by J. G. Sumner
She settled into her seat and tried to shake the uneasiness and focus on the future—alone. She’d be fine. Her time with Tony was just an added bonus.
The ride to Siena was pleasant; the countryside was green and lush, and small farms passed by her window. Once off of the train, she looked for an easy exit to the street and a taxi. Seeing none, she took a large escalator taking her up nearly five stories through a mall, and finally arrived on the street level of the station. Recalling Tony’s encouragement, she was more confident, and decided to walk a few blocks to find a taxi to the hotel.
She found one relatively quickly. As she climbed inside, someone pushed her in the small car, causing her to collapse on the seat.
“What the…” She turned to find a man with his back to her, settling beside her. “Excuse me!” She was ready to give a piece of her mind when the man turned.
“Tony! Oh my…You scared me to death! What are you doing here?”
“You’re being followed.” He slid a baseball cap down to cover his face. In fluent Italian, he instructed the cab driver to her hotel.
“What do you mean I’m being followed? Why? And how do you know where I’m staying?”
“They’ve been following me as well. I noticed when I was on my way to Sorrento, but I managed to avoid them. My trip led me back up to Florence and I knew when you were scheduled to depart, so I waited for you at the station. You were sitting on that bench and there was a man who bumped into you at the station. He was at the restaurant with us the other night; he followed you around the train station, and then got on your train. Didn’t you notice him?”
“I-I don’t know. Someone bumped into me and then I saw him on the train. He was …well, the sight of him was unnerving. Tony, why would someone follow me?”
“That’s my fault, I’m afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
He grasped her knee. “I-I don’t think it’s something we should discuss until we get to your hotel. I need you to trust me.”
“H-how do you know where I’m staying?”
He paused before answering, “I practically know your entire itinerary. You’ve left all your paperwork sitting out many times. I took a look.”
Her jaw dropped as she placed a hand on her chest. What was going on? Had Tony been following her the entire time too? Was she a pawn in some game? She started shaking as the reality of the situation set in. She was alone in a foreign country with strangers following her. She swallowed hard as she struggled to fight the impending panic attack.
“H-have you been following me too?”
He looked away. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
What was it? She didn’t know what to think. She struggled to force the air in and out of her chest as all the information flashed through her mind at an alarming rate.
Tony rubbed her arm softly. “I’m sorry. I can explain it all when we get to your room.”
She jerked away from his touch. “Tell me one good reason why I should allow you back to my room.”
“Because if you don’t, you could die.”
She received the proverbial kick in the gut. As the wind was sucked from her lungs, she gasped for air. Only a few minutes before, she was reflecting on how wonderful Tony was, and how amazing the trip had been thus far because of him. How could a pleasurable vacation have gone so wrong? Just when she was beginning to trust again, he threw this bombshell at her. She should’ve listened to her friends. They tried to help and encouraged her to stay home. Instead, she stopped taking their calls and ignored their advice. Now it was too late and she was in a world of trouble. “Tony, what have you done? What have you gotten me involved in?”
He took her hand in his and kissed it gently. “I’ll fix this. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She ripped her hand from his grasp, crossed her arms, and turned to peer out the window. Buildings and people zoomed by as silent tears fell down her face—fear, distrust, and anger escaping with them. She had to clear her head and figure out how to get out of this mess.
At Hotel Athena, she checked in while Tony surveyed the area outside the hotel. The reception desk was a deep mahogany color and marble floors lined the entry way. She looked over to a seating area that had large leather couches surrounding an enormous fireplace, and on the floor in front of it was a burgundy oriental rug. A small plant with some magazines took up a small end table placed between two of the couches. It all looked so inviting, yet she didn’t have the luxury to enjoy it.
Once she obtained the key, she motioned for him to come inside. They made their way up the four floors in the compact elevator that barely held the two of them and her suitcase. As she opened the door to her sanctuary—or perhaps her prison for presumably the next few days—she let out a heavy sigh.
Music hummed through the speakers, “They’re playing it.” Her and Mike’s song, “Big Yellow Taxi.” The words resonated deep inside her and her shoulders slumped.
Tony walked in behind her, checking things out. His brow furrowed. “What’s all this?”
“I am supposed to be on my honeymoon. This is…it’s the romance package.” She threw her backpack onto the bed, knocking over the swans formed into a heart shape with towels.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Apparently, there are a lot of things we didn’t tell each other. Like why I’m being followed.”
Tony approached Katherine and placed his hands on her shoulders, locking eyes with her. “You have every reason to be upset with me. But I promise I’ll fix this; I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She freed herself from his clutches. “How about you start with telling me what this is?”
“I think you should sit down.” He walked across the room, opened the doors to the balcony, and peered below. “Come, let’s sit out here. It’s private and will give me a chance to watch the people while I explain everything to you.”
Hesitantly, she stepped outside and her lips curved into a smile. “It’s beautiful. You can see the entire countryside. Oh, my gosh! It’s so green. Look at the vineyards! It’s so peaceful out here.”
