“Lucca?” I cry.
“No, do not. You do not dare. I have you. You are both going to be safe.” Without another word, he picks me up and carries me downstairs.
It all happens so fast—the policemen, detectives, and Men in Black sprinting back and forth, my mum sobbing into Aunt Eva’s neck saying goodbye, my granny heartbroken on the chair being consoled by a specialist, Hayley wrapped in Uncle Jim’s arms, and Hayden chalk white. I’m motionless.
When Lucca carries me towards the door something sparks inside me.
“Wait!” I shout and wiggle from Lucca’s embrace. I walk barefoot through the frantic crowd and find Hayley. I walk past the chaos and stop right in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” I say, cupping her face. “I wouldn't wish this on my enemy. I’m so sorry. Everything will be okay, and you will be fine. I promise you. We won’t let anything happen to you.” She looks terrified. My heart is breaking and I just want to take her with me. Why does it need to be like this?
She’s in shock with terror in her eyes and doesn’t respond. She’s confused. Anguish strains Uncle Jim’s face as he rubs my arm.
“It’s not your fault,” she eventually says. I kiss her, cuddle her, and tell her I love her.
“Apple,” a broken voice says.
Oh God … Grandpa.
He stands helpless—a wounded soldier—with his hand on his heart like a broken man. I wrap my arms around him believing it’s the last time I’m ever going to see him, breaking my heart. My hair at the side is soaked with tears and my grandpa is shaking. I’ve never seen him so afraid.
“Apple, I love you. I love you as much as life itself, you know that. You’re my breath of fresh air, kid, but I need you to go with Lucca. He will keep you safe. We can’t protect you here. Call us as soon as you get to Tuscany. We’re going to join you there shortly.”
“You are?”
Hope … I now have hope. I thank my lucky stars.
“Yes of course we are,” he stutters.
“Oh, Grandpa, I love you so much. I’d love for you to come. I hate the thought of …” He places his fingers to my lips to shush me. I hold him for what seems like only seconds, but Lucca puts his hand on my shoulder gently prying me away. It’s time. I don’t want to go.
“Lexi, we need to go.”
“No, wait …” I cry, noticing Mr. Carlin pacing in the hallway.
“For fuck sake, Alexis, we need to go!” Lucca shouts over the commotion while banging the wall with his fist. I yank my hand away and wrap my arms around Mr. Carlin’s neck while I have the chance.
“Please tell me this is going to be okay?” I beg for his promises because he’s a wise man with wise words and always centres me.
“I don’t know that, lassie, but I will pray for everyone,” he says in a stern, gruff voice.
Lucca is cursing and swearing behind us, which causes me to sigh. I close my eyes and shake my head. Mr. Carlin does something he’s never done before—he takes my face in both hands.
“Don’t be angry at him. He’s hurting too and falling apart because he wants to protect you, lassie. You know, in a game of chess the queen always protects the king. You remember that because I know in the end, Lexi, you’ll always be the strong one under pressure. You keep it buried deep, girl. Hell, you always do, but when the time’s right, you dig and fight and protect your king. He’s a strong man, but sometimes men can be so blinded by love that they become weak and falter. He’s stressed but trying very hard to mask it. Lexi, be strong, have faith and courage. Eleanor will guide you, lass.”
“No, I can’t, I’m not!” I yell, dropping to my knees. Lucca lifts me off the floor in his protective, masculine arms and storms to the front door with me.
I don’t get the chance to say goodbye to anyone else in the house or comprehend what’s happening before Lucca carries me out and places me in one of the SUVs. He fastens my seat belt and gets in beside me. I hear Doris barking from the porch, which tugs right at my heartstrings.
“Wait!” I yell.
“No, you can’t take her, Alexis.” Mum sobs from the front of the vehicle, rummaging in her handbag; I hear the familiar pop of pills from a packet. Mum’s obviously had to take her medication because of tonight’s discovery.
I focus on Mr. Carlin standing at the front door next to the detective, rubbing his head in confusion and pinching his suspenders. I lower the window. “Mr. Carlin, can you take care of her until I’m home? Please make sure she’s looked aft …” I’m barely able to finish, my throat raw.
