Valentina.
The drive to the private airport had been a study in tension.
The darkened car interior amplified every creak of the leather seats and every unspoken word hanging between us. Reed sat rigid beside me, his gaze fixed forward, while Isabella reclined in false indifference.
Marco was upfront with the driver we had picked along the way, barking occasional instructions, his clipped tone betraying his unease.
I stared out the window at the city lights as they blurred into the darkness. My fingers twisted in my lap, a futile attempts to still my trembling hands.
Something felt off… wrong in a way I couldn’t say.
The unease had settled in my gut the moment Marco had announced we were leaving, and it had only grown since, making me do questionable things.
Like flirt with Reed.
What was wrong with me?
“We’ll be fine,” Reed said softly, almost to himself, as if sensing my anxiety.
I didn’t respond.
I didn’t believe him.
The paranoia I’d inherited from Matteo’s world had a tight grip on me now, and nothing about this escape felt secure. I’d seen too many plans fall apart, too many lives ruined in an instant.
I’d lost someone important to me.
A getaway like this felt like tempting fate.
When we finally arrived, the slight of the sleek, black jet waiting on the tarmac didn’t bring the relief I’d hoped for. Instead, it felt like a target… a flashing beacon calling out to anyone who might want to stop us.
To Luca.
My eyes darted around the small airport, searching for threats in every shadow.
Marco was the first out of the car, his hand resting on the gun beneath his coat. “Let’s move,” he ordered, his voice sharp. “No delays.”
He just had to show how much of an asshole he was.
Isabella and I climbed out, Reed close behind, his presence a silent reassurance. Clouds gathered in the sky, which made the air cool and heavy with the promise of rain, the hum of the plane’s idling engines vibrating through the ground.
Tesoro was written on it.
The crew stood by the stairs, their smiles tight and professional, though I thought I caught a flicker of unease in one of the flight attendant’s eyes.
“Go ahead,” Marco urged, waving us toward the plane.
I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to stop. But what choice did I have?
Matteo wanted me to leave. He wanted me to be safe.
So I took a deep breath and forced my legs to move, ascending the stairs with Isabella trailing behind me. Once inside, the luxurious interior should have been comforting, but it felt suffocating instead.
The cabin was immaculate… plush leather seats, polished wood finishes, and soft golden lighting. But none of it could shake the unease that clung to me like a second skin.
Something was wrong.
“Is this paranoia part of the package, or are you just a natural at being insufferable?” Isabella’s voice broke through my thoughts as she slid into a seat across from me.
I ignored her, sinking into a seat by the window. Reed and Marco entered a moment later, Marco moving immediately to confer with the pilot. Reed lingered near the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the cabin as if expecting someone to jump out of the walls.
Typical.
As we waited, Isabella leaned back in her seat, her eyes fixed on me with a predatory glint. Away from danger and pain, she was the one that could be a bit insufferable.
“You’re awfully quiet, little sister. What’s wrong? Worried your knight in shining armour plan isn’t going to work out?”
I shot her a glare. “What are you talking about?”
She shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, you know. Matteo’s habit of saving you without inserting himself in it, and without an apology after what he did the last time. You’ve grown quiye accustomed to it, haven’t you?”
What?
My chest tightened at her words.
Matteo hadn’t saved me. Not really. He’d left me to fend for myself in a world I didn’t understand, surrounded by people I couldn’t trust. He’d led me to being almost kidnapped because he refused to believe me. He’d led me to almost dying at the hands of his brother. And now, with everything that had happened, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to be rescued by Matteo at all.
Especially if it led me to something even worse than what was happening now?
“I don’t need Matteo to save me,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
Isabella laughed, a cruel, hollow sound. “Of course you do. That’s the only reason you’re in this situation, isn’t it? Playing the dutiful stand-in for me. But there’s something more now.”
Okay.
What had happened to my sister between the safe house and this airport?
My stomach churned at her insinuation. “What are you trying to say?”
She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with… malice? “I’m saying, Valentina, that you’re wasting your time. Whatever game you’re playing with Reed or anyone else… lying… hiding, and stuff like that… it’s pointless. Matteo belongs to me. He always has. He always will.”
Woah. Woah. Woah.
Where was this coming from?
Her words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me momentarily speechless. “That’s ridiculous,” I managed after a moment, my voice trembling with anger. “If Matteo belongs to you, then why didn’t you fight for him? Why sully yourself with his brother?”
Isabella’s smile faltered, but only for a moment. “Because I could. Because I knew he’d wait for me. And he did, didn’t he? You were just… convenient.”
The venom in her words was staggering. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. “You’re unbelievable.”
She laughed again, leaning back in her seat. “Call it what you want. But deep down, you know I’m right. You’re nothing but a placeholder, Valentina. A distraction. And when the time comes, Matteo will choose me. He always does.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. I hated her for what she was saying, but I hated myself more for the small, treacherous part of me that wondered if she was right.
Before I could gather my thoughts, the intercom crackled to life, and the pilot’s calm voice filled the cabin. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered a mechanical issue that requires immediate attention. We won’t be able to depart tonight.”
The announcement sent a jolt of fear through me. Marco was on his feet instantly, storming toward the cockpit with a string of curses. Reed followed, his hand resting on his weapon.
I turned to Isabella, who looked infuriatingly calm, her smirk still in place. “You’re welcome,” she said, her tone dripping with satisfaction.
What?
I didn’t respond.
My heart was racing, my mind spinning. This was more than a mechanical issue. I could feel it.
Something was very, very wrong.