CHAPTER 50 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
Pressing my lips against his, my body relaxes; the relief that he’s back acts like a salve. “I’m so glad you’re here. Is Oscar okay?”
“Oscar’s fine. Everybody’s fine. It was all bullshit.”
Taking me in his strong arms, Red lifts me like I weigh nothing and presses me against the wall, his body hard against mine. My breath hitches as he runs his hand up my thigh, his mouth hungrily devouring mine.
“I’ll go out more often if this is the welcome I get,” he murmurs, his hand snaking around to pull my top from my waistband.
“Let’s go upstairs so we’re not disturbed,” I whisper. Reluctantly pulling away, I jerk my head towards the sitting room. “The guards are in there. I told them they might as well watch some TV.”
“I don’t pay them to watch fucking TV!”
Taking Red’s hand, I lead him up the stairs. “It wasn’t like they needed to watch us. Maria had a bath and went to bed early with a headache, and I’ve been sitting in the kitchen waiting for you.”
“And here I am!” Red playfully slaps my ass as we reach the top of the landing.
I flap his hand away, my juices running hot. “I’ll just check Maria’s okay and then I’ll be with you.”
Ignoring Red’s eye-roll of protest at my overprotectiveness towards my sister, I leave him heading to our bedroom and continue further down the landing to hover outside Maria’s room. She didn’t look too well earlier. I realize the conversation about Papà and her wedding shook her up.
My hand loiters on the doorknob. I can’t hear anything from inside the room.
Should I just stick my head in and make sure she’s okay or leave her alone?
I slowly turn the doorknob. Call me selfish, but I dread waking Maria and having to listen to her sobbing again. What I want more than anything is to jump into bed with my husband. But what sort of sister am I if I don’t check Maria is okay?
Gingerly opening the door, I peer into the darkness, still unable to hear Maria’s breathing. She must be deep asleep. I start to pull the door closed, but something stops me. It’s only a niggling thought, but it’s there all the same.
Creeping into the room, I blink, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. She’s there in the bed; I can see that she’s...
Oh shit!
I freeze for all of five seconds processing the unexplainable sight before lurching for the light switch. The room illuminates, proving my worst fears founded.
An empty bed.
My stomach turns in shock and fear; scenarios landslide through my brain. No one could have entered this house without any of us noticing. We were all here - me and two guards, so we’d have heard.
Wait! What’s that?
Spotting a piece of paper on the bedside table, I know straight away what it is.
She wouldn’t...
With trembling fingers, I snatch up the note:
No, she hasn’t... Maria can’t have... Fuck, she has! “Red!” I yell. “RED!”
Sinking down onto the bed, I stare at the note in disbelief. If I look at it long enough, will the words morph into ones that read differently?
“What on earth is the...” Red’s voice is strained like he expects me to be comforting Maria like I usually am, until he realizes. “What the fuck? Where is she?”
I hand Red the note, sure the pain in my heart will destroy me. “She’s gone, Red. Maria’s gone to Matteo and Luca, and she’s gone willingly.”
Red’s brows knit as he scans the note. “Shit!” Grabbing my hand, he pulls me from the room. “How did no one fucking notice?”
“I-I don’t know. I don’t understand it.” Tears threaten to flow, but I must keep it together. “How did she know where to go?”
“Jesus Christ! I’ve planned a strike for tomorrow, but now that will be too late.” Red pulls me into our bedroom, sex now the last thing on our minds.
“I’ll kill him if he hurts her.” I mutter, numbly watching Red pull open the wardrobe.
Maria will be hurt. I know because I’ve been where she’s chosen to go, the stupid, stupid.
.. “This is my fault!” I rage. “I should have watched her better. We shouldn’t have told her what was going on. It’s because of this that she’s...”
My words cut off as Red hands me the pistol I last used in the cellar. I stare at the gun and then raise my eyes to his. He says nothing, but he doesn’t have to. “What about your plan?” I whisper. “Your brothers and men? Your backup?”
Taking my hand, Red shoves his own gun in his waistband and pulls me from the room. “There’s no time. We’ll do it alone, so grab your coat and get in my fucking car.”