Heading home

My bag, packed tight with all the documentation I had spent so much energy acquiring, made me a little nervous as it wasn’t safe if I was asleep. I lay flat on my back in the dark, my hand draped protectively over it. Every rustle of the fabric and paper seemed to echo in the quiet room. I knew that I wasn’t going to sleep well that night. My mind was spinning, a chaotic loop of strategies and worst-case scenarios. I knew, rationally, that I desperately needed the sleep. My body was exhausted, and I was going to need all of the energy I could gather for the next few days. In a few hours, I’d be heading back to Rome, step into the marble corridors of power, and face Parliament.

When the morning finally came, I sat up on the edge of my hospital bed, knowing I had to reach out to Rob, Vic, and—unfortunately—Thomas. I needed to let them know I’ll be out of the hospital tomorrow morning, but that I won't be stopping by to see them anytime soon.

Historically, Italy had a reputation for being fair and accommodating when diplomats decided to step away from government work. However, I wasn't sure how the government would react to me leaving them, especially with my Russian family connections. I hoped and prayed that it would work out.

At this point in time, I can no longer rely on Sera and Elena. I had unintentionally burned that bridge just by coming to their plastic surgery hospital, especially since some of the staff had seen us together.

That left me with only one person I could try to reach, though I had no idea if they would even help me. Things hadn't ended well between us before I headed to New Zealand. With no one else to turn to, I had to turn to Mike, but it would be in the morning. I knew my brother was still nearby, but I didn't want him involved in another governmental issue of me leaving government work.

I grabbed my phone to send a text to Rob, Vic and Thomas as a group.

“I’m leaving Naples in the morning and heading north. There are some things that I need to take care of. I won’t be seeing the three of you for a long time. Thomas, I expect you to keep Rob out of trouble and if you need anything, reach out to Bob. Vic, go home to your wife; we’re done. Rob, listen to my brother.”

After I hit ‘send’, I went through my contacts in my phone and blocked each of the three men I texted, cutting the ties until I could get out of Italy. With that finished, I slid my hand beneath the mattress of my hospital bed, searching until my fingers brushed against the sleek, cool surface of the smart phone Roberto had hidden there. I was grateful that it was a new phone and it was an unlisted phone number. It only took a few minutes to transfer all of my contacts over to it. Once the new phone was fully up, I immediately sent my brother a text so he’d have it.

“Hey. This is the only number to reach me at now. I’ll be destroying the other phone when I’m on the road. Please don’t reach out yet as I’ve got some things to take care of. Rob, Vic and Thomas know to contact you until further notice.”

I put the phone down and tried again to get some sleep but it wasn’t going to come. I just stared at the ceiling for hours, watching the shadows shift as the night slowly wore away.

When I saw the sun rise, I knew it was time. I got up, showered, dressed in my favorite sundress, brushed my teeth, brushed my hair, applied deodorant and packed the rest of bags. I slung my bag that held my wallet and passports over my shoulder, then I grabbed the handle of my bag and started wheeling it to the front.

There was a brand new receptionist sitting behind the front desk. She looked up as I approached, her fingers hovering over her keyboard.

"Good morning," she said, pulling up my file. "Are you checking out?"

"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice level.

I had to go through the process of checking out, signing the final release forms, and verifying my details. Every signature felt like a milestone. By the time I was done, I walked out through the automatic doors. Sure enough, there was a car waiting out front for me. It was one last gift from Thomas for a long time—a quiet gesture of protection, or perhaps just his way of saying goodbye.

I walked up to it, opened the passenger door, and reached down. I found the keys under the floor mat in the front passenger seat. With the keys in hand, I loaded my bags into the back, hopped in, and started the engine. I set the GPS to the Parliament’s address. It was going to take a bit longer than the normal two hours due to the location of the building but it was going to be worth the drive.

As I drove, I mentally prepared myself and practiced what I was going to say. I thought of offering up my citizenship, my Italian passports or whatever else they wanted me to do – as long as it was within reason. When I got a little closer, I sped a bit as I was anxious. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, and my foot pressed heavier on the gas pedal. The heavy bag on the passenger seat next to me was a silent, looming presence. I kept repeating my arguments in my head, searching for the exact combination of words that would let me trade my work for freedom. As the historic Roman skyline began to break through the horizon, my heart hammered against my ribs. I was heading straight into the lion's den, and there was no turning back now.

I eventually made it and parked. Thankfully, there was a space right out front of the Parliament building. I grabbed my phone and my crossbody bag. When I exited the car, I locked it and headed inside. The amount of security I went through was indescribable, but I understood the reasoning. Once inside, I remembered that I hadn’t texted Mike. I knew that I was going to be ok without him as I headed to ask to speak to someone.

“Bongiorno, madam,” a friendly receptionist said when I arrived at the counter. “How can I help you?”