“Yes, Siena is more rural than Florence. It’s a beautiful town with lush gardens and a wonderful countryside. I hope you’ll have a chance to enjoy it.”
The grim look on his face showed his worry. “Tell me what’s happening. You’re scaring me.”
“Have a seat. Can I get you some water or some of that champagne in the room?”
“No! I don’t want anything except to know what’s going on. Quit stalling!” She took a seat in one of the chairs, and he sat in the other.
“First of all, my name isn’t Tony. Well, it is now, but my real name is Massimo Bertalucci.”
She squeezed the arms on the chair until her knuckles turned white.
“My family owns a large factory producing about ten percent of the country’s olive oil. I work—worked—with my dad and one of my brothers in the business. My older brother, Paolo, decided to leave and become a cop. He was recruited early in his career to be a part of the Guardia di Finanza, who is equivalent to your customs and border patrol. About a year ago, Paolo came to us wanting to use the factory to help bust a black-market olive oil cartel. While we were a bit hesitant at first, we agreed because the black market was impacting our business, and we were projected to continue to lose revenue.”
“Bertalucci Olive Oil. I’ve heard of that. It’s everywhere in the States. Is that your company?”
“Yeah, it is.” Tony suddenly looked very solemn. There was obviously much more to the story.
“I don’t see what any of this has to do with me.” She crossed her legs and fidgeted with her hands.
“A few weeks ago, my family and I were having dinner at my parents’ house. I stepped outside to take a phone call. While I was talking on the phone, the house exploded with my entire family was inside. I’m not sure who did it, but my best guess is the cartel.”
“Oh my god,” she whispered.
Her heart pounded and her pulse surged through her veins. Poor Tony, or Massimo, or whatever he was calling himself.
“Whoever did it was trying to kill me as well. I took the opportunity, and I ran. I’ve been on the run ever since.”
“I still don’t see where I come in.”
“Not thinking clearly, I headed up north. My plan was to leave the country via Switzerland. However, I didn’t have proper papers to leave. I remember my dad telling me if anything ever happened to go to his safe and get the contents. I figured there was probably some money and a passport. I took a chance and was headed back to Umbria. I didn’t plan on staying in Florence until I saw you on my train that day. I thought if I could befriend you, and make myself look like a tourist, I could travel with you without suspicion. I thought it would buy me some time to get to my dad’s safe. Then, I would follow you out of the country.”
Her heart sank, and she shifted her gaze to the fidgeting hands in her lap. “You’ve been using me.”
He scooted closer. “At first, I was, but then I got to know you. Please believe it’s not like that anymore. When I left to go to Sorrento, I believed leaving you behind was for your own safety, and to not get you involved in any of this. I had every intention of coming to New York afterward, just to see if there was a chance we could be something more. While in Sorrento, I noticed I was being followed. I recognized the guy from when we were at the market. I figured that if I was being followed, then so were you. I needed to come back to make sure you were okay. Kate, they know about you and you’re guilty by association. Because they’ve seen you with me, they’re never going to let you go. They’ll use you to get to me. I need to get you out of this country.”
“Why don’t you just go to the police?”
“My brother warned us a few months back that we had to be careful who we went to. Besides, if they thought I was dead, it would give me the opportunity to leave Italy forever.”
This was too much information to process. Oil cartels, corrupt police officers, and now she was involved. She was a good girl; stuff like this didn’t happen to her. This was the kind of thing that only happened in a movie. “How did they find you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know who they are. All I do know is we need to get you out of this country and back to America.”
She stood and paced around the small little balcony. “How do I know I can trust you?”
He pulled her into his arms—his warmth radiated through her body and his heart was beating rapidly. She caught a glimpse of his emerald eyes and noticed there was no more gold. They were piercing and intense—looking for a way into her heart and mind.
“Because what I feel between us—this force that is pulling us together—it doesn’t lie. I know you can feel it too. I need you safe so we can figure out what this is.”
He put his forehead to hers, their noses connected, and her breathing hitched. Her body was once again an inferno from Tony’s touch. An electrical charge shot its way through her as he brought his lips to hers, staking claim, and connecting their bodies as one. His tongue danced with hers, performing a perfectly choreographed waltz. Her skin came to life as every nerve ending was electrified by his touch. Time stood still, claiming the two of them as its prisoners and refusing to let go.
He eased away, creating a distance between them that felt as wide as the Grand Canyon. He stared at her with such intensity, such force, that she searched for the invisible shield protecting her heart. “What’s wrong?”
“Kate…I want so much to make love to you.”
Her heart fluttered, her sex clenched, and pangs of desire darted throughout her body. She was speechless; she’d lost all control of her senses and logical mind. Was it okay to want this man like she did? He was dangerous; he’d lied to her, and put her in harm’s way.
How could she not allow herself to succumb to what she was feeling? What if this was their last moment together? Would she regret it? She had been overly cautious her entire life and look what that got her. Now, she had this opportunity, this desire to go down the path less traveled, to throw caution to the wind, and give in to her temptation.
