Ducking through the grapevines, I walked between the rows and the stone fence to the small gap in the wall. Holding my breath, I slipped through and ran.
My lungs screamed for me to stop, but my brain pushed the feeling aside and I kept going. The road was dark and the nightair was cool against my face and I ran until my chest burned and the lights of the vineyard were just a warm smear behind me.
Then I saw Nicola's car, headlights off, tucked into the shadow of the old olive tree at the bend in the road where we'd agreed. And something in my chest cracked open with relief so intense it felt almost like grief.
"Oh my god, I didn't think you would show." My best friend whispered as I hopped into her car. She leaned over the stick shift and hugged me, her black hair tied up in a high ponytail, her arms tight around my neck. She smelled like the perfume she'd worn since we were fifteen, something floral and warm, and I held on longer than I meant to.
"Are you sure about this?" Her words were whispered, and I knew it was out of fear. What we were doing was dangerous, but there was no other option.
"I am." Pulling back, I looked at her face properly. Her dark eyes were bright with unshed tears, and I knew she was as scared as I was — maybe more so, because she was staying behind. "Drive. I have to be on the plane in two hours."
My eyes were locked on the road in front of me as the car lurched forward. With every turn of the tires I felt my soul getting lighter. This was the right decision. I had no doubt.
"Are you going to check in with the head family there?" She asked, her piercing dark eyes able to see into my soul. I doubted I even needed to answer her.
"Absolutely not. I'm no longer in this life, so there's no reason for me to have to look for anyone. Besides, if I do, then people will know where I am." My words sounded a lot more sure than I felt. I knew I was supposed to check in, but I needed to stay under the radar as long as I could.
Headlights behind us made me turn in my seat, but they took a side road we'd already passed. Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned around and stared ahead again.
"Chicago," Nicola said quietly, and it wasn't a question. We'd talked about it in the abstract, in the careful coded way you talked about dangerous things. "You actually picked Chicago."
"It was the last place anyone would look." The irony of it wasn't lost on me. Running from one mafia family straight into the territory of their oldest enemy. But that was exactly why it worked — my father would never believe I'd go there. He'd spent my entire life telling me the Venosas were monsters, aggressors, the source of every problem our family had ever faced. He'd built them up into something so frightening that the thought of voluntarily entering their city would seem like madness to him.
Which was precisely why I'd chosen it.
"Promise me you'll be careful." Nicola's voice was tight.
"I promise."
"Promise me you'll contact me when you're settled. One message, just so I know." Her hands tightened on the steering wheel.
"Nicola—"
"I know it's not safe. I know." She exhaled hard. "Just one. So I know you're alive."
I looked at her profile in the dark car, at the girl who had been my closest friend since we were eight years old, who had never once in fourteen years told anyone my secrets, who had driven to this dark road on this dangerous night without hesitating. There was so much I wanted to say to her and none of it would come out right.
"One message," I said. "When I'm settled."
Nicola pulled up to the airport thirty minutes after I left my house. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" I asked as she pulled up to the airport doors.
"My life is here, CeCe." She turned to look at me fully, and her eyes were wet now, not bothering to hide it. "You're strong, and you can handle anything that comes your way. I'm not. I'd rushback here the first chance I got." She reached out and gripped my hand hard. "Promise me you'll let me know when you're in Chicago?"
Tears filled her eyes, and I wanted to plead with her to come, but I knew she was right.
"One day, when my life is amazing, you're coming to live with me." I hugged her fiercely, breathing her in, trying to memorize the specific warmth of her.
"You bet your ass I will." She laughed, wet and unsteady, against my shoulder.
Letting her go, I got out of the car and turned back to look at my best friend one last time. She smiled through her tears and waved, and I waved back and then I turned and ran through the doors and didn't let myself look again.
I found my terminal and sat in the uncomfortable seats, bouncing my leg nervously as I waited for the flight attendant to start boarding. I splurged and bought a ticket in first class. I was used to a private plane, so I wasn't about to be squished between five other people.
"We will board first class now," the man said over the speaker. Grabbing my bag, I rushed to the front of the line. Sitting out in the open was risky. Everyone knew one another here, and I needed to get out of Italy before anyone spotted me.
Flashing my passport and boarding pass, the man nodded me through and I almost ran down the boarding bridge.
"Welcome to Paris Air." The flight attendant's smile was impeccable and her blue eyes sparkled. I looked out my window. A sinking feeling of homesickness washed over me. Come on Cecilia, you've barely left your hometown. It's too early for this. My brain was right. I needed to keep moving.
