I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Jesus, don’t get drunk now,” I whisper under my breath.
Enrico smirks over at me and winks.
I’m so envious of his ability to keep his cool during stressful situations. How the hell is he so calm?
The stewardess brings us our drinks, and before long, the plane slowly travels down the runway.
I crane my neck to peer through the window. “I don’t see anyone.”
Enrico sits back and rests his head on the headrest. “They think I’m in Sicily.”
“Why would they think that?”
“Because when they get to my office, that’s what they will be told.” His sips the amber fluid in the glass.
“Oh.” I nod. “Right.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Good idea.”
Enrico takes my hand and kisses it. “Go to sleep, bella. You will need your energy later.”
Energy later?
I stare at him as my brain fires a million horrible scenarios my way. Running from police. Being tackled to the ground. Being beaten to a pulp. Being thrown in jail.
“Olivia,” he says firmly.
I put my head into my hands.
“Would you have preferred I faked my death and left you alone in Italy to grieve?”
“No.” I frown at the horrible thought of thinking he was dead. “God, no.”
“Then relax. We will be in Roma in eighty minutes, and then we are out. It’s under control.”
“If you say so.”
I peer back out through the window and put my head back into the headrest as the plane launches down the runway at high speed.
Life of crime, here I come.
* * *
We’re standing on the boat ramp by the ocean, just outside of Roma.
Just Lorenzo, Enrico, and me.
“You have the details?” Lorenzo asks.
“Yes,” Enrico replies. “We get this boat to Ponza. Once there, we pick up a car from this address.” He takes out a folded piece of paper and opens it. There’s an address written down. “It will be rigged with explosives to which I will detonate once we get on a deserted road, leaving us dead… apparently.”
Lorenzo passes over two syringes. “Don’t forget to take blood and put it in the car. We need DNA evidence you were both in it.”
“Of course.” Enrico takes the syringes and puts them into his suit pocket. “Then,” Enrico continues, “I will pick up the car from the second location and drive to the runway on the other side of the island, where a plane with an American pilot will be waiting to pick us up.”
My eyes widen as I listen to the upcoming events.
Dear God.
I feel the blood drain from my face. This cannot be happening.
Lorenzo leans down and kisses my cheek. “Goodbye, Miss Olivia. I shall see you on your return.”
I put my arms around his neck and squeeze him tight. “I’m so grateful that you’re helping us.”
“It’s what family does.” He turns and takes Enrico into his arms. “I love you, my son. Be careful.”
“I love you, too. Thank you,” Enrico says into his shoulder.
We climb into a small boat that has a canopy over it. It’s nothing like what Enrico usually travels in, but of course, we’re trying to go unnoticed.
I sit down on the bench chair, while Enrico starts the little engine.
Lorenzo gives us a sad smile, and before we can decide against it, we head off into the ocean.
***
Olivia
The drone of the airplane is the only background noise.
I’m exhausted but I can’t sleep. Not after what we have been through for the last four days.
We blew up a car and faked our own deaths.
Enrico’s cousin from New York, Gabriel, has organized a string of strategic plane hopping all across the world as a way for us to escape being found. We are apparently now off the grid and on the last flight before we arrive at our final destination.
This is the ninth plane we have flown on.
I can’t even call Mum because we had to leave our phones in the car. Lorenzo assured me he would let her know that I’m okay. I just hope he didn’t forget. He wouldn’t. I’m sure he wouldn’t.
“Olivia,” Enrico says softly. “You must be exhausted.”
“I’m okay.” I smile softly. I’m really not, though. I just can’t get my head around the fact that we are now officially criminals.
I’m pregnant and on the run, while my fiancé is wanted for cocaine dealing. He’s also in the mafia and, oh my God, this can’t be happening.
What is this life?
I mean, I know I wanted adventure, but this is totally out of control now.
Enrico puts his strong arm around me. “Shh,” he whispers against my temple. “Ol-i-vi-a. It’s going to be okay.”
I smile as I close my eyes. His voice is like a Xanax. It’s calming, deep, and exactly what I need to hear.
“Go to sleep, bella, our baby needs you to rest.”
I snuggle into his shoulder and close my eyes. With Enrico’s lips resting against my forehead, I will myself to sleep.
* * *
I wake with a start as the engine stops, and I look around.
Enrico is standing and gathering my things.
I rub my eyes. “Are we there?”
He smiles down at me. “Yes, my love. We are here.”
“Oh.” I peer out the window and see unfamiliar landscape. “Where exactly is… here?”
“The Caribbean.”
I frown in surprise. Jeez.
The stewardess opens the door, and we make our way out onto the stairs. A black car sits on the tarmac waiting for us. The driver is standing beside it.
He’s wearing a dark suit, and he’s tall, handsome, with dark skin.
He smiles and waves us over. “Hello, there,” he calls.
Enrico bows his head.
I look between them and try to hide my smile. Enrico is used to his staff being super formal around him.
The man rushes to greet us. “My name is Bobby.” He shakes Enrico’s hand and then mine.
“Hello.”
“This is Bella, and I’m Rici.”
“Yes, yes, I know who you are.” He laughs as he opens the car door.
No, actually, you don’t.
Once we’re all in the car, Bobby chats away happily as he drives. Enrico’s eyes float over to me and I smile. This is such a weird experience for us-having a chatty driver.
After half an hour, Bobby pulls up at a dock by the ocean. “This way.” He smiles as he grabs my things. “The boat is waiting.”
“Boat?” I frown over to Rici.
“Last one.” He taps me on the ass. “I promise.” We board the flashy looking speedboat, and Enrico puts a life jacket on me before he carefully sits me down.