Bongiorno, madam,” I said. “I’d like to speak with Ignazio La Russa or Lorenzo Fontana. Please let them know that Marie Alexdrovna Romanov is here.”

“Normally, they are unavailable to the public however, they both have been aware of you being in the country,” she said. “Have a seat and I’ll page them to the secure conference room.”

“No guards,” I said.

“Excuse me?” she asked. “What do you mean no guards?”

“I meant exactly that,” I said. “If I could travel all across the European Union – especially in Russia – without protection, so can they. No guards or I walk.”

“No guards it is then,” she sighed.

I found a seat in the corner of the lobby. I counted the security cameras and they were all pointed at me. Security teams were already there but once I demanded no guards on Ignazio and Lorenzo, more security came into the lobby. All eyes were on me and hands were on their service weapons. What was I going to do as I sat there waiting for all of eternity for both Ignazio and Lorenzo? Yes and also have no patience whatsoever. As I got up to tell the receptionist that “no guards meant no guards” , Ignazio and Lorenzo entered the lobby. Once Ignazio had eyes on me, I saw a vein in his neck pulsate.

“Clear the lobby of the guards and security,” he bellowed. “Clear it!”

The receptionist looked at him baffled.

“Clear the lobby of the guards and security,” he repeated. His and Lorenzo’s guards and security left the lobby. He then turned to the receptionist. “No guards means no guards. You are relieved of your job effectively immediately. Get your personal belongings, hand in your badges, keys and secure phone. All other items will be tossed in the dumpster at the end of the business day. The second you walk out of this building, your credentials will be deleted and if there is any sign of you trying to access anything relating to this building, you will be arrested on charges of espionage! You are permanently banned from entering the building and on the property. If you walk, jog or drive nearby, you are to cross the road immediately. If not, you will be arrested on the spot. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” she stammered before shutting down her computer. She ran to the back.

“Marie, thank you for asking for us,” Lorenzo said quietly as he came to shake my hand. “I do apologize for her assumption that you are a danger to us. It was risky for you to use your true identity when you walked in but it alerted both Ignazio and I that it’s important.”

“You’re welcome,” I said. “I appreciate that, sir, however, it’s imperative that I speak with the both of you. Is there a place where the three of us can speak privately? No guards, no listening devices, no cameras, no nothing – just the three of us.”

“Is this ok with you, Iggy?” Lorenzo asked. “I’m fine with it.”

“It’s fine with me,” Ignazio stated. “I trust Marie more than I trust my wife and I hide nothing from my wife…..unless it deals with matters dealt here at the Parliament.”

“Lead the way, gentlemen,” I said.

They lead me down the hallway that they came from. People that had previously down that hallway went into their offices or into the offices of others once Ignazio cleared the lobby. He was a wonderful gentleman but understandably strict. At the end of the hallway, we headed into a secured office that both Ignazio and Lorenzo used to recruit me nearly thirty years ago when I was a teen. We entered te room the room and I locked it behind us. The lock deactivates the recording devices. Once we all sat down and was situated, I began my piece.

“Iggy, Lorenzo, I need out of the business,” I began. “I’m in my forties and I can’t work on my business while working for different governments and their agencies. I’m sure that you’ve heard that I left working for the Russian Federation’s government and it was rough getting out. It became extremely difficult once they verified my DNA results of me being a distant relative of the Romanov family. I have been banned from the country for the next fifteen years though I have permanent diplomatic immunity, a permanent diplomatic passport and barely some recognition of my heritage.”

“What would you like to happen, Mare Mare?” Lorenzo asked.

“I would like to put in a formal request to step down from working for the Italian government here and worldwide. I am happy to give up my Italian diplomatic passport and status as well as hand in any Italian passport that you want me to hand in.”

“That’s it?” Ignazio asked.

“That’s it. Well, I’ll hand over all documents that I have in my possession to you guys, all electronics connected to me working for the government to you guys and get debriefed.”

“Do you have everything you will give up?” Lorenzo asked.

I stood up and dumped my crossbody bag on the table. I grabbed the classified documents, listening devices, hand held devices, Italian diplomatic passport and my identification.

“It’s all here,” I said.

“We trust you,” Lorenzo said.

I pulled out my new phone that Roberto had left me at the hospital last night. I created an email sent to the both of them stating what was discussed, what I handed in and what I was giving up. Before continuing, I had an important question.

“Do I keep my citizenship and my two passports; Deppgrl Smith and Larissa Barlowe?” I asked. Both men nodded their heads in agreement.

I went back to the email to include that I was keeping my citizenship as well as my two passports. I proofread my email twice and then submitted it.

“As of last night, we knew that you were on your way and called a friend of yours,” Lorenzo said. “His name is Mike. He’s in Iggy’s office waiting for you. We read him in a little bit of your visit and the reason why he was called in. We were explicit in telling him that he isn’t allowed to discuss any of this with you or anyone else he knows.”

