by J. L. Drake
“I’d like that.”
“Shall we go eat? I believe I’ve worked up an appetite.”
“Yes, please. I’m famished.”
Tony took Kate’s hand as they continued toward the restaurant. His desire to eat was only outweighed by the desire to have this woman as his—to claim her so no one else could. If only things were different.
Chapter Nine
Katherine packed her bags for the trip to Siena. While she was excited to visit the small town, there was emptiness in her heart. Today was her first day without Tony. Who knew the man she was admiring on the train would turn out to be someone so wonderful? He was charming, sweet, and hot. The more she got to know him, the more handsome he was. She never believed in fate before, but perhaps fate had intervened. Maybe God was making up for the horrible mistake known as Mike. Perhaps this was a sign to move on and to never look back.
Never in all the years with Mike had there been sparks like there were when Tony kissed her. If she were a different woman, she might have taken him back to her room and forgotten about dinner. But that wasn’t how she was raised, and it wasn’t proper etiquette to sleep with someone so quickly. She heard her mother’s words in the back of her head: “If you give it up too easily, they’ll have no reason to keep you around. Let them get to know you first. Let them fall in love with you—not your body. Then you’ll have a lasting relationship.”
She had waited six months before having sex with Mike, and look where that got her. Sometimes, she just wanted to throw caution to the wind. One of those times had been while standing on an empty street under the moon and stars in Florence. God, what she wouldn’t give to be back there again. To feel the heat of Tony’s body enveloping her, the skin to skin contact, and the fullness that could only be felt by being with a man.
After a dish of gelato, Katherine had invited Tony back to her room. For what, she wasn’t exactly sure. She wasn’t ready to say good-bye, but she wasn’t ready to take the next step either. Instead, they spent hours talking and their make out session lasted until early the next morning. Passion exuded from his lips, taking hold of her body and taking her to places she’d never been before. He wanted her as badly as she wanted him, though neither of them would take that dive that would take them past the point of no return.
She put her fingers to her mouth, still a little raw and puffy from his kisses, savoring every last morsel of Tony. She never wanted to forget the warmth and tenderness of his touch, the raw manly smell of his skin, or the taste of his lips.
A knock on the door interrupted Katherine’s thoughts. “Housekeeping.”
She opened the door and asked for a few more minutes before taking off for the two-hour trip to Siena.
Katherine reviewed the itinerary to triple check what time the train was to leave; she didn’t want to be late or somehow miss it. Like the last two times she checked, the departure time was still ten past ten. She had reserved a wine tasting class in Siena that started at two. Time would be tight, but not impossible, and if there wasn’t enough time, Katherine would check into the hotel after the tasting. Being busy would keep her mind off Tony.
However, there was a lot of her trip left, and she needed to make the most of it. Tasting wines from the Tuscany regions would definitely be the distraction she needed.
She arrived at the train station with thirty minutes to spare, so she found a chair inside the terminal and settled down for her wait. As she waited, she pulled out her folder and removed the reservation for the next hotel. All the while, she kept an eye out to ensure that there was no one close who may try to pickpocket her. She read through the email noting in the comments section confirming the romance package had been booked—their favorite song would play as they entered, a bottle of champagne would be waiting, and there would be chocolate candies placed throughout the room. It was supposed to be one of the nicer rooms with a private balcony overlooking the city.
Katherine instantly thought of Mike. While her hurt hadn’t dissipated, her anger was all but lost. What Mike did now was up to him—she just wished he would’ve broken up with her instead of bringing another woman to their bed. She would’ve been hurt, but would’ve gotten over it. Why did he have to turn out to be such a creep? More importantly, how did she not see it before now?
The black hole in her heart grew bigger as emptiness set in. A single tear slipped down her cheek at the thought of never finding anyone to love again. She was lonely and had nothing to go back to except for work and an overprotective family. Her time with Tony reminded her of what she wanted and needed in life—intelligent conversation, laughter, companionship, and most of all, the physical connection with another human being.
“Ouch!” Katherine screamed. Someone had bumped into her suitcase, ramming it against her leg. The man didn’t apologize or acknowledge he had done anything; he just kept walking. How rude! He could’ve at least excused himself! she thought as she surveyed the area. There was a familiar face, but she was unable to pinpoint exactly where she had seen the man before. She checked the screen showing the departures and arrivals and noticed her train arrived. She gathered her things and walked toward the platform where the train was supposed to board.
Once on the train, she settled into her seat. She put her purse in what was supposed to be Mike’s seat; while she didn’t stare at the seat anymore and wonder what if, she did enjoy the extra room. The last thing she wanted to do was to rub elbows with some unknown person.
People slowly filed on the train one by one. The faces all seemed the same as they walked by until the man from inside the train station passed by her seat, maintaining eye contact. His long dark hair was pulled back into a pony tail; he smelled as though he hadn’t showered in a week, and his clothes were wrinkled.
A chill raced down her back and an unsettling feeling quickly formed in her stomach. Something was wrong. This man wasn’t someone she wanted to cross.
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 pau
sed 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.
