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What I wouldn’t give to down a few shots of my favorite bourbon, but I must keep my wits and stay alert. It was the waiting that was killing me. I knew I had nothing to worry about since Sabina wouldn’t get far if I missed her. I briefed Kaz and then confirmed the flight plan with Edric. I knew I had to take Sabina far away from here where no one could find her until I was ready to reach out to Lucas. She won’t understandmy motivation for taking her and will probably view me as yet another enemy, but it’s the chance I have to take. She’s not safe here, and the walls are quickly closing on her.
It was only a matter of time before the beautiful Sabina would be on the run again. She had a heart, that’s for sure, and she was smart enough to know staying with her friends would get them killed. I placed protection on the young couple for as long as it proved to be necessary.
Marco had returned to his estate in Italy, and my sources tell me that Lucas is due to arrive in the morning. I knew I had no more time to waste, and I moved to secure his sister once the arrangements were in place. Edric was ready on his end, and all I had to do was go to their house. I looked at the layout of their tiny house and confirmed there was only one way in and one way out. I couldn’t have timed it better because once the back bedroom light turned off, it was less than an hour later when Sabina emerged, walking down the drive to the gate. Once she closed it behind her, I stepped out from behind the bushes and grabbed her.
“Don’t scream, Principessa. I’ve got you,” I whispered.
You would have thought that with everything she has been through, she would have fought to escape my hold, but once I uttered a few words, she calmed against my touch. It was a natural submission and one that pleased me a great deal. Edric pulled up at the curb, and I quickly ushered her inside. Once the door closed, we drove to the private hangar to meet my jet. Italy was not safe for Sabina, but I knew of a place that would be.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
“Someone you could trust,” I whispered back. But she didn’t cower away from me. No, this girl was brave and looked me directly in the eyes.
“There’s no such thing,” she said, then sat back against the soft leather.
I wanted to respond in more ways than words, but she’d been frightened enough, and I didn’t want to cause her any more pain.
She was quiet and retreated to a place I could not reach, but I will. The car stopped in front of my private plane. I got out and walked around to open Sabina’s door. She looked up at me as I offered my hand. She appeared unsure, and I said, “Come, our plane awaits.”
“Where are you taking me?” she asked with a firm resolve in her voice. I reached for her arm and tugged her against my broad chest. She trembled but didn’t try to pull away.
I cupped her face with my two hands, and with all the truth to my words, I said, “Somewhere safe and far away from your father. I swear you could trust me. Come, we need to go.” She closed her eyes briefly, accepted my offered hand, and followed close behind as we reached the stairs to my plane. I moved aside so she could go up first, and when she reached the top, she glanced around and stepped inside. I hurried behind her, with Edric following me.
“I want wheels up in fifteen minutes,” I called out.
“It will take me ten; get secured.”
While Edric prepared us to depart, I walked further into the cabin where Sabina had already fastened her seatbelt, clutching her duffle in a death grip to her chest. I removed my suit jacket and took the seat across from her. The engines roaring and coming to life was the only sound in the cabin, but that would soon change as I stared at the beautiful and beguiling Sabina sitting just mere inches from me. Edric was an expert pilot and had us racing down the runway, and then we were up in the air. And, soon, far away from anyone who could hurt her. I know she probably thinks I’m one of those people, but I’m not, and soon, I will get her to trust me.
I didn’t say anything else and let her be alone until she was ready to talk. After that, I wouldn’t keep anything from herand always vowed to be truthful. Kaz and Edric believe I am operating on zero rationality, but I don’t care what they think. I know what I’m doing when it comes to Sabina Santoro.
For the first time in my life, I felt something other than my heartbeat. The one time in my life that I allowed my guard down was when my beautiful and innocent sister was killed. My days as a Special Air Service officer in the British Army were behind me, and I worked in the private sector as a gun for hire. I was expertly trained in hundreds of weapons and could take down an enemy in seconds, but not on that fateful day. I was too late to help Marielle, and I’ve paid the price for it every day since I buried my sister and said goodbye to her forever.
And now I look at Sabina, who has the same bravery in her eyes that I once saw in Marielle. Her father is a bastard and will stop at nothing to destroy her if it means saving his ass and his interests. I have to find out exactly what they are so I know how to protect her. She’s sound asleep and looks peaceful. I hope she’s dreaming of good things. I left her sleeping and conferred with Edric on Lucas's whereabouts.
“What do we know?” I asked, stepping inside the cockpit.
“He’s back on his family's estate after a successful trip abroad. He was busy traveling to Russia, Prague, and Croatia. He’s securing his gun-running pipeline and lining up all the power players from the Bratva.”
“What about Marco? Has he made any more noise?”
“He’s quiet for now, probably on his best behavior for Lucas.”
“I need to reach out to Lucas as soon as possible. Let me get on the satellite phone and make a call.” I checked on Sabina before returning to my office to contact her brother. I’ve known Lucas Santoro for several years, and my only interaction with him added to a few short phone conversations. We never met, but he knows me and what I do. It’s an odd twist of fate that I met Sabina first all those years ago after my sister befriendedher. Years later, I would have dealings with her father, who went astray, causing an unnecessary war that ended in a bloodbath. And as the fates would have it, I now will go up against his son and go to war over Sabina. Although a powerful boss, he has a reputation for being fair, a rare quality of most men who run in his circle. Let’s see how true that is once he learns I have his sister and will not be returning her. He is worlds apart from his father, which may be his downfall. Marco sought me out for a reason. Now I have to figure out the truth, not the bullshit story he tried to make me believe.
“Lucas Santoro,” he answered on the second ring.
“Lucas, it's Bourne Atwater,” Before I could say anything else, he roared back into the phone.
“Where the fuck is my baby sister?” he demanded. I paused as he shouted in Italian to another in the room. My guess would be Gio. He’s probably instructing him to trace the call, which would be futile on his part. We were too protected.
I calmly asked, “And why would you believe I know?”
“Do not fuck with me, Bourne. I know you have her because it’s what you declared you would do when hired by my father. I will not ask again, where is Sabina?”
“Hmm, I’m not at liberty to say. However, you should not believe everything your father says.”
“No shit, do you think I woke up in this life yesterday? My father is a lying, cold-hearted bastard most of the time, but not today. You see, there is nothing in this house I don’t know about, and my father’s attempts at covering his tracks proved unsuccessful.”
