Hurry, please hurry. I watch the numbers above the doors and they are going so slow. I push the buttons again and glance outside to see a car pull up out on the street and two men get out. Ahh, I push the up button on the lift and run into the fire stairs. I take two steps down at a time, nearly frantic. The bag of money is heavy and swinging around and hitting me as I run. I burst through the door at the bottom and see the black Ferrari sitting over by the lift where he is expecting me to come from. I run through the parked cars and open the door and dive into the seat.
“Go,.” I yell.
Stace revs the engine and we fly through the parking lot.
“Come on, faster,.” I yell. “We need to get out of here now.”
We fly through the underground parking lot and up towards the exit ramp. Stace slides the parking ticket into the machine and the roller door slowly creeps up.
“Get down,” he says as his eyes flick over to me.
I nod nervously and bend down over my knees as he drives the car out slowly. “This car was probably a good idea after all.” He turns out of the driveway and onto the street as I watch him from my crumpled hunched position. “They aren’t expecting us to have money. They won’t be looking for this kind of car,” he replies as he drives down the street.
“Can you see anyone?” I whisper.
His eyes flicker up to the rear view mirror. “No.” He pauses. “They are still inside the hotel.”
“Do you think they know that we have the diamonds?” I ask.
“I doubt it,” he replies as he reaches over and pulls the wig from my head and throws it onto the floor. “The ship is still at sea. Nobody would even know they are gone yet.”
We drive for a while longer in silence and his eyes continuously flash to the mirrors to check if anyone is following us.
“See anything?” I ask again.
“No, it’s okay.” He reaches over and rubs my back and I blow out a breath and shake my head.
“I-I didn’t think the bank was going to give me the money,” I stammer.
“What happened?” he asks.
“They were just taking so long and I was freaking out. I thought they had called someone to let them know I was there.”
“But you got it?”
“Yep, it’s in the bag.”
He smiles sexily. “Good girl.”
“Stace.” My eyes search his from my hunched down position. “What are we doing? What are we going to do?”
He blows out a deep breath and pauses as if thinking. “At this stage, trying to not be found is the main priority. We’re not safe until we have new passports and can go in between countries without being detected.”
“Can we go to Sweden? They won’t find us in Sweden.” I have always had it in my head that I will be safe in Sweden. I don’t know why but I just do.
He smiles sadly as he takes my hand in his. “We will go somewhere. It’s going to be okay, Rosh. I got you.”
I nod and bring his hand to my face and kiss the back of it. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“For what?”
“For helping me.”
His eyes meet mine and for a split second his mask slips and I see fear. My face falls, and as if knowing what he has just revealed, he lifts them and concentrates back on the road and to the rear view mirrors.
He thinks they are going to get us.
We drive for fifteen minutes out of the city in silence until finally he speaks. “You can sit up now. Nobody is following us.” I unfold my body from its hunched position.
I stare out the window as my mind goes to my mother and the horror she went through. I can’t stand the thought of him having the same fate. I won’t allow it.
“Stace?” I hesitate as I try to get my wording right. “If they do catch up with us…”
“Yes.”
“I want you to run. Don’t try and save me because you will die. Look what they did to you the other night? I need to know that you won’t try and be Captain America.”
His eyes stay fixed on the road. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Rosh,” he murmurs.
“Yes, but…”
“Stop it!” he yells, cutting me off. “I’m here till the fucking end. Get that shit out of your head right now. I’m not leaving.”
“I don’t want anything to hurt you.”
His eyes snap to me angrily. “It’s a little too late for that. Do you think it wouldn’t fucking hurt me if they got you? I’m saving you for me as well as you!”
A lump forms in my throat. I just want this to be over with. I don’t know how much more I can take of this running. All of my adult life I have been on the run. Now I’m scared and I’m so damn drained. I don’t know what to say. I have no words. No words that will undo the last week. I had it, I had escaped with a fake passport and then I went and ruined it when I went on that damn shooting spree. But then Stace would probably be dead now if I hadn’t.
I did the right thing. I just wish I killed the right man.
I blow out a deep breath as my eyes wander back out the window. If I’d killed the right man our troubles would be over.
I feel the soft touch of his hand swipe the hair back from my face. “We’re here, babe.”
