AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then there’s me. I am made of the same stuff and I’m not the innocent young woman many guys like to have by their side. I’m a challenge. I realize that and I won’t ever be anything else.
The three cars in our cavalcade must be an interesting sight as we speed on our way to the airport. My grandfather wanted me to take a private plane, but I insisted on traveling in a commercial one. I want to be among normal people for once. To live their life and merge into the shadows. I don’t want to be Serena Vieri, the mafia princess. I want to be Serena Vieri, a daughter visiting her mom.
I’m dressed in black leggings and a black hoody, my hair hiding under a black baseball cap. I’m wearing sneakers and carrying a black leather holdall, my luggage in the car behind. I am invisible. At least I certainly hope so and the only stipulation my grandfather insisted on was that Connor came with me.
He sits in the car in front, on red alert and watching out for danger, and my heart sinks. When will I ever be free of this shit? Trust me to travel with a bodyguard. An assassin who doesn’t require a weapon to protect me when his hands are more than adequate for the job.
I’m guessing he’s not that happy about it either, and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. The trouble is, I’m too busy feeling sorry for myself.
* * *
We reachthe airport in no time at all and as the cars pull to a stop, the doors open, and the occupants spill out like an oil slick. Black suits, black shades, and black souls form a tight guard of honor as my cases are loaded onto a trolley. I must wait until the door is opened and as I step outside, the black shades covering my own eyes cause passers-by to stare. They will wonder if I’m a celebrity. That can be the only explanation because the mafia isn’t something ordinary people think a lot about.
I follow Connor into the terminal, toward the first-class check in and as I wait, I note the curious glances thrown my way from a nearby line. As always, the guards crowd around me and I sigh inside. Not long now and I will be free. For the next three weeks, anyway.
We check in and the agent stares at me with interest as she hands me the boarding card with a polite smile.
“The first-class lounge is through security and to your right, up the escalator and toward the back, near Starbucks.”
“Thanks.” I smile and Connor takes the boarding passes and says to the nearest guard, “Keep eyes on us through security. Report any problems in the usual way.”
They nod and as we walk toward the fast-track security point, it’s as if I leave behind the burden that sits heavily on my shoulders.
Soon I will be free. Nothing can touch me when I reach my destination and with a happy heart I leave all my troubles behind and head into security and I don’t look back.
ALEXEI
She enters the lounge as if she doesn’t belong here. I observe from my table as I eat a fine lunch for one, unusually alone.
The man with her is obviously paid protection, judging from the way his eyes scan the room and he appears on edge.
I stare with interest at the girl. A slight figure dressed head to toe in black, with no designers present in her choice of clothing. If I saw her on the street, I wouldn’t look twice, but there is something about this scene that interests me.
I carry on eating and the guard ushers her into a booth before sitting opposite and scanning the area.
A waitress stops and hands them a menu each and as she studies it, the man with her glares around him with an air of menace that warns anyone from approaching.
The fact I’m here at all is an irritant I’m still dealing with. Usually, I travel on my private jet, but a technical issue at the last minute had me boarding a commercial flight instead.
I have no time to wait for an engineer because business comes before my comfort.
As I eat, I stare at the scene, averting my eyes when the guard throws his glance in my direction.
I finish up and the waitress stops by with an invitation in her eyes as she whispers huskily, “Mr. Komonov. May I interest you in anything else?”
“Vodka. Make it a double.” I say with disinterest and lift my phone, that is awash with incoming texts.
As I pretend to scroll through them, I am more interested in the scene at the table across from me as the two strangers carry on ignoring one another.
When my drink arrives, I nod toward a booth near the window that offers a better view of my fellow travelers, and the waitress places my drink on her silver tray and follows me over to it.
Once I settle in, I am happy with a different view because now I can see the woman herself, not her guard. She is wearing dark glasses and appears to be staring at the menu but I have an overwhelming sensation she is staring directly at me.
I raise my glass and her menu is quickly raised to cover her face, causing me to smirk. My senses never fail me, and it has almost become a game pitching my skills against my fellow humans.
I register everything about them. What they are wearing, carrying, and their mannerisms. I am a studier of people and I’m good at what I do. It’s a hobby with me, usually enabling me to bring my enemies down.
Yes, Alexei Komonov didn’t get his billions from sitting back and letting people in front of the line. I take what I want and use my competition’s weaknesses against them. It’s no different in my private life and it’s become more of a game to me of proving I can win than wanting to keep my prize.
