Unbreakable – Chapter 21

Apologies for the late update. Struggled with this chapter but it turned out better than I thought!!!

Hope you like it. Reviews and re-reviews welcome. Reviews spur me on. If you have a favourite quote in this chapter, please mention it.

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When their pensione room began to brighten and fill with the sounds of an unfamiliar city, Gene opened his eyes. After a few seconds of confusion, Gene realised where he was. In Naples now. Summers is here. Bolly is OK. She knows I drowned in a pond.

As he began to shake off sleep he laid there and considered what he had told her last night. Before Alex, Gene had never told another living soul about the drowning. He had buried it deep within him. He had learned to almost forget the surreal nature of it all. His gut feelings were now part of his persona. When Sam arrived there was something about him but even Gene did not allow himself to believe anything supernatural had happened for Sam to arrive. How could anyone have understood me but Alex? For Alex to have risked everything to tell me she was from the future took fucking balls. It took me months and months. Summers said: 'Even angels can die'. Shit. Summers. What does Summers know about me? Us? He has no idea where we are. The Italians need to collar him.

The morning sunshine was already warm enough for Gene to feel the heat. He shrugged off the sheet and lightweight wool blanket off of his bare chest and rolled carefully onto his side towards her. Alex was facing away from him but he was careful not to wake her. He gathered up his pillow to gain a better vantage point as he relaxed in thought and watched her in awe. Gene drank in the sight of her. He always woke to this view. He studied the familiar constellation of tiny adorable moles found on the smooth alabaster skin of her shoulder blade. There was a faint tan line where her bikini strap blocked out their afternoon in the sun. The thought of their time in the grotto only a day earlier stirred up fresh lust in his belly. Gene smiled to himself. She's gorgeous. She's wearing my ring. She's nuts about me. I'm a lucky bastard. Her dark curls smelled of their last shower together at the cottage. Her body rose and fell with each shallow breath. Gene adjusted himself slightly. He always wanted her.

The ring was a piece of him that might go with her if he was forced to lose her to the future. Gene had also scrawled 'I love Alessandra Hunt' spontaneously above the cottage door, sharing something with the world. Alex, knowing his secret, now understood him on a whole new level. Gene knew it was a risk to have told her about trying to save the pilot but it was a way for him to prepare Alex for anything Summers might bring their way.

They had only been in Italy for only a couple of days. On their much deserved holiday Gene had wanted to unravel and forget the routine of work which had been ingrained in him for too long, years without a carefree break, years without a woman or a reason. He wanted to explore his love for Alex, to take things further. After months together he felt guilty that he had not revealed his full story to her. Gene knew that Alex was occasionally haunted by flashbacks and abstract visions of being on the operating table but she had not experienced them since they had been together. He only knew about them because Alex told him. Gene had not experienced flashbacks since his earliest days of being back with his mother and brother. His feelings came in the form of gut-feeling. His need to fiercely protect those he cared about or those whom deserved. It was part of his psyche.

Gene's mind continued to drift in thought as he watched Alex sleeping. A dark brown curl, longer than the others became the subject of his attention. She's in some sort of coma, not yet dead. But what if I lose her? She could get sucked away just like Sam. I've told her—everything about drowning as a kid. No one else in the world knows. No one in the world would understand—except Alex. I wonder if I'll lose her just like Sam if she isn't dead in 2008. Two thousand and eight! What is it like?

Gene's thoughts moved onto the more successful events of their romantic trip so far. She likes the ring. Knew she would have noticed it eventually. The timing was right. That grotto was sexy as hell. She really is mine now. This nonce stuff really isn't that nonce. It's bloody sexy. Enjoy this. Being in love. Being loved. Horny as anything. Always. Nothing noncey about that.