“Lassie, don’t worry about the beast. You get yourself to safety. We’ll all be fine, but I give you my word, I’ll look after her.” He coughs then blows me a kiss. I catch it and return the gesture as Lloyd slams his foot on the accelerator and drives off with us into the fearful unknown dark of night.
Mr. Carlin’s shrinking eyes are the last image I have because my eyes are squeezed shut so tightly that I’m seeing white distorted shapes flickering through the darkness within the car.
Lucca pulls me into his chest protectively, but all I can think about is the family we have left behind.
“Alexis, are you okay?” Mum asks, but she sounds broken.
Like me.
How can I be so mindless wallowing in my own anguish when she must be absolutely ready to shatter and break? When she doesn’t have anyone holding her or protecting her?
“I will be fine. Mum, are you …?”
“Yes, don’t you worry about me. I’ll be all right. We will all be fine. Just focus on you and your baby.”
I don’t care that she’s said it in front of Lloyd because her heart is in the right place.
I wish I could pull her over into my lap and caress her the same way Lucca is doing for me, to give her some comfort.
The ringing of Lucca’s phone startles me, and he answers it almost immediately.
“Yes, is it ready? … Good … Yes, the ladies may want to sleep … Good … Negative … Yes, four … Passports are with me … No fucking about, Claude, ensure she is ready to go, ETA thirty minutes … yes, it is fucking imperative … I understand … refreshments yes, food, blankets, and one cabin crew member only … Yes, off radar and no manifest … CID, security, and the case specialists are more than aware, all above board … Claude … Thanks.”
He disconnects as another call comes through.
It’s Marco who he gives further instructions regarding the enhanced security and details of our flight. Then he speaks with Cameron to ensure that he, Hazel, Dominic, and Anna leave my house in Uddingston and move into Lucca’s temporarily where there is adequate security.
Shivering from fright and because my feet are bare, I lift them up on the seat and place them under my ass. Lucca takes his suit jacket off and slips it over me, realising I’m shaking and cold.
He continues making his calls to Peter, Antonio, and Giorgio—his business partner at his Luminara chain—and finally another to Suzanne.
“Are we going to Inverness airport?” I whisper when his calls have finished.
“No, we are going to a private airfield nearby. We should be arriving shortly.” He kisses my forehead.
“How did you get my passport?” I ask.
“I brought them with me out of habit. I always carry mine in case I need to fly for business at short notice.”
“We’re not going on a standard flight are we?” I ask, parting my dry lips.
“No, we are not.”
“Then how?”
“My private jet. I have chartered it before for business use, but decided to buy it for us and it will be utilised as a company jet as well. When we returned from Tuscany and we were on the flight, it got me thinking that I would like you to be more comfortable and have privacy, and with my business we will need to do a lot of travel.” He sighs, running his fingers through my hair, peeling the salty wet strands away from my cheeks.
I’m not surprised he has bought a jet. I’m only thankful Lucca has the means to protect me like he can and get us out the country quickly.
“I have no shoes on,” I whisper, ashamed. Through all the turmoil and drama, I think of my feet. I think of running barefoot, I think of the bush and trying to escape. I cry.
I’m trying to escape. I’m running through the bush.
He’s chasing me ... he’s shouting at me ... my bare feet are hurting and bleeding.
It’s dark ... it’s hot.
I’m scared.
I can’t get away.
I need to get away.
I panic, crying uncontrollably against Lucca’s chest. He hushes me and calms me and tells me to keep focus and be brave.
“Do not fret about your feet, baby, that is the least of our worries. You can shower and change on the flight. We are here,” he says, holding my hand while looking out the window scanning the area.
Shower? Like shower, as in running hot water in a cubicle shower? Oh my goodness this night is just getting crazier by the second. I wipe my tear stained face and try to gain some composure.
I’ve been too busy fretting about my bare feet to notice we’re in a secluded airfield. We drive across the tarmac approaching a sleek, private jet with Osurac in bold capital letters on the side, and the engine noise intensifies as we edge nearer to it. Mum glances back towards me and gives me a reassuring nod, but I see in her eyes, she’s just as petrified as me.
It’s the look, the “be a big brave girl and you’ll get a gold star” look.
Lucca unclasps my belt, rushes outside, and shakes hands with two smart men and a beautiful female.
