The fire truck arrives at the aircraft and as the crew exit and roll steps up to the aircraft, I watch as they hack the door open, their guns replacing the fire hose.
As I said before, money opens many doors, and when Jack instructed my guards to replace the fire officers, I applauded his genius.
As they storm the aircraft, shots ring out and as we bolt from the car, I join the steady stream of guards pouring onto the jet.
There is only one destination I have in mind, one person in my sights, and it’s not Liam Dettori.
As I enter hell, the sound of death is heavy in the air. Groans are quickly silenced as guns do the job far quicker than nature ever could. My men are machines and operate that way, and as they move through the plane, surprise is their best form of attack. Dressed as fire officers gifts them the element of surprise, and I am assured that not one of Liam’s men will live to bear witness to the execution.
However, I don’t have time to appreciate the beauty of the moment because the first person I come to is one terrified woman who is staring at the scene in horror, firmly strapped to her chair.
Lying dead at her feet is the man himself. Liam Dettori, mafia don, executed in cold blood.
His glassy eyes stare up at the ceiling, an open wound leaking his blood at the feet of an angel.
I waste no time in slicing the ropes binding her to the chair and, without a word, I reach out and grab her wrist, pulling her roughly from the plane after me.
There is no time for niceties, no matter how terrified she must be, because Alice Zaferelli has only herself to blame forthis, and I am so angry I’m liable to make a bad situation a lot worse.
CHAPTER 12
ALICE
I’m in shock. My mind is scrambled as I attempt to filter what just occurred. It all happened so fast. One minute we were tearing toward the end of the runway, and then the brakes were applied, causing the entire jet to jolt forward. The man in front of me roared as the seatbelt cut into him, and yet I was the lucky one because my ropes held tight, and I hardly moved at all.
Almost before the jet stopped, the door crashed in, and fire officers entered the plane. At least I thought they were, but gunfire erupted, and as my captor reached for his gun, he was rewarded with a bullet in the chest. It blasted a hole so big he died on impact, and I screamed as he fell on his back, his life gone in a split second.
I have never been so terrified as hell breaks loose in the cabin and before I can register anything other than the horror unfolding around me, my ropes are cut, and I am pulled quickly toward the exit.
I am running to keep up and I almost fly down the steps before I’m bundled into a black car that is waiting beside the fire truck.
I’m joined by one man who thumps on the partition, separating the driver, and the car takes off almost as fast as the jet was aiming to do.
“Buckle up.” The stern voice instructs me, and for once I do as I’m told because, despite everything, I am so relieved to be off of that plane.
I attempt to steady my erratic breathing as I order my mind, and as the airfield disappears from view, I finally slide my gaze to the man who rescued me. At least I think he did.
I swallow hard when I take my first look at a man who makes every other man fade into oblivion. He is angry, the dark frown on his impossibly handsome face obscuring the beauty of his chiseled jaw and dark flashing eyes issuing a strong warning. If a man is considered beautiful, he takes first place, and my breath hitches as I note the power emanating from this man. He is cool, controlled and a machine even, as he gazes coolly in my direction, not one ounce of compassion in his expression.
“You’re welcome.”
Is all he says, despite the fact that I never said a thing.
“For what?” I find my voice and he raises an impeccable brow.
“For saving you from a life of hell.”
“Is that what happened?”
I’m not so sure, and a hint of amusement almost replaces the angry frown.
“Probably not, but you’re welcome, anyway.”
“Who are you?”
I must be operating on survival mode right now because the fact that I just witnessed Armageddon is nothing to what I am experiencing now. I have never met anyone like this man, and curiosity has replaced my fear—for now, anyway.
“I’m the man who was booked into the seat beside you on the flight to New York.”