In the days leading up to their Italian holiday Gene had spotted the simple gold ring in a shop window. He had stood there on the sidewalk in the July London heat and contemplated how Alex might feel if he presented her with a ring. Is it too much? Is it too little? It's gold, should it be silver? Gene dug his hands into his pockets, his palms already sweaty. He needed an outlet for his tension as he contemplated the ring so he kneaded his fingers within his pockets. Although he was just a man peering into a shop window it felt like every passerby was watching him. No one was of course. Fuck it! It's hers. I love her. Gene rushed in, pointed, paid cash and jammed it into his pocket. Back in his office, behind closed doors, he pulled out the ring and tried it on his pinky finger. He began to feel sure that if he could choose the moment carefully he would present it to her— somehow—in Italy. He carefully placed the detested velvet display box within a crumpled piece of paper and discarded it in his bin. Gene carried Alex's gold ring in his pocket for the next few days, transferring it carefully as he changed his clothing. He worried continuously that Alex might find it. He fingered it continuously whenever he had his hands in his pockets. He thought about the ring every hour.

As they sat on that perfect beach before swimming to the grotto he had pressed the ring onto his pinky finger to hold it there temporarily. When she was distracted he moved it onto his own gold chain and waited for the right moment.

Gene, always the early riser, rolled away from Alex. Without disturbing her he slipped on his boxer shorts and walked into the bathroom. He did not know what time it was but if he continued to lay there any longer he would be forced to wake her or have a wank. Standing in front of the mirror Gene ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his hand against his stubble. I always get lucky when I shave--Even when I don't. Yesterday she was insatiable. What a way to wear out the Gene Genie. Have a shave and behave myself.

He splashed water on his face. When he straightened he noticed the perfect reverse reflection of Alex's hips as she lay in the bed. He had not realised that he had pulled more of the covers off of her as he left the bed. He could see the taper of her bare back. Gorgeous ain't the word for a view like that. Mine.

Gene brushed his teeth. Alex's wash bag sat on the vanity shelf above the sink in the pensione bathroom. As Gene assembled his razor and rummaged for some soap he knocked it over. His eyes dropped to the round plastic birth control dispenser that had clattered into the sink. He picked it up and studied its significance. Tiny little tablets that prevent us from having a baby. Pink ones. White ones. Maybe we could be a family. Gene Genie: A father? Maybe I could have it all. Summers. What if I lose her? I won't allow it.

After a quick shave Gene ventured out onto the small balcony in just his shorts. As he crossed the room he glanced at Alex's peaceful sleeping form. She still lay on her side with the thin blanket along the apex of her full hips. As he walked past her he had a glimpse of her slender arms bent at the elbows in front of her. He could see tantalising curves of her bare breasts between her arms. Gene adored the sight of her petite bare feet peeking out from under the covers, the fingers of her left hand slack against the pillow, her little gold ring, her perfect face.

The gun at his bedside lay there undisturbed all night. Gene reminded himself of its presence and then stalked out onto the open doors to see Naples in daylight.

On the balcony the morning sun was already intense and Gene soaked it up. The pigeons had flown their roost for the day and were probably now pecking the streets four floors below. He gripped the iron railing and looked down to the already busy street below. He could see red Alfa Romeo parked tidily against the curb. Two old men stood near it, smoking cigarettes, talking and gesturing with their hands in a multitude of ways to punctuate the point they were making. Most of the moving cars in the street were busy honking their horns even though the traffic was moving. Shopkeepers were busy sweeping out their shops and storefronts. Bistros were rolling out al fresco tables. Uniformed boys and girls ran to school without the aid of their parents. In the distance women hung out wet laundry on lines sprawled across streets. Men in smart suits read papers as they sat sipping coffee propped against outdoor bars. Whining mopeds beeped and swerved as they moved through the traffic. As Gene surveyed what he could of the Naples street he began to overhear the tweets of sparrows as they wove and hopped amongst the railings near his bare feet, boldly picking up crumbs.

"Cheeky Buggers." Gene whispered out to them, forgetting his deep voice was unable to whisper low enough. They're like mine in London.

