“Right, yeah. So, I get you’re related to a mob boss…but why are you and the fam being shipped off to a secure location?”
I spend the rest of the journey to the private airport explaining everything that has come to light so far. If Toni weren’t in earshot, I’d ask Pete and Kelley to give me some advice regarding Lorenzo and his wish to speak with me. I’m still on the fence about it.
“And how are you feeling about all this, Bon?” Pete is the only one who gets away with calling me that. Although, he’s the reason Janice started calling me Bon Bon, so maybe I should rescind the permission.
“Overwhelmed. How else would I feel?”
“Uh, I don’t know…pumped? This is exactly what you need, my friend!”
“Did you hear any of the story I just told you, Pete?”
“Hell yeah, I did. And from what I can see, you might as well milk it for everything it’s worth. You’re going to a beautiful country, and staying at what I guess will be a luxurious villa. Food, drink, and hot people. It’s a gift from the gods.”
“But—”
“No buts, Bonnie. Look, you’re going to be safe. Let the tough guys sort out the shit. You, Kelley, and I can just lay back and enjoy a holiday. You need it, Bonnie. I know I joke about your sad life.”
“Harsh.”
“True. I joke, but part of me worries…about you both,” he says, glaring at Kelley, too. “There’s a quiet life, and then there is acting like an octogenarian at thirty. You feel me?”
“I do not,” I protest, but Pete cackles like a witch.
“Yes, you do. By all means, do the whole reading thing, but maybe try to balance it with actually experiencing life. That’s all I’m saying.”
“We’re here,” Toni grumbles.
“He’s a big bear of a man I’d like to climb,” Pete murmurs, licking his lips. Snapping his attention back to Kelley and me, he smiles. “You’re about to board a private jet,” he says, pointing out the window where a very expensive-looking plane stands waiting for us. “Life is passing you by, ladies. Time to grab it by the tits and ride it out.”
“That is a horrible turn of phrase,” Kelley replies, “but I get it.”
“Bonnie?” Pete asks.
Two sets of eyes bore into me.
“Fine. It’s going to be a holiday. There—happy?”
Pete claps excitedly. “Fucking ecstatic. Let’s roll.”
None of my worries have gone away, but having agreed to treat this less like a kidnapping and hostage situation, and more of a holiday away with friends, I have to say I’m feeling better. The complimentary Cristal doesn’t hurt either.
Pop and Dad are sitting up front with Lorenzo. I guess they’re trying to give us “youngsters” some space. My parents are pretty good at reading my needs. After yesterday’s little temper tantrum, they’ve given me a wide berth. It’s how they helped me get through puberty.
Before I know it, we’ve taken off and landed, and I’m positively tipsy. Kelley is looking a little glassy-eyed too. We’re such lightweights. It’s only when Kelley and I start singing, that Pete hands out water bottles.
We disembark and ungracefully fall into the back of another blacked-out Land Rover. Toni doesn’t look so happy with being our driver again, especially when Kelley starts singing.
I don’t usually drink that much, and even when I do have a tipple, I know my limits. Unlike now, as I’m well and truly over my two-drink limit, but I’m also well beyond caring.
“Toni, you delicious specimen of a man, do you have any music?” Pete calls. Without saying a word, Toni turns up the radio. I’m guessing he wants to drown us out.
We sing and boogie in the backseat with water and more booze Pete pilfered from the plane. It’s Kelley’s gasp that stops us from warbling. I practically climb over my friends to see what the hullabaloo is about.
We’re driving up to the most beautiful building I think I’ve ever seen. Fields of vines surround us, and the view of the ocean is incredible. If there’s a pool, I might just die. It’s a dream come true.
And then I see her: the dark angel that ruins my newfound happiness. Allegra stands on a balcony, looking down on us. I can’t see her eyes, but I know they will be trying to drill a hole into the car.
“Who isthat?” Pete whispers.
