Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
“Come back safely,” I said and his eyes warmed.
He kissed me slow, soft, and sweet, taking my hips into his hands. He gave them a little squeeze and then wrapped his arms around me tight, holding me for a few minutes against him, lifting me a few inches off the floor. I melted into him, not wanting him to let me go.
When he finally did, he caressed my cheek with the ridge of his thumb and looked deep into my eyes for a beat, heat and intensity and some emotion I couldn’t name lighting them, before backing up and picking up the suitcase and the rucksack.
I followed him out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door to where Dario was waiting in a car with two local-looking men standing outside with machine guns slung over their shoulders. Two more men sat inside the car. They looked more Italian than Mexican. Maybe they were from home.
One stepped out of the back seat and Tommy ushered me in and stepped back. The man got back in beside me. I buckled my seatbelt. I saw Tommy’s brother standing beside him and they said a few words I didn’t hear and exchanged glances that I’d imagine had something to do with Tommy telling Dario to get home safely with me and Dario telling Tommy to clean house but carefully. They hugged briefly and I heard the trunk slam, then Dario opened the back door and signaled for the guy to get into the front so he could sit beside me.
As the car drove away, I looked back and Tommy wore a hard, angry, steely look as he watched us leave. But then he caught me looking and gave me a thin smile. I smiled back, hoping that he’d make it home and hoping that what I’d seen from him in the past twelve hours had not been a mirage. I didn’t want to hope that he got his revenge, but I did. I didn’t dwell on it for long, but the idea of him fighting back was a little bit satisfying. I knew it wasn’t going to be all about me, probably more about holding a position of power and proving that he was stronger than those who took me to get to him, but it was still a little bit satisfying and I suspected from the way he’d handled me in the past twelve or so hours that revenge would be at least a little bit about what was done to me.
The ride was thankfully uneventful, and it wasn’t long before we were boarding a small jet on a private-looking airfield. Dario offered me a drink and a blanket and pillow. He told me I could lay down on one of the sofas and sleep if I was tired.
For the next while, I just sort of stared off into space, going over the past few days’ events in my head. I caught him looking at me a few times. I didn’t know if it was curiosity, compassion, or what it was that was in his eyes, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable around him today. I felt safe and it was a welcome feeling.
There were other men on the plane with us, but they stayed to the opposite end of the sitting area, talking amongst themselves quietly. At one point I looked up and saw that they were watching a zombie slasher type movie and that Mexican actor was in it. He looked so much like that horrible man and I felt the tears well up again and I turned over and faced the back of the sofa so I couldn’t see the TV.
“You okay?” Dario leaned over me. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s okay, I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
“It’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
“There’s an actor on that movie they’re watching that looks like one of the guys and the guy… hurt me.”
Dario’s face went ice cold. “Turn that fuckin’ shit off!” he hollered at the guys, making me jump.
He touched my shoulder, “Sorry, it’s okay.”
He backed away to his seat and then stared out the window with his mouth in a tight line.
“I’m acting like a baby,” I said and wiped the tears away.
He reminded me a bit of Tommy right then. He wasn’t as tall and had fair hair and bluish gray eyes, but his facial features were quite similar, at least the angry ones as I was now noticing. His jaw tightened and he stared out the window.
I closed my eyes, deciding to try to nap until we landed.
I woke up to him tapping my arm gently.
“We’re here,” he said, then he grabbed my suitcase and ushered me off the plane and into a waiting SUV. He signaled to the driver to get out.
The driver got out and got into a black SUV parked behind it. It was just me and Dario in this vehicle.