"Hmmmmmm? Gene?" Hearing him, Alex was showing signs of life underneath the covers. Gene went to her bedside and knelt down beside her on the cold tiled floor. The sudden coolness on his hot bare skin caused goose pimples to appear on his arms.

"Mornin' Sleepy Kecks."

"Who were you speaking to?" She replied sleepily, her almond shaped eyes open but puffy.

"Jus' some birds—sparrows. Cheeky Buggers are tame as anything."

During the night Alex had stayed awake for hours thinking about what Gene had told her. He drowned as a boy trying to save someone. He came back. He's here now. Alex reached out and stroked his cheek, in love with him more than ever.

"You okay then?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Just felt a little lonely just now. You always leave me in the morning."

The back of his hand was already stroking the warm place just below her breasts. "But I'm 'ere. You're always so peaceful in the mornin'. Don't like to disturb you when you look like that."

"I want to be disturbed, especially by the likes of you." Alex shifted her hips back further to the middle of the bed and raised the blanket up in a silent invitation. Gene stood up, pulled off his shorts and slipped into her body-warmed place and into her arms.

As soon as Alex met his body she traced small kisses down his chest and stomach, dragging the covers down with her. As they both lay on their sides Alex moved low to take him into her mouth. She slowly moved her tongue along his shaft and feathered her lips gently across his testes, her ears enjoying the helpless sounds escaping Gene's lips—helpless whimpers. She licked his head repeatedly, experiencing his cock come alive under her control, becoming more sensitive to her movements. The sides of his ankles pressed into the mattress as he slightly tensed his back in pleasure. He watched the beautiful movement of the back of her bobbing head until he was forced to surrender and shut his eyes. Alex stroked her finger slowly on the underside of his balls and felt them tense, the skin there incredibly soft—one of Alex's favourite places. She took his whole length into her mouth, using her lips, her tongue and the tiniest gentle grazes of her teeth—all the while moving slow enough for him to enjoy it and for her to read and respond to that enjoyment. Words did manage to spill out of his mouth but none of them were coherent. Alex used her hand to hold his shaft and began to apply pressure to the sensitive head. Gradually her movements became faster and then slower to wait for his wishes. Using all his control Gene finally muttered, "Turn around…I want you."

She sat up slightly giving Gene a glimpse of her bare breasts and rolled to spoon her back into his chest. Alex loved how he could engulf her and make her feel safe. His great arm reached over her hip to her belly to drag her body closer to his and hold her tight. She arched her back and revelled at his choice to stroke his favourite line along her hip bone to her bush with his fingers. Alex wriggled with pleasure. He then moved his hand up her body to feel her breathing and to lightly tickle the sensitive undersides of her breasts with his hands. She began to moan as his hard cock found her folds and he entered her slowly, pushing up into her, using his hips and her own encouragement. He kissed and tasted the creamy skin of her shoulder. He reminded himself what her hair smelled like and felt like against his face.

"You feel so beautiful. God I love you, Alex. What you do to me. Can't ever get enough of ya." Gene's breathed in an enormous lungful as his face nuzzled her curls at the back of her head, making Alex arch her back even further. Strands of her hair were in his mouth.

"Feels so good—you inside me…don't stop."

"I won't. I promise."

They pulled the thin covers over them once more and dozed for awhile and listened to the sound of Naples through the open balcony doors. His hand was pressed against the flat of her belly, the tips of his fingers stroking her bush from time to time. Alex could smell Gene's aftershave and minty breath and she craved a long, slow, sexy morning kiss. He was obliging. Alex rolled over and laid her naked small body on top of his, her fingers entwined in Gene's hair. His hands cupped her perfect ass as their mouths, lips and tongues moved on each other. Since Alex accepted Gene's promise ring her love felt even more obvious to him, their bond more unbreakable. Alex felt even more content.

"Gene?"

"Hmmmm?" He looked at her adoringly, still besotted, still horny. New freckles seemed to have appeared across her nose overnight.

