Of course he had to follow me out.

"For fuck's sake, Genevieve." Scar's voice came out from behind me. "Don't leave like that. This city is too big and you are too small. Can we talk?"

"Now's really not the time, Scar." I hissed venomously, fighting to keep the tears hidden. But even I could hear how shaky my own voice was, hinting that I was crying and I hated that. Genevieve did not cry unless it was over Doctor Who, and she certainly did not have this much drama in her life.

Ever.

I paced up and down the sidewalk, making sure my back was turned to Scar. For a while, I did not hear a single sound other than the never ending chirp of birds and shoes clicking on hard pavement. People shuffled and walked, but never gave the two teenagers another glance. There was so much activity and so much life in this big city that two minuscule people simply didn't matter. At least, I didn't think so.

So why was that strange man in black staring at us?

"Scar." I gathered my courage to face him. He looked up, a sullen glaze in his beautiful black eyes. A thin frown shrouded his pierced red lips. He had his hands shoved in his pocket and was staring at me with an utmost, jaunty look.

"Yes, kitten?"

I inched closer, shivers racing down my spine. Even though I could not see the man, I could still feel his eyes on us. Perhaps he was with the Bratva. I dearly hoped I was thinking wrong, because we had done enough exercising for today.

"There's a guy watching us." I whispered in a way I thought was discreet. Apparently, it was not. A mother dragging a crying boy behind gave me a strange look when she passed. I closed the distance between Scar and I, looking over my shoulder. The man was still on the diagonal side of where we were standing, a sleek black phone now pressed to his ear and his eyes trained on me.

"Where?" Scar's voice was low and his pose instantly became one of intimidation. He angled his body towards me, leaning down so I could speak even lower without attracting attention. Ignoring the obvious feel of his hands clutching my waist, I licked my dry lips and continued.

"Across the street at from the building opposite of where we're standing. He's in front of that little Italian restaurant. He keeps looking at us." I muttered.

Scar moved back, eyes scanning the entire length of the intersected streets. He then looked back at me with a skeptical expression. Confusion flitted through his eyes. "Where?"

"What do you mean where?" I repeated shrilly. I flipped around and scanned my eyes through the streets, searching for the man in black. He had disappeared from his spot and was nowhere to be seen. ''I swear, there was someone there- where'd he go? I'm not making this up, Scar! There was definitely someone ther-"

Scar grabbed my shoulders, making the words freeze on my tongue. "Do you mean that guy over there?" he asked, dragging his eyes to something over my shoulder and then back to me. I turned around to look where he motioned.

The same man was there, still watching us. He didn't have a phone in his hand anymore. Up close, I could make out some distinct features. The man appeared to be of Russian descent, a telltale sign he was probably with the Bravta. He was heavily built with tight-fitting black clothes that showed off his bulky figure. A huge brown beard covered half his face and his head was shaved bald.

"Yeah." I answered, turning back. 

Scar nodded, a grim smile shrouding his lips. "Oh, that's nice."

"It is?" 

"Yup."

"He's with the Bratva, isn't he?" I guessed.

"Yup. If there's one around, then there must be more."

"Okay. So why are we just standing here?''

"Uh....let's take a walk, why don't we?" Without waiting for my response, Scar locked his fingers around my wrist and began dragging me along. I glanced back. The man was still standing in his spot. When he saw us walking away, he began following slowly. Not even caring that I could see him.

"Um, Scar...." I hinted, jogging to keep up beside his fast paced walk. His long strides were no match for my short, stubby legs. Scar pushed past people, barely muttering apologies under his breath. Thankfully, the sidewalks were crowded. The man was lost from my sight within a few minutes of walking.

"Yes, I know Genevieve." his voice was straining against their vocal cords like they might snap with the amount of stress he was putting on it.

"Don't you think we should-"

Scar suddenly stopped moving, and turned to face me. He pinched my lips together to be in a forced, horribly flat duck face. 

"Hush." he whispered, scanning around for the man. I disgustedly pushed his fingers off me. Before I could look back, Scar whirled around and began walking again. I assumed he had caught sight of the Russian and hoped against hope that I wouldn't fall.

"Alright, kitten." he said, still pulling me along. "I'm going to tell you some things, and I need you to listen very carefully. One thing goes wrong and fuck it, we're dead. So for once in your life, shut your pretty mouth and do exactly as I say. No stupid bravery, either. I need you to go into that building right there." He pointed to a sleek, silver building with a Gothic spired fence. 

"Okay, why?"

"Patience, kitten. You need to go there and ask for Sebastian Barnes. Just tell one of the security guards that a man named Bogdan sent you, okay? They should take you to him. If not, just stall until you see me. Make something up if you must. If they do take you to Sebastian, then just mention my name and wait with him until I arrive. And don't you fucking dare start talking about wolves or leaves or whatever little shitty thing that's bouncing on your brain. If he asks about me, just say then you were told not to say anything until I come. Is that clear?" Scar stopped and faced me, his eyes hard.

"Yes. But wait, can you repeat the first part again?" Heat crawled up bright red on my cheeks. "Uh...who sent me to see Sebastian?"

"Bogdan!" Scar hissed. "Honestly kitten, this is real. Get your shit together and lear-"

"You know what? I don't have to listen to you." I snapped. "If you're gonna act like a butthole, then I really don't have to do what you say. You can force me all you want, Scar, but how much are you going to accomplish by doing that? I don't think you hold any right t- hold on, is that a gun in his hand?" My eyes widened as I saw the Russian cross the street towards us, a distinct but visible black object in his large hands.

Scar's grim silence was confirmation enough. I heard my heartbeat become louder. Scar's fingers around my wrist tightened so hard that I thought he would snap it into two. But just like that, they suddenly loosened and he pulled me close to his body, forming a protective shield with his back until I lost sight of the man.

"Please, kitten." he breathed close to my face. Scar smelled of fresh peppermint and syrup. I swallowed my failing nerves and forced myself to look into his darkened eyes. "The only thing I'm asking is to not get yourself killed. Can you at least do that?"

Aww, that was so sweet.

"Yes."

"Okay. Because if you fail to do what I said, then I will personally be the one to kill you myself."

Yup. There's the Scar I knew and hated.