LINA
Two men who follow us when we leave Bruno's suite but they are not the same ones that were there last night.And yet,they are just as scary.
Ironically ,the thing that's able to make me relax around them is their boss himself, who keeps rubbing his thumb against my slightly trembling hands.
He has been holding my hand since we left the suit and has not let go of it even after he leads me into the elevator.
In the elevator,there are two other men but I don't even look at them.That's because as we're preparing to leave the hotel room,Bruno "advised" me against trying to get help from anyone at all. He says that,If I do then he will be "forced" to "deal with it" which,he assures me,will not end well for me and my "Good samaritans."
After an agonisingly slow and quiet ride,we finally reach the ground level.When we step out of the elevator,there is a bit of movement in the lobby.
Needless to say,the couple escorted by the bodyguards from hell,don't go unnoticed but people quickly loose interest,much to my annoyance.
Can't they see what is going on here?
Or are guarded guests holding a woman with such a tight grip,a thing in this hotel?
People should be more paranoid,I think,as we finally walk out of the stupid hotel with it's stupid patrons and staff.
It's no longer snowing outside but it is freezing all the same.
Luckily,a black SUV,which I assume is Bruno's,pulls up the curb as soon as we are out.The driver is the lean guy with the mean expression who had been with Bruno last night.I look at him with acute dislike and he does too although he actually tries to hide it.He must be Bruno's sidekick and I'm willing to bet that he hates me.He looked at me like I was a cockroach.I can't bring myself to care though. He is nothing to me so I won't give him another thought.
Anyhow,He gets out,greets us(me with a vicious expression),and is about to open the door for me when Bruno stops him and does it himself.
As I get in I notice about three similar vehicles behind us.
Okay?
I wonder what the hell was happening but I decided not to ask.
I had more important things to talk about with Bruno.
Bruno opens the back seat door for me and ushers me in before closing the door with a firm thud.I watch him quickly move to the other side and gets in the seat next to me.
"Where are my stuff?"I ask,trying not to breathe in the intoxicating scent of his cologne.
Someone had come to take our luggage before we left the hotel, so I currently have no idea where mine is.
"It's safe,don't worry about it,"he says putting on his seatbelt.
I ask myself how he expects me not to worry when he is in my life.
He then takes me by surprise by leaning towards me and putting mine on for me,as if it was the most natural thing.As he puts it on,I look at his handsome face,not being able to help myself.He however,moves away when he is done, unaffected.
"What's wrong?"he asks,when he finally looks at me.
'What's not wrong?',I think.'I'm keep finding myself drawn to a person who is treats me like a mere object.'
"Lina?"
"I want to talk to Sophie.You may not remember her but she's my..."
"Start driving Chase,"Bruno says to the guy,cutting me of mid-sentence.Then he turns to me saying,"And I know who she is."
At that moment the car starts to move but both of us barely register it.
Bruno raises an eyebrow."Don't you think you're pushing it now?"
"Just hear me out..."
"First you want to talk to your parents,now it's Sophie. Who will it be next,Moretti?the Mylari police commissioner?"
I raise my own eyebrows at how generous he is making himself sound. I can't help but chuckling a bit at this crazy asshole.
"First of all,do not dare talk to me like you've done me any favours.The only reason you're letting me see my parents is for your benefit,not mine.And second,the only reason I have to talk to Sophie is because if I dont call her soon,she will get worried and call my parents.Trust me when I say she will end up telling them the truth.Is that what you want?"I ask,folding my arms and facing him.
He rolls his eyes at me.I'm a little surprised as I didnt think he could react so very...humanly.
"Lina,your parents don't scare me.They can try all they want but they aren't taking you from me," he tells me rather arrogantly.But I know that he is probably right and I can't help but feel my spirits sinking deeper and deeper.
I'll probably have to save myself.And do so,I can't lose heart.
Narrowing my eyes at Bruno,I say,"I know that my parents will never win against you but they will know your truth.And your plan to torture them by making them believe that I choose you will fail,dismally." I say.
Bruno's expression morphs into one of surprise."What makes you think that's my plan,"he asks me.
"Because you're a terrible person,not mention a psycho.You can't help but want to hurt people," I say matter of factly.
He rolls his eyes again.
"Are you some kind of psychologist,now?"
"I don't need to be one to come to that conclusion. Your insane behaviour speaks for itself,"I tell him,leaning foward a bit.
Bruno looks down and laughs." I can't argue against that one,"he says.
"Are you going to let me talk to Sophie?"I ask,not at all finding it funny that he wants to hurt my parents in this cunning way.
It's not like they have ever done anything to him.
"You do know that if you do talk to her,your parents will end up thinking that you are going with me of your own accord.They won't be too pleased, "Bruno says to me.As if I didn't know!
"Atleast they won't lose their minds worrying that anything terrible was happening to me,"I say to him while at the same trying to convince myself that this was the better solution.Because it was.
My parents are old and they should have peace of mind.I'll take care of myself.
"Please,Bruno.Let me do this,"I beg,much to his surprise.I know I made it seem like I wasn't keen on telling my parents that I want to be with Bruno but I find that it is the best possible outcome.
Sure mom and dad will be heartbroken a bit but that's it. No one will end up in any hospitals for getting in Bruno's way.
I mean look what happened to poor Cameron when I involved him.And he didn't even know anything.
This is my problem and I'm not going to involve anyone else in it.
Bruno doesn't say anything, seemingly mulling over it for a bit.When he opens his mouth to talk,the car comes to an abrupt stop,jolting us in our seats.
Recovering in a few seconds,Bruno quickly exits the vehicle without so much as a word to me.
I open my mouth in shock.