Alex pulled away from his face enough to focus properly, propping herself up with a fist under her chin, her hand stroking his chest above his heart. "I'm glad you told me about the pilot." She gave the side of his ribcage a squeeze of reassurance. "It must have been an awful, confusing experience to have gone through as a boy—truly traumatising. I'm sorry." Alex studied Gene's face. He was staring into space. It was a part of his history that he rarely pondered anymore, it was buried deep within. Speaking about it now with Alex seemed surreal. No one had seen the Gene Genie shed a tear in several decades but nor had he been this much in love. Ever.

"You don' have to do psychology on me, Bolls. I've had decades to mull it over. I told you because you needed to know. It happened. The pilot was probably dead anyway. I drowned. I came back and lived. End of. Time travellin' might not be as rare as the world thinks." Gene looked down his nose at her. His cautious look was more about ruining the sexy mood of the morning. He felt like discussing where to massage or kiss next.

Alex continued to read his body language and smoothed her hand over his shoulder. "You can't deny you were upset last night."

"Wot can I say? I'm not entirely made of stone. Don't sweat it, Bolly." He sniffed.

Alex lifted her chin off her fist and pressed her fingers into her forehead. He noticed the perfect fit of her ring. "Why does Summers have to be so creepy? It gives me a headache just thinking about it." She hissed. As Alex pressed her fingers into her forehead the surreal feeling of having her fingers touch where the bullet had penetrated made her want to drop her hand suddenly to Gene's chest. Her palms were sweaty but she tried to ignore it. She pressed her other damp palm into his cotton pillow.

"You okay, Bolls?" He had seen her like this before.

She shook off the odd feeling and sighed her response. "We made the right decision to get away when we did. Best to get him locked up behind bars where he belongs and then talk to him. We need to call Giovanni later and catch up."

Alex still on top of him, Gene's eyes slid in the direction where the gun sat on his side of the bed. "This Summers bloke is not a normal case—he's a nutter. For a start, the time travellin' bloke shot 'imself. Experience shows that you can' second guess nutters, they talk complete bollocks and are unpredictable bastards!" Gene could tell by her anxious body language that it would be best to stop hypothesising if he was to get Alex back into the mood.

Without replying properly she gritted her teeth. "That bastard is slinky. What the hell is he up to? What is he doing in Italy?"

"Dunno." Gene's hands moved up and down the soft skin of her back trying to coax her to respond in a different way. She wriggled away from him.

"Need to pee." He let her go. He was trumped.

Alex walked towards the bathroom naked. Gene sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his shorts on again, craving his morning cigarette. He watched the swing of her hips, still lusting after her curves. He always wanted her.

Alex found Gene sunning himself on the balcony. Leaning against the railing, his wrists dangled lazily over the edge, his right hand holding a cigarette. His blonde hair blowing in the breeze, looking more golden in the Italian sun. She wrapped herself up in a sheet from the bed and gave him a hug from behind. A smile of satisfaction spread across Gene's lips. He stood up to his full height and dwarfed her. Alex smoothed her hands across his belly and nuzzled her face into the smooth muscle tone of his back, feathering kisses along him as he turned to face her. The way she touches me is perfect.

Gene was always silently impressed that Alex did not spend ridiculous amounts of time doing her hair and makeup. "It doesn' take much to make ya gorgeous because yer already gorgeous."

Alex smiled at the sun with her eyes closed. "God that sun feels good." She joined Gene in surveying the streets and rooftops of Naples from their vantage point, his arm now draped around her shoulders. He had been admiring a very fine looking motorcycle parked across the street which he would have surely noticed when he stood on the balcony earlier.

Gene froze, his blue eyes piercing.

"What's wrong?"

"I see 'im."

"Who?" Alex knew the answer already.

"That Ginger Bastard! Summers! Down by the car."

"Shit." Alex hissed between her teeth.