“I want you t—”
He didn’t let her finish speaking before embracing her again. He brushed one hand through her hair, tugging gently as he suckled and kissed up the side of her neck. His other hand grasped her breast, squeezing hard enough to make her moan. The touch of his mouth and hands sent shock waves through her body. Every inch of her screamed for more—more touching, kissing, squeezing—more of anything to stoke the fire that kindled her insides. She wanted, and needed, him to release the energy that had surged throughout her body. His erection was pressed firmly against a bundle of nerve endings screaming for release. Too many clothes. She reached for his belt, desperate to feel his body next to hers—skin to skin. Every ounce of her wanted this man.
Suddenly, he stopped. He pulled away from her, leaving her breathless and wanton.
He moved his hands through his hair. His pants were undone and his erection threatened to spill out. “Kate, I have to get you out of here. I have to get you to Rome. There’s an embassy as well as a large airport. They’ll help get you on the next flight out of this country.”
“What? Can’t that wait?” She wasn’t sure what happened; all she knew is the fireworks were lit but they never exploded. The show was over before it started.
He turned around and leaned his head back. “No, it can’t wait. I need to get you to safety. I can’t let anything else happen to you.”
“What about us? I thought you wanted to make love to me.” She bowed her head, embarrassed by the words that had just come out of her mouth.
He approached her and held her face. “You know I want that more than anything right now, but I don’t feel right putting your life in jeopardy. The longer you’re here with me, the more you’re at risk. We need to get you to the embassy now.”
She took a deep breath, trying unsuccessfully to put out the fire that had been stoked. “Do you think they can help you too? Maybe they can assist you to leave the country unnoticed.”
“Maybe later; I have things to finish up here. My father has left me instructions that I need to follow. I can’t leave until this is resolved, or I’ll be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”
“What…what if they hurt you?”
He looked deep in her eyes, his gaze touching her soul. “Please don’t worry about that. I promise you, I’ll be in New York before you know it, and I expect a tour of the Empire State Building.”
She laughed. “There are so many more things to see in the city than that.”
“Fine, I just can’t wait to see the city through your eyes. For now, though, we’ll leave when it gets dark. You can’t stand out so you need to cover your hair with a scarf and wear dark clothes. There’s a train leaving tonight at eight that will get to Rome around eleven. We will contact the embassy once we get there.”
“How far from the train station to the embassy? Will they even be open?”
“The embassy is always open. From the train station, we’ll take the subway to Barberini Square. The embassy is only a couple of blocks from there. It won’t be too much trouble at all.”
“I can’t believe I’m leaving; I’ve only just gotten here. I feel like I was finally beginning to find myself.”
“You can’t begin to know how sorry I am to have brought you into this. Someday, when this is all taken care of, I’ll bring you back here and I’ll show you Italy.”
“You promise?”
“Yes. I owe you that much,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her.
Chapter Ten
Special Agent Daniel Thompson stepped off the plane in Rome. He marveled at how modern the city was, despite being built more than two thousand years prior. The area around the airport was busy; people were bustling everywhere. As he walked outside, he put on his sunglasses, strapped the carry-on bag over his shoulder, and went in search of the private car th
at was supposed to be waiting.
Thompson had been placed on the case a few months prior. When he first heard about it, he thought it was a joke or maybe he was being punished—or worse yet—demoted. After all, black market importation of olive oil didn’t seem like that big of a deal. However, as he learned what was really going on, he was astounded by the actions taken to mass-produce the stuff. He was surprised to learn that in the late ’90s olive oil was the most tampered agricultural substance in the European Union, and only sixty-nine percent of the olive oil imported into the United States actually met the FDA’s approval rating. The oils that didn’t meet standards were often doctored with various seed and hazelnut oil. Even well-known oil production companies had been victims, causing their products to not meet standards. This was a billion-dollar industry making the Italian mobs very wealthy while providing consumers with a less-than-healthy product.
He was supposed to team up with members from the Guardia di Finanza, who were also working on the case. He was investigating from the United States; he searched for the exact location of the warehouse the olive oil was supposedly being shipped to. However, his assignment was recently changed when one of the agents and his family were killed—presumably by the cartel. The Guardia di Finanza had performed forensics on the bodies found in the house, only to find one of the sons was not identified. Massimo Bertalucci was thought to have somehow escaped. Since his family had been working with the Guardia di Finanza, and training agents how to decipher between pure and tampered olive oil, it was believed that Massimo Bertalucci was in grave danger. They needed to find him before the cartel did.
Recently, Italian authorities found videos of what was presumably Bertalucci traveling through various train stations throughout the country. If it was in fact him, Bertalucci had disguised himself, and was now traveling with an American woman identified as Katherine Anderson, a well-known food critic and heiress to the Anderson Empire, consisting of over one hundred high-end restaurants up and down the eastern seaboard. While the Anderson family had no inkling Katherine was in trouble, if the cartel found out who she was, they would certainly attempt to milk her family for all they were worth. Thompson had to get to her before they did.
