The next four days they spent planning their attack. Victor got the blueprints for the firm's office building and he and Elaina spent hours poring over them in detail, memorizing all the routes. They came up with their entrance and exit routes, as well as several backup plans which Victor and Elaina committed to memory until they could both recite them backwards and forwards.

Each day, at different times, Victor and Elaina went to a local gun store that had an indoor range. The owner, a close friend of Victor's, allowed them to practice on the range, even giving Elaina some pointers on her shooting, which improved daily. Victor took great pride in her accuracy as the week progressed.

"You'll definitely be able to make a kill shot," he told her quietly on Thursday. "At least, an incapacitating shot, which can be just as good."

Elaina made a face. "The only problem will be when I ask them to stand still so I can blow a hole through them."

Victor laughed, the sound unexpected in the relative quiet of the range. They were the only two there, the owner had made sure of that. "Then let's practice moving shots."

They then spent another hour shooting at the targets from various positions, crouching, lying down, standing, one handed, as well as moving across the range, until Elaina felt very comfortable firing from multiple stances.

"You're getting really good," Victor enthused as they left the range, Elaina's dark ponytail blowing in the wintry wind. She pulled her hood over her head, hands shoved into her pockets, her gun tucked into one of her pockets, an extra clip in the other. "I think you're a natural at this, Elaina."

She laughed. "Okay, stop flattering me, Victor. I'm decent, but I'm no Annie Oakley."

As they slid into the car, Victor started the engine and glanced over at her. "You know what, I'm in the mood for some pizza tonight. How about you?"

"You kidding?" Elaina demanded. "Of course! I love pizza."

"I think you'd have to be crazy not to like pizza," Victor commented, pulling out into traffic. "Especially New York pizza."

"The best in the world," Elaina sighed.

She could smell it as soon as they stepped into the pizzeria, the delicious smell of melted cheese and crust. She had called in their order on the drive over, so after Victor gave the waiter their name, the two of them going under the assumed name "Anderson" to avoid detection, he and Elaina took a seat in a nearby booth to wait, gazing around at their surroundings, watching the other customers.

"I love pizzerias," Elaina sighed in contentment.

"What exactly about them do you love?" Victor asked, reaching out to take her hand over the table. Whenever they had to be in public, they always played like they were husband and wife, Elaina just praying she didn't run into anybody she knew who would question the charade. It had been awkward at first, but Victor never teased her about it once they returned to the apartment, so Elaina had grown used to the role.

"Everything," Elaina answered, smiling at him. "The smell, the décor, the line of people waiting for their fresh, hot pizza...it reminds me of getting pizza with my dad when I was a kid. There's always so much nostalgia in a piece of pizza, at least for me."

"Hmm," Victor said. "For me, a piece of pizza always just had a lot of cheese."

Elaina laughed and he laughed with her. It was so easy, this back and forth, that it felt like they had been at it for years, not merely days. As she quieted, she looked into his eyes and Victor returned her gaze silently, a slight smile gently playing about his lips.

"Anderson," someone called, and Victor stood up, breaking the trance to get their large half cheese, half pepperoni pizza and pay, using cash in order to avoid being traced.

"Well, to making new memories over pizza," Victor said as they walked out the door, the cold air nipping at Elaina's cheeks.

"Here, here," Elaina chorused, giving a slight laugh as they got into the car. She settled the box on her lap, feeling the heat leaching through the cardboard into her legs. "Man, I can't wait to get home. This smells so good!"

"I could have a slice right now," Victor said. "I'm starving!"

"You better not," Elaina advised. "You wouldn't want to get stains all over the interior!"

Victor frowned. "Fair point. We'll wait, then."

They began the drive back to the apartment, Victor turning onto a little used road. "Shortcut," he told Elaina. "This will get us back faster so we can eat that pizza."

"Much appreciated," Elaina said gratefully, her stomach rumbling. "Oh, man, this smells so good!"

"Stop talking about it," Victor requested, his expression looking pained. "You're making me hungrier."

They drove along the quiet road, Elaina staring out at the dark night. "I've never been down this way before," she remarked.

"Well, you learn the shortcuts of New York City quickly when you're part of the Mafia," Victor said. "You never know when you might need them."

Elaina nodded, feeling her stomach twist. All week, they had been sticking to busy roads, with plenty of cars and pedestrians to act as witnesses, to prevent Tony or Mr. Andrisano coming after them. But there were no other drivers on this road now, just them.

No witnesses.

Lights flared in the darkness through the rearview window and Elaina twisted in her seat to see headlights closing the distance behind them. A shiver ran up her spine and she glanced at Victor.

"I know," he said, teeth gritted. He kept his eyes on the road ahead, one hand on the wheel, the other she knew reaching toward his pocket. "Get your gun out."

Elaina pulled her pistol out of her pocket. "What do we do?" she asked in a hushed whisper.

"Be ready," was all Victor said, for then the roar of an engine broke through the relative quiet and the car pulled out from behind them. It was a dark SUV, two figures in the front seats as the windows rolled down, the barrel of a gun poking out at them.

"Damn!" Victor cursed, swerving slightly and speeding up as he lifted his hand, Elaina jamming the button to roll down his window on the console between them. He had already drawn his gun and now aimed it out the window, firing off a round.

But he didn't shoot at the figures.

He shot at the front right tire.

A pop filled the air and the SUV swerved, directly into them, curses from the Mafia men mingling with the screech of the tires. Elaina screamed as the Cadillac was lifted off its wheels, tilting toward the shoulder of the road. She heard a gunshot go off and it appeared to have come from outside the car but she couldn't tell. The world was spinning as her head slammed against the side of the car. Metal screamed against asphalt as the car's right side hit the road, the car tilting backward for a moment before wobbling unsteadily, lights blazing forward into the empty darkness.

The smell of pizza filled the air, no longer full of nostalgia and good times but instead nauseating and inescapable. Elaina moaned, something warm and sticky matting her hair on her forehead. She thought it was cheese, until her fingers came away red and wet.

"Elaina!" Victor whispered. Elaina opened her eyes and looked at him, blinking. He was looking down at her, hovering above her in the driver's seat, bracing himself against the console so he wouldn't fall onto her. Apparently, the Cadillac hadn't finished rolling over and now sat perched on its side. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," Elaina said with a cough.

"Elaina, okay, you need to listen to me!" Victor said, a touch of pleading in his voice. "We need to get out of here. Come on!"

With that, he pushed open his driver's side door and hoisted himself out, blood glinting on the side of his face and trailing down his arm. He disappeared from Elaina's line of sight, a slight thud seeming to come from his boots on the pavement, but she heard his harried whisper, "Elaina, come on! Hurry!"

"Damn you, Victor!"

Elaina started. Tony's voice shattered the after-crash silence, exploding through the ringing in her ears. His howl, so uncharacteristic of him, was filled with pain and grief and anger. And it was those words that motivated her to follow Victor out of the wrecked car.

/**/

Now I want pizza....

What did you think? Of their preparation, the brief car chase and crash? Excited/scared for what's to come?

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it; please leave a vote and comment! I always love hearing what you guys thought of it!

Skylar Wittenborn