"Double shit. He's with that Salvatorio geezer."

Four floors below them a suave-looking Martin Summers stood beside the red Alfa. Salvatorio was with him, dressed in motorcycle boots, black jeans and a tight white t-shirt. Summers obviously found what he had been looking for because he placed his sunglasses atop his head and bent down to look into the car windows. He looked like a Brit abroad with baby blue collared shirt and dark trousers. He straightened again and studied the buildings on the street. Alex and Gene watched Salvatorio walk to the street corner and speak to a couple of men loitering there. Both men looked sure of themselves.

Without speaking Alex backed away from the railing, slipped out of the sheet and rushed to get dressed. She only brought dresses with her and decided on the most sensible outfit in her luggage. The green cotton one she wore to the beach. She hurriedly put it on and jammed her arms into a cardigan. She chose a pair of flat lace ups she had brought for sightseeing.

Gene continued to read the scene below him. It would be only a matter of time before the men found where they were staying, there were only three other pensione hotels nearby.

Gene, used to dressing quickly in emergencies, joined Alex. His cigarette pursed between his lips. He adjusted his belt and slipped the Beretta into the back of his jeans and jammed spare bullets into his pocket. Alex threw their luggage into a closet along with the contents from the bathroom. They had only been in Italy for barely two days and it seemed to Alex like they were getting ready for a surreal bust. As they hurried they glanced at each other, watching the progress each other were making. She knew Gene would have a plan so she waited to hear it.

Snubbing his cigarette under his boot on the marble floor Gene briefed her calmly. "There's a room off the lobby. We take the stairs, go there, wait for 'em to pass and…then decide what the fuck to do with 'em."

Alex held the room door open. "Let's do it."

Their room was located on the fourth floor at the very top of the building. The pensione was only a small affair, three other guest rooms, marble floors, a wide spiral staircase, plus the tiny elevator they decided to take the previous evening. Out back, the building had a separate annex where the host family lived. Gene followed Alex down the hall and the pair slipped silently down the stairway. Alex glanced from time to time over the railing, listening out for voices. Nothing. The lighting was inadequate throughout the entire building despite it being a bright sunny day. On the ground floor there was no sign of anyone in the tiny bookings office but the door to the annex was open. Without being seen Gene and Alex slipped into the room described by Gene. It was a loo. No windows. Cold chocolate brown tiled walls. No light except for a sliver of daylight at the bottom of the door. They found themselves looking at each other in the darkness, both of their features barely illuminated.

"Nice, Gene." Alex said under her breath.

"Shut up!" Gene meant to whisper but it was impossible.

Alex gripped his shirt and tugged hard. "Shhhhhh…someone's coming." She barely whispered.

From the direction of the street, footsteps wrasped quickly against the marble floor of the tiny lobby. A man's voice called out assertively, "Saluti?!!!" as if looking for the proprietor. The pair of footsteps went further down the hall to the open annex door. Italian voices could be heard, evidently the lady pensione hostess was speaking to a man.

A woman's voice replied cautiously, "Si?"

"Madam, Maresciallo Capo Giovanni DiPopolo. Do you have a British couple staying here?" Giovanni spoke in Italian.

Hiding behind the door of the WC, Gene's and Alex's eyes, now accustomed to the weak light, blazed into one another. Gene listened to the conversation in angered surprise and disbelief. He gritted his teeth. Alex could see his eyes sliding back in forth in silent rage, glowing silver in the weak light, anger seething within.

"Si."

"They are in danger. I am here to get them to safety. The…"

Before Giovanni could finish the motherly woman turned suddenly and hurried back into her annex, exclaiming prayers and slamming and locking the door behind her. Giovanni tried in vain to knock on the annex door. Open-mouthed Alex looked at Gene with a questioning face, her mouth open in shock. Gene glared at the floor, eyes fixed and the set of his jaw determined. They heard Giovanni walk up the short hallway and pause in front of the front desk.

