I’d left her sleeping. The beautifulprintsessahad fallen into a nice slumber.
Maybe she was somewhat aware I’d remained for another twenty minutes, jealous of the way Golden Angel had curled up next to her.
An obsession for her had already been born and my mind was in motion about how best to punish her father while getting what I wanted.
I moved from the house in the same way I’d gotten in. With ease. The security system they used was similar to the one my father had installed at his house and with all systems, there were weaknesses.
As there were with every man.
Including myself.
The obvious break in my usual behavior because of a woman continued to surprise me. Had being with her for another couple of hours been worth the continued risk? Maybe.
By the time I made it outside, the storm had stopped, the brisk clouds rolling by allowing for a quick glimpse of the nearly full moon.
The guards were right on cue, moving further into the darkness while I hid in the shadows until they passed. From there, I returned to the bag of items she’d provided, carefully avoiding any possible traps.
Given the full moon, I didn’t need the flashlight at first until I was forced to pull out the map. The woods were dense, but the cover was perfect and I headed toward the ocean where I’d walk along the shoreline for four miles to grab a water taxi, heading to the mainland of Italy. From there, I’d simply disappear until connections were made.
There were sounds of night creatures and little else, barely any breeze to flush through the leaves.
Maybe that’s why when I heard an unusual sound, my entire body tensed. With the light off, I moved behind a tree, waiting for any additional noises.
After five minutes and hearing nothing, I moved on.
With every step taken, my mind was heavy with thoughts that I should shove aside. All about Rafaela. Using her would be somewhat dangerous, but given my mind was prone to believing the Cosa Nostra Don was behind the ambush, our alliance would become much more important than what my father had developed.
But only if I played my cards right. Was their attack based on the desire to add to their territory? I had mixed feelings on that. What would be the point? They wouldn’t be allowed to stepfoot in Russia even if they caused some form of damage to my infrastructure or my reputation.
As far as using their water channels, I could easily pick another crime syndicate who controlled waterways or alter who I sold the arms to. There were dozens of hungry purchasers.
Then there begged a question about the timing of my father’s death. I was a skeptical man. Rafaela had told me that with the cash she’d provided, I might be able to secure a phone before leaving Sicily.
I was almost to the ocean. Another sound and this time I was certain there were heavy footsteps crunching down on the fallen debris.
My hackles were raised and I pulled one of the guns into my hand. I had her knife with me as well, the blade still flecked with Marco’s blood. It was a preferable way to handle whoever was following me, but it was possible I wouldn’t have the opportunity.
I hissed but had to decide how to handle this. If I didn’t ditch the bag, Rafaela’s assistance would be discovered. With the pocketknife she’d given me, I marked a tree and tossed the bag under a shrub.
Then I ran.
Fuck this.
While I couldn’t tell if there was anyone following me, I continued weaving through the trees until I reached a clearing.
A presence was felt before I could react. Even though I spun around, prepared to shoot, the assailant was too quick for me. With a brutal smash of something against the side of my head,I went down. Stars floated in front of my eyes, but I wasn’t giving up without a fight, kicking and lunging toward a figure highlighted by the reappearing moon.
A brutal kick against the man’s groin pitched him backward. I threw myself in the other direction, driving my fist into someone’s jaw. The cracking sound brought a smile.
Pop! Pop!
There was no other choice but to fire my weapon, catching one of them in the chest.
Even as he fell to his knees, other guards appeared, one knocking the weapon from my hand.
I slipped on the mud, going down hard, but managed to yank the second gun into my hand, the knife in the other.
As another man rushed toward me from the side, my reflexes were only quick enough to drive the knife into his gut and twist upward, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
