The Way to Escape

"Where the hell are they?" Stanley Johnson shouted upon learning that everyone had escaped right under their noses.

"You didn't tell me a top assassin was engaged to the Glass family's daughter," said Caine as he took a sip to calm his nerves.

Stanley Johnson, fully grasping the situation, gave a strained smile. "I thought you'd handle it. How hard can it be to kill one man?"

"It's hard when he's as well-trained as any assassin at my level. How many assassins do you think there are in the world? You should've known he was good when he single-handedly created an organization that rivals those dealing with the High Order. Now you'll have to inform your partners that the mission to kill the leader of the Sons of Anarchy failed and brace for the consequences."

"Now that I think about it, he didn't present himself as an organization leader, which means he wasn't representing their ideals at the time. In that case, we could've talked. But it seems like he doesn't want to take that path, so now he has to prepare himself."

"It'll all work out..." Stanley Johnson replayed the events in his mind, focusing on a particular detail that clarified everything.

The Sons of Anarchy had known from the beginning that they would intervene. They hadn't communicated it with words but through actions.

"Interesting. Now everything makes sense…"

…

The gunfire, explosions, and chaos in the city left everyone on edge.

"There's not much to worry about; your wounds aren't serious," Susie said as she finished bandaging the last of Dante's injuries and then sat on a couch pressed against the wall.

Dante searched for something to wear and, finding a T-shirt, slipped it on. "Now show me; I'll help you treat your wound."

"There's nothing to worry about."

"Are you afraid to show me a bit of your skin? I didn't think Miss Susie was so conservative. You've seen all of me, so it's only fair for you to be just as open," Dante teased as he looked at Susie. She stared at him for a moment before nodding.

Her injuries healed quickly, but Susie's hadn't. Dante helped her remove the top part of her shirt, revealing a bleeding wound.

Dante noticed tattoos on Susie's skin, symbols of her history and her status as a mafia princess. Showing no emotion, he first cleaned the wound on her skin.

"It seems the bullet didn't do much damage. I thought your suit was resistant to that kind of ammunition." Dante worked carefully, unsure of the last time he'd been this close to a woman, leaving his preferences wide open.

Susie wasn't nervous either; small things like this meant nothing to her with the training she'd undergone since childhood. Observing Dante's calm demeanor, she knew he wasn't acting foolishly.

After cleaning the wound, Dante gently ran his fingers over it, this time using his special Japanese medicine. Susie felt a cooling sensation when the cream made contact with her skin, which brought relief and visibly relaxed her expression.

When he finished, Dante applied medication and wrapped the wound in a bandage.

"You'll be fine in a few hours…" Dante stood, walked to a wall lined with wines, and, turning off the light, slumped onto the couch.

Susie didn't expect Dante to drink, but she said nothing. Instead, she took the bottle from his hands and took a long sip.

"There were glasses, but drinking this way works too…" Dante joked lightly, feeling a bit awkward.

Susie noticed the tattoos on Dante's arms and asked, "What do those tattoos mean?"

"Oh, um, these are my sins and blessings…" Dante didn't expect Susie to understand but gave the briefest explanation possible.

Susie poured Dante a drink and took another swig directly from the bottle. "Many of my father's workers died today. The worst part is we didn't see this attack coming."

"This is our life. Anyone can die at any moment."

Dante hadn't drunk in a long time, but he felt comforted knowing he was with someone he trusted.

"You seem well-prepared for any situation. Is your work that hard?" Susie asked as she looked at Dante, who had gone silent.

Dante smiled faintly and said, "Doing this job means expecting betrayal. To prevent it, I've done horrendous things, and what happened today is the result of all my efforts to protect my family."

Susie took Dante's hand, thinking about how she believed she would die alongside her brother. Yet, Dante had come to her rescue, and she didn't know why. "Do you really want me to be your woman?"

"To be honest, I've thought about it a lot. I don't think I'll find anyone better than you…" Dante looked at Susie's delicate hand and felt a profound sense of peace.

"Is that why you came to help me?"

"Yes, you've understood me all this time, and I fear you may be the only one. Losing you would be unbearable."

At that moment, Susie set the bottle aside and asked, "Do you want to kiss me?"

"Are you sure about that?" Dante stared at her as she slowly moved closer.

Without answering, Susie took the first step, giving Dante a soft kiss, which he returned slowly.

In no time, the hidden flame within them ignited. Both unleashed a passion they hadn't indulged in for an eternity, letting it consume them in that moment.