Gene thrusted open the door and pointed his gun directly at Giovanni.

"YOU BASTARD!!! I TRUSTED YOU!!!" Catching Giovanni completely by surprise, and using his full force, Gene pushed the uniformed Italian backwards to crash against a panelled wall. A crucifix which hung nearby by a wire fell and smashed into pieces at their feet. Gene's large fist curled around one lapel of Giovanni's tunic and the Beretta was jammed into his face. Caught unawares by Gene's spontaneous plan all Alex could do comply with Gene's decision and at least search Giovanni for a gun holster. There was none. She anxiously hovered and awaited Giovanni's explanation, her eyes darting back and forth between them and the front door. Gene had raised the Carabinieri officer to the tips of his toes. Wincing, Alex hoped the commotion that was about to explode would not be heard by Summers.

"Eugeno!!! I come to help!!! I come to HELP!!!"

"How? You BASTARD!!!" Gene dug the Beretta on the underside of Giovanni's jaw.

Speaking frantically in choppy sentences, Giovanni explained the best he could. "Salvatorio, he is a new colleague of me. He came by transfer from Napoli less than month ago. He—knew where you fled to—what car you drive—where I a recommended you could find room for the night!!! I am sorry!!! He is no good, he's a traitor to us all!!! I discover now that Salvatorio is involved…the Maffia…you see? It's not like London…we have corruption—here. I sorry! I only found out this a morning." Giovanni's last desperate sentences were hushed and full of fear. His eyes too, darted between Gene's angry glare and the open door to the street.

Alex gripped Gene's arm and spoke calmly. "Gene, let him go. Giovanni is unarmed. He's not wearing a gun." She needed him to simmer down so that they could delay being found out so carelessly.

Gene heard her but chose to ignore her. His temper was hot and confused. "Why are you here?!!!" Gene demanded, pushing more of his weight into the man.

"To warn you about Salvatorio and your British man—knowing each other—somehow…please trust me. There is a transaction—on the docks. Here in Napoli. I here to help." Giovanni dared to gesture with his hands in the characteristic Italian way despite Gene digging the point of the gun to his Giovanni's face.

"Transaction?!!! What kind of bloody transaction?!!!" Gene bellowed gruffly and lowered the gun and prod it hard into Giovanni's belly. Alex continued to coax him to ease up but he was not having any of it. It was obvious to Alex that Giovanni was telling the truth but Gene was still seething with rage. He hated being betrayed most of all.

"Gold bullion—smuggling of the other high value goods. Coming in on a ship!!! A boat from London arrive at the port this a morning." Giovanni craned his neck towards the brightness of the doorway, scared out of his wits about what he was forced to tell in such compromised circumstances.

Gene finally lowered the gun and loosened his grip slightly on the officer but as Giovanni began to relax Gene leaned his weight on Giovanni again, in frustration. The whole time Alex was trying to pry Gene away from the Italian.

"Alex, check the door." Gene ordered.

She left the two men and cautiously moved to the front door, hiding behind a thick pillar she felt confident enough to take a thorough look up and down the street. "No sign of them." She whispered from the door, holding her vantage point, watching the street, her fingertips feeling the texture of the stone pillar.

"Gold? How do you know?!!! Giovanni—why the fuck would someone like Summers know someone like Salvatorio?"

"I overhear Salvatorio…he knows…things…something about gold, the fine art, stolen bonds. They arrive from London…that's all I know. I have a gut feeling about the bad people—you know? It's a story I know over time—complicated." Giovanni shrugged his shoulders in a weary gesture not knowing any better way to explain the new facts he had only just learned that morning.