"Bruno..." I call but he is already gone.I grit my teeth, angrily looking on the floor of the vehicle.Why the hell didn't he agree?I thought this sick thing was what he wanted?
I'm jolted out of my thoughts by the car being opened by Mr Rossini himself."Come on.Get out of the car,"he says.
I briefly look at his handsome face before looking away,staying stubbornly in my seat.
I hear him give a low chuckle."I'm not going to say it again,Lina,"he says to me.The next second he puts out a hand and I reluctantly take it with a roll of my eyes.
It wasn't like he wouldn't do what he wanted without my agreement.
I start to look at our surroundings when we leave the car.It seemed like we were in a airplane hanger.
I widen my eyes when I see a black private jet infront of us,surrounded by a couple of men dressed in black,who I was willing to bet had guns hidden somewhere.
I instinctively clutch on to Bruno's arm.So tightly.
"No one is going to hurt you,precious,"he says,sounding slightly amused at my fear."Trust me on that,okay?"he says.
I nod without thinking, trying to tell myself that they wouldn't hurt me unless their boss told them to.And I knew that he would never. So I let go of his arm and let my hands hang at my sides.Trying to be brave infront of these frankly monstrous looking men.
I want to ask Bruno why he carried around so many bodyguards but I don't say a word as I have a feeling that I won't like the answer.
"I got what you asked me to get,capo," says one of them as they he steps foward before handing Bruno something which I didn't notice him holding before.It's a phone with a gold pouch.
My phone!
I open my mouth in slight shock as Bruno takes it wordlessly.Then he turns to me and holds it out to me.
"Here is your phone.I had it fetched while you were getting ready. "
"What?"
"I wasn't sure if I should trust you with it but our little conversation just convinced me.Here,"he says.
Shocked but elated,I reach my hand out to take it but then Bruno,jerk that he is, snatches it out of my reach before I can even touch it.I look at him,perplexed. Didn't he say,I could take it?
"Do whatever it is you want with it and call whoever it is that you need to call but please,don't say anything stupid.Please,"he begs me.
He then reaches for my and puts my phone in it.He then smiles like a crazed person,tye kind of smile that strikes terror in people's hearts.
I stand there,clutching phone with hand,deciding if I should even use it now.For all I know,I could say the wrong thing to the wrong person and end up suffering for it.
"Whst are you waiting for,Lina.You going to make the call?"he asks innocently,as if he didn't just strike the fear of this phone in my heart.
I nod anyway because I know that I absolutely have to call Sophie.With that,I look at my phone,switch it on and call Sophie's number.
As the phone keeps on ringing,I look away from Bruno.He is staring at me way with so much intensity that I'm finding it hard to concentrate on what I am going to say.
"Sophie,"I say,when she finally answers.
"Lina!finally,are you okay?why the hell haven't you been taking my calls?"she asks in a worried voice.
"Uhm...I'm alright and I put my phone on silent.You don't have to worry about me"I tell her while tugging on my ear,a sign which,Sophie tells me,is a sure sign that I'm lying.
I'm terrible at this but I'm going to give it my best shot.
"Actually I do,"she corrects me."Something happened after you left,"she adds in a low voice.
"What are talking about?What happened?"I ask in confusion.
Automatically, I look inquiringly at Bruno,who is waiting a few feet away,as if he holds all the answers.But of course,the man's expression gives nothing away.
"Remember the two guys that we hired to slash the tyres of Bruno's men,"she asks.
"Yeah,"I say,wondering where she was going with this.
"Well,one of them,Rico, was beat up badly after the two split up.The guys is in the hospital,in a coma,"she informs me.
I gulp.
"You don't think..."
"Yes,I do.It's Bruno.He's onto us.Are you sure that everything is alright there?"she inquires.
I purse my lips,unsure how to respond. Then I think about the guy in the hospital and It's suddenly clear.
"Yeah,I'm fine.I love it here.Cameron is making me feel so welcome,"I tell her.
"Are you sure?"she asks again.
"Yes,I am Soph.Stop worrying so much,"I tell her.
"How can I?That psychopath put someone in a hospital.What if he comes for you next?"
"He won't,"I tell her quickly."It's not like this knew Rico were I was going.And I'm in New York remember. So just relax. "
"I don't know, Lina.It seems to easy,"she says worrying.
"I do and I'm telling you that I'm safe here,"I say,fiercely.I wish she would let this go.
"Okay,if you say so but please just take care of yourself,okay?"
"I will,"I tell her,breathing in a sigh of relief.
"Alright,I'll let you get back to settling in.Bye.I miss you so much already,"she says,sounding sad.
"I miss you too and l'll be back sooner than you think Soph.Bye,"I say hanging up immediately.
It was getting harder and harder to pretend everything was peachy here.
"You lying could use work,"Bruno tells me when I'm done.
Looking at him in annoyance,I say,"You are correct and I fine with that.Anyway,it should suffice for now. There isn't any risk of her calling my parents now.But we still need to talk to them before they call her,"I tell him while still staring at my phone.
"We will go head over to your parents house as soon as we reach Mylari,"he informs me.
I nod but really,I am barely listening. I was wondering what the hell I was doing,plotting and telling of these lies to the peopleI loved msot in the entire world?
Shit,I was plotting alongside Bruno and lying to the people that I cared about.How could I do that.I'm a terrible person.
'No,you're not,'my brain tells me,coming to my defense.'You're doing the right thing.Just do what the man wants for now and keep everybody safe,"It said.
I let out a slow breath,feeling a little less terrible,a little less overwhelmed by the situation Bruno put me in.
"What are we waiting around for then.Let's hurry and get it overwith then,"I tell Bruno.
He looks st me with an unreadable expression before nodding and reaching for my free hand.Wordlessly,he leads me up the steps of the huge Gulf stream.