Chapter 20
I got in the shower, being careful not to get my hair wet, washed my body, and got out. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I went into the wardrobe to get dressed into a solid grey cami top with matching drawstring waisted shorts. When I went into the bedroom, Emiliano was leaning in the doorway, wearing a black t-shirt and black gym shorts. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye as I walked over to my bed. The Don smiled and said,
“You are very diligent.”
I cocked my head and gave him a blank stare. He strode over to me and put his hand in mine, I took my hand back and folded my arms and took a step back. Emiliano smiled and pulled his wooden box from his pocket and raised an eyebrow at me. I asked,
“Are you going to be on your best behavior?”
Emiliano took his right hand and touched his forehead, then the middle of his chest, his left shoulder then his right shoulder. I gave him a suspicious look and he chuckled and reached out his hand. I took it and he led me into his room.
We walked up to what I thought was a window behind a curtain but it turned out to be a door to a terrace with an L shaped couch and a coffee table with a small fire pit in the middle. We each took a seat and Emiliano opened his box and retrieved a joint and a lighter and handed both to me,
“Prima le signore.”
*“Ladies first.”*
I put the joint in my mouth and lit it and took a deep drag. I closed my eyes to feel the cloud descend upon me as I exhaled. I handed the cigarette to Emiliano. I looked out over the city lights sparkle in the dark. The island was no longer warm from the sun and a light cool breeze made me shiver. Emiliano exhaled as he asked,
“Are you cold?”
He leaned over the couch and retrieved a rolled throw blanket, unfolded it for me and draped it over my shoulders. Once I was settled into the blanket, Emiliano handed me the spliff and said,
“You make me feel like a teenager.”
I took a long drag then exhaled, sinking lower into the influence as I asked,
“How so?”
I handed it back to Emiliano and he replied,
“I haven’t done this-”
Emiliano took a drag, held his breath for a moment, then exhaled as he continued,
“I haven’t been to Taormina-”
He handed the cigarette back to me and continued,
“Haven’t had this floaty feeling in my stomach-”
I sucked on the joint and held my breath as I handed it back to Emiliano. He killed it and threw the roach over the railing of the terrace. I exhaled and the haze warmed my body so I shrugged the blanket down below my shoulders. Emiliano slid closer to me and said,
“I’ve noticed you’ve added more artwork.”
He pointed to the new piece on my back, I looked at Emiliano and said,
“When work and exercising doesn’t calm me, a tattoo needle never fails.”
Emiliano frowned and I could tell he knew he was the cause of all my angst. I tried to distract him by saying,
“It’s Hera,”
I turned away from him and dropped the strap off my shoulder so he could see her in all of her beauty. A black and grey profile of a gorgeous woman, wearing a winged helmet, her hair blowing in her face with crossed olive branches framing the top and bottom. I felt Emiliano’s fingers trace the black ink embedded into my back. I turned back around to face Emiliano and I said,
“She’s the queen of the Gods.”
I flashed him a devilish grin and Emiliano smiled and shook his head and said,
“Of course she is.”
The heavy cloud of the herb mixed with my exhausted body, made me yawn. Emiliano pulled me in close so I was under his arm and he ran his fingers through my hair. We stared into the night sky and I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. I sat up and told Emiliano I was going to bed, he grabbed my hand and said,
“Sit here a little longer, please.”
“I’m tired, Emiliano. I’m going to sleep, alone, in my own bed.”
I stood and handed him the blanket. He rose from his seat and said,
“I’ll walk you to your bed.”
Emiliano set the blanket down on the couch then led me back inside the room. He folded back the comforter and I climbed into bed. Emiliano tucked me in, kissed me on the forehead, and left my room.
The next morning I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. I went down and sat next to Emiliano who was staring into his laptop, and poured myself some coffee. Emiliano smiled at me and said,
“After you finish your coffee, I have a surprise for you.”
I gave Emiliano a look of fire and he chuckled and confessed,
“I’m going to take you on a real hike.”
Joy danced across my face and my stomach was trying to fly away. Emiliano seemed amused that he made me happy. He looked at me for a moment then he went back to staring into his laptop. I didn’t want to seem eager so I tried to sip on my coffee slowly. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Emiliano’s body tense as he stared into his laptop, I could hear the table nearly break under his grip. I turned to see his jaw clenched. Emiliano’s phone rang and he answered through his teeth,
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Emiliano was silent as he listened to the voice on the other end. I heard the phone beep and I knew whoever called hung up. Emiliano yelled for Mario. Mario was beside Emiliano in a split second, Emiliano growled,
“Tra meno di un'ora incontreremo gli spagnoli per prendere Anka. Prepara tutto.”
*“In less than an hour we will meet with the Spaniards to take Anka. Get everything prepared.”*
Thunder cracked in my ears and the waves nearly knocked me over. I rose out of my seat and I felt like a phantom as I weakly walked through the foyer and climbed the stairs up to my room.
I went into the wardrobe and changed into tight high waisted black and white grid pattern pants with a black long sleeve crop top with red stilettos. I ran into the bathroom to apply tinted moisturizer and red lipstick. I gathered all of my bags and made sure I had everything packed. I grabbed my purse then left my room and went downstairs.
Emiliano was in the foyer and saw me come down the stairs. He was dressed in his usual black slacks and black buttoned up shirt. I pushed past him and walked out the front door, up to the SUV. The driver opened the door and I climbed in. I pretended to be checking my phone as the vehicle was loaded with my suitcases. The driver got in and started the SUV, when suddenly the back door opened and Emiliano jumped in.
“What are you doing?!”
I asked Emiliano. He grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes and said,
“Hera, I’m so sorry.”
I wrenched my hand out of his. Emiliano said,
“I’m going to make sure you make it to the airport ok.”
“Emiliano, if you don’t personally go get Anka, they will kill her. Get out of the fucking car and go get your *wife*!”
He stared into my eyes. I could tell he was at war with himself but then he quickly closed his door then told the driver to go. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to say something but Emiliano put his finger to my mouth to stop me and he said,
“Please, Hera, let me have these last few moments.”
He pulled me in close and I rested my head in the pit of his arm and he leaned his head on mine, smelling my hair. We sat there quietly as the driver sped us to the airport.
The SUV rushed up to the private plane and the driver hopped out to open Emiliano’s door. Emiliano held my hand as he helped me out of the vehicle. The driver opened the back of the SUV and two other men unloaded my suitcases then went to load them into the plane. I looked at Emiliano, memorizing his face and I said,
“You have to go, Emiliano!”
He just grabbed my hand and pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him and held him even closer to me. I wanted to tell him to come with me. I wanted to make him forget about *her* once and for all. The rumbling began in my ears and I dropped my hands and Emiliano released me. He grabbed onto my shoulders and looked at me, eyes full of tears, and said,
“I’m so sorry, Hera.”
A tear escaped my face and Emiliano wiped it away. I took a step back and Emiliano’s hands fell to his side. I turned and walked towards the plane. I got on the stairs and I heard the doors to the SUV open and shut and I didn’t want to look back and see Emiliano speed off to rescue *her* so I hurried into the plane. I took my seat and a woman approached me with a bottle of water and the plane started up. I buckled in and we shot into the sky.