Chapter 16 - Natalia

Out of reflex, Clara clenched onto Cyra and he laughed at the reaction. Clara had never seen such swift driving. The car had stopped so close to them that any lesser skilled driver would have squashed them between the building or run them over. However, Cyra was not only unfazed, he was laughing at Clara for being startled.

Clara watched in confusion as the door opened and what emerged were... high heels? The driver exited the vehicle with elegance and grace. When she stepped from behind the door it revealed that the high heels were actually heeled thigh-high boots, the bottoms of which were red. She was wearing a strapless leather dress that was shorter than Cyra's t-shirt that Clara was wearing, with a deep plunge neckline showing more cleavage than Clara thought was even possible. Her long black hair whipped about her as she removed her sunglasses to glare at Clara.

Clara gazed at her with her mouth open, too mesmerized to move. It wasn't so much her looks that captivated Clara, sure this girl was pretty, but it was her dangerous aura that held on tight to Clara refusing her mouth to make out a sound. It was like watching a beautiful panther closing in on you, and all you could do is watch and hope that the magnificent beast shows mercy.

"Cyra." The women nodded. Her voice was sharp and had a strong accent that Clara couldn't quite pick up. Maybe Ukrainian? Clara thought.

"Hello Natalia." Cyra answered without removing his arms from around Clara.

Clara shyly removed herself from Cyra's embrace and faced Natalia, embarrassed that another person had witnessed such an intimate moment. When she felt composed enough she finally spoke.

"Hey, I'm Clara. Nice to.." Natalia put her hand up to stop Clara from speaking further as she walked towards them, not breaking eye contact with Cyra. "Cyra, dear how can I be of service to you?"

"Natalia, this is Clara." Natalia grudgingly looked towards Clara and sighed.

"Yes, and?" She answered, boredom and annoyance dripping from her mouth. "She is your new skank, no? Why I must meet her Cyra?"

"Excuse me?!" Clara bit back but Natalia only rolled her eyes and sighed again.

"She is my partner and very powerful too I might add." Cyra smiled at Clara while he spoke which seemed to calm her a bit.

"Powerful? Cyra what do you speak? She is sack of dough!" Natalia's accent seemed to get more defined the more annoyed she got.

"And Clara, this is Natalia, my associate. She is a black belt in more arts than I can keep track of and the best sniper the world has ever seen." The boasting from Cyra had also made Natalia calm down a smidge.

"I need your help darling." Cyra led Natalia to Clara's wrecked car and explained everything to her from the beginning.

Clara, still holding the crinkled paper, stared at the phone number and sighed. She wondered what they would do once they found Emor. Surely Cyra might try to kill him. Would Clara be able to stop Cyra and convince him that prison was a better option? She shoved the phone number deep inside the insole of her shoe.

Cyra walked back to Clara and explained that Natalia was to follow them to Clara's apartment and drop off the red car that Clara would be using for the time being.

"I don't think she likes me very much." Clara winced.

"Natalia is just protective of me."

"BECAUSE YOU PAY ME TO BE! Natalia yelled from across the shipping yard.

Cyra chuckled. "Loyal only to the dollar my sweet Natalia? I don't believe it! You know you love me." He teased and she smiled back and brought her index finger and thumb together leaving a small gap as to say "a little bit."

"You should ride with her my darling. Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know each other." Cyra offered.

"So... you want her to kill me? Thanks a bunch, appreciate it" Clara as answered sarcastically.

Cyra laughed whole heartedly. "She's not going to kill you, relax! Plus, that would cost way too much. Natalia is very expensive to hire."

Natalia pulled the red sports car up to where the two were conversing. "Are you driving with me, Tecto?" She hollered from the window.

Clara turned to Cyra in confusion. "Tecto?" She asked him. Cyra tried hard to keep a straight face.

"I.... I think she just called you dough."