried her into the truck, a man shut it and got into the passenger seat.

“Alright, it's time, are you ready?” Arturo asked. I nodded.

He grabbed the walkie, putting it to his mouth. “Redbird, blue truck. South on Franklin. GO!”

We took off, down the fire escape on the other side and to the SUV. Arturo sped off. “Hold on.” I gripped the handle as he sped around the corner, getting behind the truck. He sped up beside it. I held my gun pointing at the guy driving, motioning for him to pull over. He jerked the wheel, knocking into us. Arturo gripped the wheel tight, pulling back to the road.

Marco and Franco pulled up on the other side of the truck, he jerked ramming into them. “We have to get him to slow down, take him out. He’s not going to stop.”

Arturo nodded and sped up, getting in front of him. He slowed down a little and the truck barreled into us, sending us forward. “Shit." He shouted. “Alora, take out the front driver's side tire.”

“Won't they flip?”

“No, it’s too loaded down, too heavy they won't flip.”

I nodded and rolled the window down, pushing my way out. Shots started firing at me, and Marco and Franco started shooting back at them. I quickly got back into the car. “Dammit.” I sighed and took a deep breath. I looked behind me steadying my breathing watching the truck. I closed my eyes and took one last deep breath. I pushed out the window, sitting on the edge, and raised my gun, taking three shots, finally hitting the tire on the third. The truck spun before finally coming to a stop on the side. I got back inside, as Arturo spun around, heading back towards the truck. Shots rang out as Marco and Franco fired into the bed of the truck, taking shots on as well. Arturo stopped and barreled out. The door swung open, and I took three shots, taking out the driver, and the passenger lying dead in the truck. I ran around the truck Marco was kneeling with Franco in his arms. I ran over and knelt beside him, looking down at Franco. Blood poured from his chest. “Franco don't you die.”

He shook his head. “Too late. You take Gabriele out, you step up and take over, you hear me?” He coughed a little trickle of blood poured from his nose. “Promise me.”

I nodded. “I promise.”

“Alora, go make sure the girls are okay,” Marco said.

I stood, running to the back of the truck. Arturo was there and he popped open the door. He looked at me. “Franco?”

I shook my head, and he nodded. I watched as the door rolled up and the girls all cowered at the front. Most of them were shaking and crying.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now. We are taking you somewhere safe.” I could tell they didn't believe me, but I knew in time they would. I looked around trying to find Elena, but I didn't see her. Did we screw up, was this the wrong truck? “Elena?” No one moved, they all just sat there, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. “Elena please, tell me you’re in here.”

Movement from the middle, I watched her stand up and start moving forward. “I’m Elena.” She brought her hand up as she walked to the door, blocking the sun from her eyes. She pulled her face away, closing her eyes. Arturo reached up, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her down.

I looked at her, tears pouring down my face, my entire body shaking. She blinked, her hand going up to her chest. “Alora?”

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