“It doesn’t matter, we have to go,” Julian says fiercely, cupping my face. “I promised Mateo I’d take care of you. I’m getting you out of here, Kat. I’ve got a car ready. We have to leave now.”
A cold sweat breaks out across my forehead. I move, my body operating on a primal survival instinct.
Kill her.His words keep repeating in my head.
I grab the locket Mateo gave me from the nightstand. Julian helps me into a pair of sneakers, kneeling before me to tie thelaces when my hands fail to function. He looks up at me, his gaze soft and reassuring.
“I got you. I promise.” He says as my breaths become shallow gasps, threatening a panic attack.
When he gets up on his feet, he pulls me towards the door.
“Wait. Pedro! I can’t leave him.”
Julian immediately scans the room, whispering Pedro’s name, hoping he’ll come. I spot him sleeping under one of the chairs in front of the fireplace and pick him up. His round body stretches but returns to sleeping just as fast as soon as he’s snug on my chest.
“Make sure he stays quiet,” Julian warns before picking up a duffel bag on the floor.
We slip out of the room, the hallway dark and quiet. Every squeak of our shoes sounds like a bomb going off. Julian stays a step ahead, checking every corner, his hand always reaching back to make sure I’m right behind him.
“The side door,” He hisses, gesturing for me to stay low.
We creep down the hallway trying to make no sound. My heart is hammering against my chest with every step of the way. At each doorway, Julian pauses to listen, making sure no one is around, then motions for me to follow.
My breath is shallow, my every nerve is on edge as we pass multiple closed doors and skirt around the faint glow of the living room nightlight. We take the back stairs, moving quickly, and slip through the narrow service corridor that leads to a mudroom. There, Julian slowly unlocks the side door, peering outside before giving me a nod.
We run into the cool air. The thick fog from the recent rain almost swallows the lemon trees.
“Hold my hand,” Julian whispers, and I oblige.
We move along the stone perimeter of the house, every rustle of the leaves making me jump.
“The Jeep is just beyond the olive grove,” Julian says, his voice low.
We break into a run across the open grass. The moist ground clings to my shoes, slowing me down. I keep looking back at the villa, waiting for the searchlights to flare, but Julian has timed everything correctly.
“Almost there, Kat,” Julian breathes, catching me when I stumble over a tree root. He doesn’t let go of my hand, pulling me into the dense cover of the trees.
When we reach the tree line, tucked under a camouflage tarp is an old, rugged Jeep. Julian rips the tarp back, the heavy fabric groaning.
“Get in,” he orders, his voice firm with adrenaline.
I scramble into the passenger seat, Julian taking Pedro off my hands and putting him and the duffel in the back seat. My hands are trembling so violently that I fail to buckle my seatbelt. Julian reaches over me when he’s in the driver’s seat, his arm brushing mine as he clicks the belt into place. He pauses for a second, looking into my eyes.
“Breathe. I got you.” He says, and I nod.
The engine sputters, making a loud mechanical cough.
“Come on, come on,” Julian mutters, gripping the steering wheel.
He cranks it again, and the engine finally roars to life. He throws it into gear, and we lurch forward, the tires spinning in the mud before catching on the gravel. I sink low into the seat, my stare fixed on the sideview mirror, watching the villa disappear into the mist.
When we reach the back gate, I brace myself for the confrontation ahead. I know there are guards at every corner and exit of this place. Instead, the gate is already unlocked, half open, as if someone had been expecting us. Julian doesn’t even slow the car; we just slip through.
For a moment, I didn’t understand how that’s possible. Did he bribe them? Threaten them? Impossible, these are loyal guards. So there could only be one answer.
I don’t ask, afraid of hearing the brutal answer. The fear sits heavy in my chest as we speed into the night.
Julian reaches over and places a hand on mine, gently squeezing it. “I’m sorry it had to be like this. But you’re going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