Oh, just great. I look like I’ve been in a car crash or bushfire and have no footwear on, and she’s like an air flight angel standing like a model from the frequent flyer magazine.
Lloyd passes his car keys over to another man waiting nearby in a smart suit speaking into a mouth piece. Lloyd lifts the luggage from the boot of the car.
“Can you bring the suitcases on board please, Lloyd?” Lucca shouts over the revving engine. Lloyd nods and proceeds to lift the cases up the ramp into the aircraft as opposed to the hold.
Lucca opens my door and I have to grab onto the bottom of my chiffon dress to prevent it from riding up thanks to the forceful gust of wind from the engines. He scoops me up in his arms, and I wrap my arms around his neck as my wild, wavy hair flies everywhere. Then he climbs the stairs with me into the jet.
Walking past the cockpit and crew kitchen and another private room, we settle in the main cabin. He sits me on a leather reclining bucket seat, and he takes the seat in front. Mum and Lloyd take seats on the other side.
Looking around, I find there are empty seats behind us and a huge lounge at the back with a modern corner sofa, plasma television, bar, dining table, and study area. There’s a closed door in front of us and also towards the back further down the cabin.
The interiors are ultra-modern and not what I would expect to find on an aircraft, but then this is not any ordinary aircraft. There are comfortable lime green pillows, blankets and cushions, modern accessories, and lots of state-of-the-art equipment. It looks more like an exquisite suite at an upper class hotel than a plane.
Claude is the captain, Eric is the co-pilot, and Bethany is the flight attendant. Lucca passes over all four passports for inspection, and Claude casually pats him on his shoulder in a friendly gesture. He turns to address us all, giving the mandatory “welcome aboard” speech, then Claude shakes everyone’s hand and walks off to the cockpit followed by Eric.
Bethany performs her safety demonstration, then disappears for take-off. She returns shortly after with bottles of water and some savoury snacks. She offers Mum and Lloyd some champagne. Lloyd refuses while on duty, but Mum takes one and throws it back then takes another.
I frown towards Mum. She says she called Casey and she’s told her to take sleeping tablets with her other prescription drugs to avoid any episodes or anxiety on the flight. Mum’s eyes are rolling in her head already, and I know she’ll be out cold soon. Lloyd sips his water then places earphones in his ears.
Lucca pinches his forehead, contemplating what he wants. “Bethany, I will have a Peroni and a chaser of double Macallan Scotch, no ice please.”
Fuck!
File - W for whiskey. Whiskey is the devil.
He’s struggling, I know, but I don’t want him to get sloshed, not when I need him.
He needs me.
I need him to be strong. I need to be strong for him.
I have him.
Bethany returns with our drinks, and Lucca asks for another double scotch. I turn away so he doesn’t catch my distaste. He hasn’t spoken to me since we got on board, and there’s an oppressive silence between us. I’ve seen this behaviour before, and it scares me, but I love him and I’m willing to forgive his stressed-induced alcohol intake if this helps him deal with what’s happening.
“Bethany, can you show me where I can use the bathroom please?” I follow her into a private bedroom when I satisfied Mum is sleeping.
Wow.
Under normal circumstances, I would be starstruck by this amazing bedroom with a full size bed and all the expensive hi-tech, modern conveniences, but I’m too dispirited to appreciate it.
She shows me the shower room and lets me know where my luggage has been stored then instructs me how to use the stereo system and plasma TV.
“I’ll give you some privacy. If there is anything you need, press the call button over here.”
“Thank you.”
I drag my suitcase onto the bed with a heavy thump and pull out some clean clothes. I struggle with the weight, but I manage to lift the case onto the marble topped dressing table and strip out my dress.
As I lean over the bed to find some toiletries, I hear the door open and the lock close. Before I get the chance to stand up, Lucca presses his body against mine, ramming his hard manhood against my ass and cupping both my heavy breasts.
It’s very sudden but not unwelcome. My breath hitches in my throat, and I realise just how badly he needs and wants me. I’m giving myself to him and plan to rip my anxiety to shreds.
To be numb …. to forget.
No whiskey … just him.
Just us … together.
He pulls me back towards him with a fierce, strong prowess, and his hands skate over my body as he bites down on my shoulder, groaning with burning desire. He pulls my hair to the side and kisses and bites my neck while his hands rip my panties off my body.