Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
33
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.
I’m sure he thinks I’m three years old. Either that or that I’m just too exhausted to function. He could be onto something there.
I’m damn right delirious.
Bobby takes off fast. He crosses the waves at record speed, and I hold on for dear life. The boat bounces around, and my hair is flying loose everywhere.
Enrico smirks, and I look around in wonder with a goofy grin plastered on my face.
This is actually pretty cool.
The sun is low over the water now, casting a beautiful shade of pink in the sky. I know there’s not long left of daylight.
Eventually, Bobby begins to slow down, and I look up ahead to see white beaches, palm trees, and a huge white mansion that sits along on a small island. It has its own jetty and everything. Bobby slowly pulls up to it, settles the engine, and ties the boat in place.
“Here we are. Your new home.” He looks up at the island in awe. “Perfect, isn’t she?”
Hope blooms in my chest. This is our new home?
Enrico stands and takes my hand. “Come, bella.”
He leads me off the boat and down the ramp. The closer we get to the house, the more in awe I become.
It’s like a plantation mansion, straight out of a movie set. It’s made of white weatherboards with a big balcony around the perimeter, and there is wicker furniture scattered everywhere.
The pool is huge, and the gardens are manicured to perfection.
Enrico leads me into the grand house, and I look around in awe again. The tiles on the floor are black and white. The trimmings are all timber, with huge potted palm trees all around. “Wow.”
Enrico turns to Bobby. “Thank you.”