I struggle to open my eyes and readjust myself in the uncomfortable car seat. “This car is shit.” I scowl.
He smiles sexily. “It’s pretty good to drive.” He revs the engine as he throws me a sexy wink to show me just how much he loves it.
“What time is it?” I yawn.
“About 8pm.”
“Are we stopping here for the night?” I ask.
“Yes, we will find somewhere to stay.”
I smile and lean over and kiss the side of his face. “Thanks for letting me sleep,” I whisper into his strong face.
He turns and kisses me gently on the lips. “I have an ulterior motive.
I need you to stay awake tonight.”
“Why is that?” I ask.
“Because I need to relax.”
“And?”
“And I need you to suck my dick.” He kisses my fingertips. “Among other things.”
I smirk. “I’m your relaxant, your all night sucker?”
His dark eyes hold mine and he nods.
“That could be arranged I suppose.” I hesitate. “What’s in it for me?”
He grabs my hand and places it over his crotch and I feel the hard steel beneath it. I feel my insides start to pulse. He’s as horny as hell. Fuck, I love this man.
“What have you been thinking about while I have been sleeping?” I smirk.
“You.” His eyes flicker over to me. “You on me. Me on you.”
I smile broadly. He knows exactly what I need when I need it.
We pull into a swanky looking hotel and the luggage men all swoon at the car. I smile as I watch their reaction. It’s so much fun having money. The bellboy opens the car door and Stace climbs out. “Do you have any rooms for tonight?” he asks.
“Yes, sir.”
He leans back into the car. “This will do. Out you get.”
I nod as he opens the trunk, retrieves our bags, and I climb out. “Do you have any money in your wallet?” I ask.
“Yes, I think so.” He quickly opens his wallet and checks. “All good.”
He passes the keys to the bellboy and the young man’s eyes widen in excitement. It’s not every day you get to park a Ferrari.
“Be careful with it,” Stace tells him.
“Yes, of course, sir.”
We walk through the lobby and up to reception where the three girls behind all take a double take at my beautiful companion. Wearing tight black jeans and a white t-shirt that hugs every muscle, he is looking mighty fine, even if he does have a banged up face. “I would like a room tonight, please,” he tells them.
The beautiful brunette smiles nervously and begins to type. “Yes, of course, sir.” Her eyes linger on his face.
“He’s a boxer.” I interrupt. “His face is bruised from fighting.”
“Oh.” Her eyes flicker to me and she seems embarrassed that she forgot that I was here. Stupid bitch. What is it with slutty reception chicks?
“What kind of room would you like?” she asks. “We have an executive suite, a terrace room, a master suite, or a penthouse.”
“The penthouse, please,” he replies without thinking. He looks at me and I smile. What an amazing life this would be? Being married to him, crazy rich without a care. We could travel the world. There isn’t a thing we couldn’t do. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like and I smile stupidly.
It takes about fifteen minutes to check in and head up to find room 2102.
He swipes the key into the reader and the double doors open. We are hit in the face with exuberant luxury. There’s a large lounge room with a mini grand piano and three luxurious leather lounges. Another sitting room branches off to the right, it has two large, wingback chairs and ottomans. The back wall of the sitting room is lined with bookcases that are filled with beautiful books. The bedroom is to the left and a huge king-sized bed sits in the center. The whole back wall of the bedroom is glass that overlooks the gorgeous city where the lights twinkle down below. A marble bathroom and walk in wardrobe veer off to the left. “Wow,” I murmur as I walk in slowly. “This is…” My voice trails off. I don’t even have words for this.
Stace takes me in his arms. “Only the best for my wife.” He kisses me, his lips are strong and soft, and tonight I can feel the want in them as they linger over mine. He stares down at me and he pushes the hair back from my face. “You okay?” he asks softly as his eyes search mine.
I nod with a fake smile and pull out of his arms. Don’t ask me that because in all honesty, I just don’t know. “Yes,” I lie.
“You haven’t eaten much today.”
I blow out a breath as I throw my bag up onto the bed to get some fresh clothes out. “Not really that hungry,” I murmur.
“Let’s go out for dinner.”
I frown as I look over at him “Is it safe?”