Chapter 67: Chapter Sixty Seven

Nicholas POV

"Run them down. Do it."

"Sir?" the pilot asked. "Are you sure? It may damage the plane. What if they shoot out an engine or the fuel tank?"

"Well, what else do you think we can do?" I asked as we continued to approach the line of cars and men with guns.

"I can turn back, maybe they will jump in their vehicles and follow. Then we take off," he suggested.

I briefly considered this suggestion and made a quick decision. I gave my permission while simultaneously dialing Jimmy. He answered on the first ring. "We see it, boss; we are on the way. I had to call for additional resources, but we are on the other side of the tarmac." I looked out the side window and watched as two black SUVs approached at a high rate of speed.

"We are turning around, so just keep clear of the plane if you can," I told him. I watched as they veered off to the left, skirting our path.

"Michael is on his way as well. I'm certain that Cain is here on-site somewhere. Otherwise, why would every single one of his men be here?" he asked.

He had a point, which made me move to the other side of the plane and peer out the window there too. "Is everything okay?" the doctor asked me as he stayed in the seat next to Camilla's bed, his eyes focused on my face. The two nurses remained quiet, one slept silently in a reclined seat, while the other wrote on a clipboard and played with the pumps that dripped out Camilla's sedation.

"Just a small issue, we will be on the way shortly," I advised as I turned back to the cockpit.

I was just in time to see us make a sharp left and to see my men approach the line of cars. Men had jumped into two of them and were starting towards our plane. Jimmy was struck by the vehicle, as it slammed into the side of his vehicle. I watched as it went up in flames, and Jimmy backed his SUV up and bailed out, our men trailing behind him. The engine had erupted in flames. My men looked unharmed, but the other vehicle was a ball of fire, and no one exited.

Our other SUV had come to a halt. Jimmy and his crew ducked behind it, taking cover as a barrage of bullets were fired at it. The bullets pinged off the bulletproof metal. It appeared that the distraction was adequate for us to get away from the bullets that could wreak havoc on our plane. As our plane turned back, now heading in the opposite direction, flashing lights appeared on the runway, coming towards us. "Shit," I mumbled. Someone had alerted the authorities.

The pilot frantically communicated with the air traffic controller and then made a sharp left again, sending me falling back against the bulkhead. "A little warning," I growled out as I righted myself. I turned to check on everyone in the back. The nurse who had been asleep —the one with an attitude — now sat up, looking out the window. "Everyone okay back there?" I asked. I got two head nods and a dirty look. I took that to mean they were all fine and turned back to the pilot.

"Sorry, boss, but it was that or hit a cop car traveling at ninety miles an hour. They are diverting us towards the runway to the left. We can still take off immediately," he stated.

I nodded and then grabbed my phone and dialed the lieutenant I had on my payroll. "Issue at JFK. I need you to handle it," I told him when he picked up.

"What kind of issue?" he asks warily.

"The illegal firearms and a shoot-out kind. Your guys are nearly at the scene. I'm not there, Jimmy is your point. You know what to do," I tell him. He begrudgingly agrees and hangs up. He knows that if he protects my guys, he will be paid nicely. I don't give two shits about Cain's men. Jimmy will know to tell him who belongs to me and who doesn't.

As I hang up, I look up just in time to see the police arrive and surround the vehicles. Our plane begins to lift off the ground, and soon, it's all just small lights in the distance. "Eight hours, sir," the pilot says. "You may as well get some sleep."

I return to the rear of the plane and take a seat. Fortunately, it reclines and I close my eyes but before even a minute passes, Tanya is in the seat next to me. "What the fuck was that?" she hisses. It's not like being quiet is going to keep anyone from hearing her. It's pretty tight quarters with all the equipment inside.

"That was what you call a bad day," I say to her. I keep my eyes closed. "It's handled, and we are on our way."

"I didn't sign up to get killed. I signed up to take care of Ms. Patron," she says. "I don't think Dr. Fender or Bridgette signed up to die either, did you guys?" she says louder.

I hear two quiet nos’ from the back, but nothing more. "Look," I say, sitting up. "I'm going to be upfront with you. A man is trying to kidnap Camilla. This is why she's in this situation to begin with. His men did this to her. I can't tell you much more, but she's in danger and I'm just trying to get her to safety."

Tanya scoffs. "As if we don't know who you are, Mr. Carmine."

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, considering I paid for the wing of the hospital you work in." Bridgette nods as if she knows what I'm saying, but doesn't offer any words. "I am paying you very well for this trip, and you will be safe and be returned to New York without any further issue. So," I say with a sigh. "Do your job, which is to take care of Camilla. Don't question me."

By now, the two soldiers who were sitting in the back of the plane have come to the front and stand with their hands on their hips, jackets pushed back just enough to display their firearms. "Take a seat, boys," I say. "We are fine here." The two women look from them to me and back again. The doctor says nothing, just sits with his head bent, reading. Clearly, he's not all that concerned.

My men grunt and then return to their seats. Bridgette decides to address me now. "Mr. Carmine, I'm grateful for this opportunity. Thank you. I did want to ask if you would like Carmilla sedated until we reach the destination in Italy?"

"I think that's probably best, don't you? I mean, I'm not the doctor, but Wayne," I paused. "I mean, Dr. Moreno said it's best to keep the migraines at bay with the change in air pressure."

"Yes," Dr. Fender clears his throat. "That is what he said. We will follow his orders."

"So, there you have it," I say. I turn back in my seat, lean back, and close my eyes. I personally cannot wait to arrive at my family's home in Tuscany. No place is more beautiful. Of course, no one on this plane knows exactly where we are going, except the pilot and me. Not even my men in the back know. It was imperative to prevent the location from leaking to someone who can't know. I hope that we are now free and clear. At least for the time being. I will call Jimmy later to confirm everything that happened in New York after our plane took off.