Earlier, back at the station, Giovanni had returned from Mass and inadvertently overheard Salvatorio speaking frantically with various people on the telephone. Salvatorio was cocky enough to discuss elements over the telephone from a police station. Giovanni knew and trusted enough good men in the Carabineiri network to know certain goings on. Although he was just a Municipal Captain, he had influence and experience and his suspicions about the criminal underworld. Giovanni was privy to certain facts and puzzled with them in his head as the months went by. He did not know how his new officer was involved in the mafia linking up with British smuggled goods but there it was. He had overhead key facts in Salvatorio's arrogance. Giovanni felt compelled to warn his new British police friends. He turned on his heel and discreetly drove out of town in a marked car towards Naples.

Gene was beginning to believe his new found handsome Italian friend was living and fighting in the same scenario as himself in London—corruption in the police and crime going hand in hand. From her vantage point in the doorway Alex looked at Giovanni with a sympathetic gaze, she swallowed hard and looked to Gene.

"What do we do now?" She appealed directly to Gene and turned her attention back to watch the street.

Before Gene could answer she heard Summers' voice. She cautiously peeked around the pillar and could see him backing out of the last pensione, holding up his hands as though he had just offended the occupants and did not want further grief. Martin Summers and Salvatorio were heading down the street towards her. "They're coming this way—quick!"

Gene tugged Giovanni by the lapels and shoved him into the WC. Alex followed them in and shut the door. It was a tight fit so Alex made her way between the two men to stand in the small space between the toilet and the corner of the tiny dark room. She gave Giovanni a weak smile of assurance that she believed he was on her side. Gene was still relatively unsure, annoyed that he was in this position.

"If I hear so much as a peep out of you Giovanni, I swear to God I'll shoot you right here on my bleeding holiday! Got it?" Giovanni nodded, his body language still desperately trying to convey co-operation.

Summers waltzed confidently into the lobby and announced casually. "Hello? Anyone back there?" Hearing no reply and not particularly caring whether he was assisted or not he picked up the bookings register and dragged a finger down through the names. "Signore & Signora Hunt—how very enchanting. Room…'quattro'—how fucking appropriate. Let's see if the love birds are up. Salvatorio—follow me!"

Gene, Alex and Giovanni heard the men cock their guns before they quickly climbed the stairs two and a time. Gene had not taken his eyes off of Giovanni, trying to gauge his body language. He did not look like a man who wanted to be found out by Summers and his ex-colleague. Alex gripped the door handle and slowly released it, stepping out quickly and quietly. Gene made a bee-line for the street without looking back, sliding the gun into the band of his jeans and searching for the keys to the Alfa in two frantic movements. Alex followed close behind. Irritated, Gene turned to Giovanni.

"I assume you have a car? I assume you know where these docks are? We're following you there—NOW!!!" Gene gritted his teeth and made his demands. "If Alex and I are involved in this—we might as well face facts. LET'S GO!!!" They watched Giovanni stride to his marked car as they crossed the street to the Alfa. Giovanni pulled the car into reverse and swung in an impressive U-turn, skidded to a stop, paused in the middle of the road and then sped off. Gene revved the Alfa to life and they headed off after him. From Alex's vantage point in the car she saw Summers' eyes boring down on her from their balcony for an instant before they pulled away at speed. Summers fired his gun once, the bullet ricocheting off the asphalt just feet away from Alex's passenger door.

Knowing the streets of Naples Giovanni drove at high speed to the end of the street and made a handbrake turn with Gene following close behind, ignoring the red traffic light. Alex was shaken but determined to try and think clearly. She put on her seatbelt and Gene did not say a word in protest.

"What the 'ell is going on, Bolls?!!! Fucking Brit loot in a fucking Italian port?!!! The Met and the Mafia—what the FUCK?!!!" Gene pounded the steering wheel with the heel of his hand in frustration. "Never saw this comin', not in a million years!!!"

Alex twisted her body in her seat to study the traffic behind them. For the moment it appeared they were not being followed. "This is big—too big!!! Need to think—can't think!!! Gene…" She screamed hypothetically over the roar of the Alfa engine, her body swaying and jerking uncontrollably as Gene swerved frantically through traffic. She clocked what could have been a sign for the port and she ducked in her seat to read the road ahead for clues. Giovanni's car still zigzagged through traffic at high speed ahead of them.

