Stephanie had the feeling that these men were not simply after wallets. If they had, she might have been inclined to mollify them simply to get the whole thing over with. But this felt different.

The man with the gun was the threat. Not to her personally, but to Marcelo. She made sure to step between the gunman and Marcelo, but along the way, she punched a wall. Hard. If they were observant, they would've noticed chips of stone coming out from the walls.

"He's right. You don't have to do this." She spoke calmly, firmly. As if she weren't some not-particularly-intimidating looking woman.