“Thank you for calling him in to pick me up,” I sighed. “I appreciate the heavy handedness in telling him that he isn’t allowed to discuss this with anyone – including me.”

Ignazio and Lorenzo nodded their heads. I stepped out of that secure room. Ignazio’s administrative assistant was just outside the door to escort me to Ignazio’s office to meet with Mike before we both left. It was a silent but brief walk to his office and I was grateful for the silence. I hadn’t seen Mike in about six months at this point. I wondered if he moved or still lives immediately next to me. Whatever the case may be, I had to leave Italy right away. The car and my hotel room had to be bugged at this point. I knew that the time that my foot stepped onto the pavement just outside of the Parliament building, the entire government would know that I was in the country and stepped down from doing work for it.

“Grand Duchess,” Mike kinda bowed his head in respect towards my title. “ow can I be of service to you?”

“You can call me Deppgrl since that’s how you’ve known me,” I chuckled. “Just because I’m distant royalty with no claim to a throne nor monarchy, I’m still just me.”

“I can easily call you Deppgrl,” he smiled awkwardly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you at one point, Mike, but unfortunately, I stopped,” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that to hurt you.”

“I know,” he said. “I hurt you badly when I moved in next to you. And yes, I moved a few streets away when you went to New Zealand. Thought it would be best.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I don’t know if you have a vehicle here or not but I do. We need to head back as soon as possible because the second I step out of the building, the entire Italian government will know that I quit working for them and gave my diplomatic status here. They’ll honor my Russian Federation diplomatic shit though.”

“I don’t have a car here. I was awoken at the ass crack of dawn, packed a back, took two flights to get here, slept at a hotel last night and was told to be here early.”

“I appreciate your coming here to travel back with me,” I said as I grabbed my crossbody bag off of Ignazio’s desk. “I have a car out front. Or should if it hadn’t been towed. Do you have your bag and passport?”

“Any time. And yes, I have my stuff with me including my passport,” he said. “Funnily enough, it was handed to me by the gate agent before I boarded the plane to get here.”

I smiled and knew that it could be only Lorenzo doing that.

“Alrighty. Let’s go,” I said as we headed out of the office.

I led the way through the winding hallways to the front. Thankfully, the car that was waiting for me at the hospital was still out front of the Parliament. I unlocked the car, got in and started the car while I impatiently waiting for Mike to get in.

“You might want to buckle up,” I suggested. “This car has about a bazillion horsepower.”

As soon I heard his seatbelt click, I put the car into gear and headed to the same airport I arrived at. It had to be a semi quiet exit and I knew that I had to leave using my Russian Federation diplomatic passport as that’s the one I used to enter Italy. I just hoped and prayed that no eyebrows would be raised when my true identity was shown.

Thanks to my heavy foot and the horsepower of the car, we arrived at the airport in fifteen minutes rather than the typical forty minutes. Mike was holding onto the door so hard that his knuckles were white. I parked in the corner and as we grabbed our things from the back seat, I heard someone call my name.

“Marie, give me the keys!” Marlon hollered.

“Here!” I said without looking.

I heard the keys hit his hand. Once Mike and I had our stuff, I hugged Marlon and nodded. He nodded back.

“Let’s go, Mike. We need to get out of the parking lot fast.”

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“You don’t wanna know,” I said. “Marlon, thank you, friend. Text my brother when you’re done. I’ll be able to tell when we’re in the air.”

“Got it, boss,” he said.

I started jogging to the private sector of the airport with Mike not too far behind me. He was out of breath from the short jog. We arrived at a private jet that I knew that was waiting for us…thanks to Ignazio’s secretary. She slipped a piece of paper in my hand with the exact location of the plane when I opened Ignazio's office.

“Hi,” I said. “We were told that this plane would be taking people to Canada from here. Where do check in at?”

“Go through the entrance by the orange signs, go to Customs to present your documentation and then head back here with your tickets,” the airport employee said. “Lift off is in twenty minutes. Better hurry up because the pilots of this plane wait for no one!”

I nodded my head and we headed inside to customs. As I pulled out my Russian Federation passport under my true identity, I prayed to as many deities that I could name in four minutes that no eyebrows or questions would be raised. Thankfully, nothing was of concern though there was a slight eyebrow raise. I had purple hair in my passport picture and now I have fire engine red hair. I looked at my phone as we were heading to the plane and I told Mike to step on it as we had two minutes to get back to the plane. We made it with seconds to spare.

“Hurry up!” said a flight attendant. “We’re on a close schedule to Ontario!”

Mike and I ran up the stairs and found our seats.

“You look beautiful in the sun dress, by the way, Deppgrl,”  Mike said.

“Thanks,” I said. “And no, you’re not getting lucky.”

“Harsh!” he said.

“The truth,” I corrected.

“How’s everything been with you?” he asked.

“The plane isn’t the time nor the place for the conversation,” I said. “When we get back to Ontario and in my house, we’ll have that conversation.”

“Understood,” he said.