Somewhere close behind they could hear the constant high pitched whine of a motorcycle.

"What kind of shitstorm are we gonna find when we get there?!" The gun was digging hard into Gene's back so after ramming the gearshift back into fifth again he dug it out and held it out for Alex. "Take it. Keep an eye out for those bastards!!! The docks are just up ahead." Despite Gene's frantic swerving, he kept looking in the rear view mirrors. Alex held onto the side of her seat for dear life as Gene followed close behind Giovanni's supped up patrol car. Alex had grown accustomed to Gene's driving and on this occasion it made sense to travel at high speed. Alex kept her eye out for their pursuers. Giovanni made a frantic handbrake turn down a slopped road towards sea level. Earlier Giovanni had switched on his siren in an effort to have the port gate opened for them to be able to slip rush through. Security guards scrambled and obliged, lifting the security gate—the Carabinieri patrol car hurling towards them, unstoppable and full of intention, followed by Gene and Alex in the red Alfa Romeo.

A shot from behind smashed their rear window and Gene swerved the Alfa in shock. Salvatorio and Summers were directly behind them on a motorbike. Sitting boldly on the back with gun raised was Martin Summers taking a second aim directly into the Alfa Romeo.

"FUCK ME!!! SHOOT BACK FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!" Alex caught a vicious look from Gene and spurred into action.

Lips pursed and determined Alex slipped off her seatbelt and took aim between the two seats and fired off a shot. She missed but it forced the riders to veer off behind an enormous row of sea containers. Gene was roaring orders in her ear but Alex could do little to respond to them. Alex flailed in her seat, searching for the whereabouts of Salvatorio and Summers to no avail.

Ahead of Gene and Alex lay the bare bones scene of an industrial shipyard on an epic scale. The port was a hive of surreal activity without any obvious human forms in sight. Men were small entities controlling mighty steel cranes or insignificantly walking along decks of ships. Gigantic tankers dwarfed a series of nondescript cargo buildings and colossal mechanised cranes manoeuvred containers off of expansive decks of ships. A patchwork of sea containers made up a functional arrangement of graphic design.

Giovanni, aware of shots being fired, skidded to a stop with Gene mirroring his actions. The cars could go no further without getting lost in a maze of stacked containers blocking off their path. Alex flung open her door, took cover and readied her gun, searching for the motorcycle which had disappeared. Not even the motorcycle engine could be heard. Giovanni ran to Alex's side, crouching beside her, gun at the ready. Both looked around frantically for any sign of the Summers.

Slunk in the drivers seat Gene yelled out, "Oi!!! Remember me? The sittin' duck?!!!"

"Stay there, Gene—don't move!!! They could be anywhere, watching us!!!" Alex barked to her DCI, feeling peculiarly kitted out for a gun fight in a cute green cotton dress and flat white trainers.

Giovanni suddenly pointed, "There!!!"

In the distance Alex could see Martin Summers and Salvatorio running away from them along the open tarmac towards a moored ship.

"Shit!!!" Alex cursed, glanced at Giovanni and Gene and ran off in pursuit.

Gene roared out of the car. "DRAKE!!! GET BACK HERE NOW!!!" Giovanni, unsure of what to do, ran to the boot of his patrol car, opened and left it open for Gene. The Carabinieri captain ran off in the direction of Alex and the suspects.

Gene lit a cigarette frantically and stopped short at the boot of Giovanni's car, finding a full arsenal of weaponry at his disposal.

"Fuck me!" Gene chose a Beretta M12 submachine gun, cocked it with a smirk and ran off in the direction of the ship.

{end of Chapter 21…more to come!}

Due to popularity of 'Unbreakable' being touted around on the various forums and private messages of encouragement coming in via email I have further stories in store that will interlink before, after and during 'Unbreakable'.