Chapter 42 Big Boom
Serena's POV
DON'T BOARD THAT JET
DON'T BOARD THAT JET
DON'T BOARD THAT JET!!!
All three sentences stared back at me in bold, screaming from the screen like alarms. I blinked fast. Once, twice, hoping they'd vanish or change.
But no luck. I looked around quickly, my heart was hammering inside my chest. I was hoping no one saw the text, or the way my face went pale at the sight. I should have stuffed the phone immediately, but no, I typed back shakily, "why?"
The rest came instantly. "Don't just board that jet."
Oh gawd. Panic began clawing up my throat as my lungs tightened up, like the air was drawing thin around me. Dante's voice cut through my thoughts from the top of the stairs. "Serena, you coming?"
I jerked slightly but recovered quick enough. Then took a deep breath and forced a smile up at him. "Yeah. Just stunned by the sight."
"Then come on right in."
I nodded nervously and glanced back, looking for Nico, but he was nowhere to be found. I said a silent prayer, praying that this doesn't end up being a huge mistake.
Then I took the steps up, slow at first as I was scared of falling cause of how shaky my mind was. But my steps soon grew wobbly as I neared the top.
"Careful there," Dante called out with a smile as I reached the top. He had been smiling more since we got here, must be really proud of his collection. I mean, who wouldn't be? It would stink if he ever lost this.
As I stepped into the jet, I was instantly blown away by the interior design. It was like stepping into a luxury lounge hanging mid-air. The cream leather seats looked soft and were wide, arranged in cozy groups with polished wood tables between.
The soft lighting from the well placed spots in the ceiling gave the room a warm feeling, bouncing off gold accents on the walls. The carpet felt thick under my foot, muffling every step.
It had a bar at the back, Dante's dad must have loved drinking too. It was stocked with crystal glasses and bottles that shone under the mini spotlights.
It even had a flat-screen mounted on the wall and curtains which were drawn over windows for privacy. It smelled like fresh leather and faint cologne, very rich and exclusive.
I instinctively felt out of place. But I strolled in a bit more anyway with my mouth half-open while Dante asked, "you like it?"
"It's beautiful," I managed to reply between my gaping.
He coughed softly. "My dad really had good taste."
I nodded, following him as he led me to a private booth, a secluded spot towards the front with two seats facing each other and a small table between. The curtains were already pulled down for total privacy.
The leather seats were even softer here and the pillows were embroidered with the Russo crest. There was a mini fridge tucked at the corner and I'm sure it's stocked with all you can eat. It felt like a flying hotel room.
I took my seat as the phone buzzed again, the vibration pulling me away from the beautiful moment and reminding me of its message.
When Dante wasn't looking, I pulled it out slowly with my heart in my throat.
"I warned you and you didn't listen, whatever happens next, it's on you," the message read.
Dante's POV
Serena looked off from the start, right from when she joined us at the parking lot back at my penthouse. She had walked nervously, talked oddly, and was nervously fidgeting with her phone at the stairs.
She was looking around like she was expecting some sort of trouble. I had brushed it off at first as first-time jet jitters. But now? She was still nervously looking at her phone even now we were in the private room.
I settled in the booth, sitting across from her. Some of the men, three actually beside Nico that traveled with us, filled up the main cabin while Nico stayed up front with the pilot, running last checks.
She was still on her phone, again. The third time I had caught her in here, she was staring down at the screen intently. Her face looked paler every second.
"Everything good?" I was forced to ask.
She jumped and shoved her phone away quickly. "Yeah. Everything is fine."
But I didn't buy it. "You sure? Look like you saw a ghost," I said cautiously.
She gave another nervous laugh. "It's nothing, I'm just... scared of heights. First time flying like this."
I raised a brow. "Heights? Didn't peg you as that type."
She shrugged and dropped her eyes to her lap. "Surprise."
The staff brought us some drinks, a bottle of water for her and scotch for me. I sipped mine, watching her from over the rim.
Her phone buzzed again in her bag, she glanced down, but ignored it.
"It's been buzzing a lot, uhn?" I asked casually.
"It's just spam," she said quickly, too quickly, then forced a smile.
I hummed, but let it drop, at least for now. The takeoff was smooth as usual, lifting up easily. The city shrunk below as I looked up to spot Serena gripping the armrest tightly with her eyes squeezed shut.
"Relax," I said, placing a hand on hers. "This is the safest way to fly."
She nodded tightly, but didn't open her eyes till we leveled off. The staff came later, served us snacks, fruits, cheese, crackers, whatever that was. She picked at it distractedly, checking her phone every now and then.
"Who's blowing you up?" I asked all of a sudden with a stern voice.
"Friends. From before," she replied with a slightly shaky voice.
"Oh really?" I asked with a hard look. "So it's no longer spam, huh?
Her face went red on the spot as she put a hand over her mouth.
I leaned forward with a shake of my head. "Serena. Talk to me."
"I'm fine," she snapped a bit, then softened immediately. "Really. It's just nerves."
I didn't push yet. I shrugged rather. "It's about your mom?" I asked.
"No. Oh no, I'm calm about that," she replied nervously again.
"Okay. Peru is a small town and your mom's in a quiet spot, the team says it's safe."
Hours passed by quickly with me reviewing files on my tablet, and her staring out the window or dozing slightly. Nico came back once, gave an update on landing, giving me a check that all was clear.
Then suddenly, a large boom sound came from outside, shifting the jet forward and sending Nico tumbling to the other side of the plane and us nearly tipping over, just holding onto the cushion.
"What the fuck?!" I yelled, grabbing Serena as she nearly tipped over with the way the jet kept swaying.
Alarms hit from all angles and even the screens went red. Then just when I felt it was calming down, I heard the pilot's voice from the cabin. "Get ready for immediate landing!”