Chapter 37
Lucky
Getting over the wall was a bitch I mean a BITCH, but I managed it and now I feel like I’m getting somewhere, although I have to admit I’m kind of wondering why this is so easy. Nico would have people literally crawling around like ants everywhere, right? So how come I have managed to scale a wall, thanks to all that rope training my father had me do when I was younger and get to a road and hitch a ride with some young dude clearly in high school or something, who was more than happy to take me to the airport?
“You don’t have any luggage,” he says to me.
“Short flight, there and back,” I lie.
“Right, and what did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t, just drive, I’m in a hurry.” I know I’ve only got an hour to get to the terminal, be inside, through security and to the gate.
“Man, your touchy.” The fuck, I’ll show him how touchy I am in a minute if doesn’t stop with all the questions. I ignore him, the airport is in sight, it’s a small one just enough for the small number of tourists they’ll allow on the island no doubt. He pulls up.
“You want some cash for the trouble?” I ask him, it’s the polite thing to do, not that he looks like he needs it with his immaculate, white Polo T-shirt all logo’d up and his fawn chinos.
“Nah, I’m good, just doing my good deed for the evening. Be safe whatever it is you’re up to. By the way my name is Henderson, look me up when you’re next back on the island, I know how to show you a good time.” Cheeky fucker, he’s only around nineteen, no doubt he’s had his dick in more girls than I’ve had hot dinners and relishes in being their center of attention. Why not? He’s got the looks, sandy colored hair, falling over his eyes and a grin that takes up his entire face with white Hollywood teeth. Some kind of trust fund kid, I’ll bet.
“I prefer men to boys, but thanks anyway.” I leave him still giving me that cocky grin of his and close the car door behind me. I take a look up at the building, it’s all glass fronted, aren’t they all though? There are few people around, about ten cars lined up outside dropping people off and a couple pulling away. I exhale, I’ve got this far even though I know there will never be any getting away from having to marry Nico, at least I can be back home whilst I wait until the dreaded wedding day. And if that man thinks I’m going to wear white he has another damn thing coming.
Just as I step onto the kerb, I feel arms go around my waist, strong, thick arms. As I look down, I see tattoos running up and down muscular forearms. “What the fuck?” I use my free right arm, brining my elbow upwards to make contact with a chin. I hear a noise, doesn’t sound good for them but I don’t have time to think. In one move I have the burly guy over my shoulder as I push my hip into his body, it’s hard like a wall, no doubt he works out day and night. There is grunting and a groan as the deadweight hits the ground in front of me. He has a bald head with a tattoo of an eagle on it.
“Who sent you?” I demand he moves and that’s when I feel arms around me again, this time whoever it is, has both my arms by my sides not allowing me any manoeuvrability whatsoever.
“Get her feet you ass, get the fuck up.” I hear a deep voice say. Ground man manages to get himself up, oh yeah, he looks pissed as hell and glares at me. I spit in his face.
“What, never been taken down by a woman before? You shouldn’t have taken me by surprise. Who the hell sent you?”
He grabs my legs as the other guy holds me by my body, together they take me to a large, black vehicle / van. I hear a door being slid open. The next thing I know I’m on the back seat being strapped in like some kind of five-year-old.
“Nico.” Eagle head says and slams the door shut on me before getting into the passenger seat up front. The other guy who I now can see, sits in the driver’s seat. He has dark hair tied up in a man bun, and a tiger tattoo on his neck. If I weren’t so damn pissed, I’d be admiring it and asking for his tattooist, but you know what, I’m fucking pissed and then some.
“I’m not his property, let me out of the vehicle I have a flight to catch.”
“Not now you don’t.”
I am seething as I roll my lips back and lean forward to Eagle head. “Listen here, do you know who the fuck I am?”
“Yeah, a Gianluca now shut the fuck up.” His voice is filled with snide, like the name Gianluca is shit.
“That’s right and a Gianluca who is going to be marrying your boss, remember that because when I’m his queen you two assholes will be dealt with first.”
Eagle head merely sniggers at me, Tiger neck ignores me completely and focuses on driving at a speed that’d put a formula one driver to shame. I sit back and fold my arms in front of my chest, when I see Nico, he’s going to get a piece of my mind that’s for sure.
“How long did it take you two dumbfucks to even realize I was gone?”
“We knew from the moment you left your room, left the property and scaled the wall. Not bad on the wall even if I say so myself for a pampered princess like yourself.” Eagle head says.
“Oh, fuck you. What do you think my father taught me? How to count beans?”
He says nothing, we sit in silence as Tiger neck drives us back to the property. Gates swing open and this time I can have a better visual on everything since I was drugged the last time. The large iron gates have two patrol guards with heavy guns standing on each side. Tiger neck gives them the nod and a second pair of imposing, iron gates open. In front of us the drive is lit up on either side by lanterns that look like something out of a twenty’s movie set, I see large trees lining each side, they look like oaks – large and imposing. We must drive at least a quarter of a mile before the vehicle swerves around a bend on the drive and pulls up outside the front of the property. Guards stand all around the outside of Nico’s mansion, they’re all carrying military grade weapons, this man doesn’t take his security lightly. Good, at least I know I will be safe here even though I’d rather be getting into my bed back home and catching up with Mia in the morning.
“So, out of interest, how exactly did you track me to the airport?”
Tiger neck actually opens his mouth, “easy, by drone. You don’t think Nico takes any chances, do you?” No, of course, he doesn’t but I didn’t figure on eyes in the sky. He gets out and opens the car door for me just as Eagle head grabs me, I shirk him off.
“Keep your fucking hands off me.”
“Just get inside and don’t try it again. Next time, Nico won’t allow for you to get that far.”
Seriously, that fucker knew I’d gotten to the terminal before he’d done anything about it.
Vinnie passes me on the stairs and gives me one of those looks that says, like you were ever going to get away. I fist my hands to stop myself from punching her in the face and trust me, I have a good right hook. All those times in the gym, the boxing classes, the self defense, that’s right I know exactly how to look after myself.
Upstairs, I slam the door shut behind me then become even more agitated when it doesn’t slam behind me, fuck these slow-release doors. Aaagh. Inside I kick off my boots and throw myself down face first onto the bed. I get it, I understand that Nico is concerned for our safety, but I know it’s not because he actually cares for me the way any woman would want a man to care for her, out of love and respect, because she’s the most important thing to him. No, it’s because of his precious empire, his kingdom that is all that it is and okay, so I admit it. It hurts.
There’s a soft knock on the door. “What?”
“It’s Vinnie. You have a call.”
I sit upright then go open the door. She hands me the mobile, it’s the early hours of the morning, why is she even still awake. Does she work 24/7 for Nico? The man must never stop.
“Next time you try to runaway from me, I will chain you - do you understand, Princess?”
“Whatever, Santangelo. Spying on me.”
“It’s for our own protection. Why do you feel you must run from me? It changes nothing, you know the deal marriage to me or your father’s life.” His voice is low and angry. So why does it send a shiver through my body and hits me at my core?
“I don’t want to be trapped like a prisoner here, you could take a while to find who did this to us, we can’t live like this. That’s giving in to them and you don’t strike me as the kind of man who gives in to anyone, Nico.”
There’s a silence, it speaks volumes. Did I just call him out?
“I fly back tomorrow, nothing is getting done here, I’ll think about it. Promise me, Princess you will not try to run again.”
“Fine. Bye.” I hang up, pass the phone back to Vinnie who has a smirk on her face and close the door on her. He wins. This time only.