Chapter Forty-Eight Ella
Chapter Forty-Eight
Ella
It sucks only being able to withdraw two hundred and fifty euros from an ATM at a time.
After my first withdrawal, I spot a clothing store and slip inside. Within minutes, I’ve changed into a maxi dress and ballerina flats.
I grab two more summer dresses, two large hats, oversized dark sunglasses, a wallet, and a reversible bag that can pass for something entirely different at a glance.
At the counter, I have the salesclerk pack everything into the bag and ask for a garbage bag for my wet exercise clothes and running shoes. I dump them in a bin in an alley behind the shop, not wanting them traced back to me.
I hit four more ATMs along the way, pulling out as much cash as they’ll allow.
Then I spot a hairdresser with wigs displayed in the window.
Perfect.
I walk in as a blonde with long hair and walk out with shoulder-length brunette locks. For good measure, I also buy an auburn bob and a long black wig.
It takes effort not to constantly look over my shoulder.
Sofia’s words loop in my head. The trick to a successful escape is to make it look like you’re not escaping.
Blend in.
So I force myself to walk, even though every instinct screams at me to run. I scan the streets casually, stopping at every ATM I pass.
Eight machines later, I have just over three thousand one hundred euros in cash.
I consider ditching the card, giving it and the PIN to a homeless person and having them withdraw money all over town. It wouldn’t take Tiero long to realize it’s not me, but it might buy me time. It could be the difference between getting away… or not.
But what if I run out of money?
No, I need to keep it.
I decide that the train is my best way out of here. The women at the hairdresser were helpful enough to give me a city map, which I’m now trying to follow.
Trying being the key word.
I’ve already taken two wrong turns. Rhia would laugh if she were here.
Rhia… I need to get in touch with her. She has to know by now that something isn’t right.
Shit. What if Tiero goes to her?
Have I put her in danger?
I can’t think about that now. I’ll have plenty of time to contemplate this and everything else later. Now the priority is to get the hell out of here.
Focus, Ella. Focus.
Before reaching the station, I slip into a crowded shopping mall and change outfits and wigs again in the bathroom.
ATMs have cameras. And I’m sure Tiero will have Uberto hack into them to check if it was me withdrawing the money.
Better safe than sorry.
Ten minutes later, I’m sitting on a bench at Monza train station. The next train out of here leaves soon.
When I bought the ticket, I didn’t care where I was going, as long as it wasn’t back south toward Sicily. Now Basel in Switzerland is my destination. That’s if I can handle sitting for ten long hours. Not sure I can, I’m too wired for that.
Besides, Basel is flat, and the mountains are calling me. Their stillness has always brought me peace, and right now, I need that more than anything. There are a few stops along the way that would suit me better.
My fingers tap restlessly against my legs. I can’t believe I’m getting away with this.
Then again, I’ve thought that every single time, only to be caught at the last minute.
I’ve expected to be grabbed and shoved into a van by now, flinching at the slightest sound of screeching tires.
I take a bite of the protein bar I bought from a vending machine. It’s stale, but it keeps my stomach from growling. After all the running, I’m a little hungry. But proper food has to wait until I’m out of here.
I’m scanning the station from where I’m sitting when a tingling spreads low in my abdomen. It intensifies as the seconds tick by.
I turn toward the station entrance just as a black SUV pulls up.
And I know, they’re here for me.
Shit.
My heart slams against my ribs as adrenaline floods my system again.
Stay calm. Don’t act impulsively.
It’s the hardest thing in the world when every instinct screams at me to run.
Think before you act. Think before you act.
Repeating this like a mantra, I force myself to stay seated.
They’ll be looking for a blonde, maybe a brunette. But my auburn bob is perfectly in place, oversized sunglasses shielding my eyes. In this dress and hat, I barely recognize myself.
I shift my legs to the other side of the bench, angling for a better view.
Two men in dark suits step out of the SUV and head straight for the platform.
They’re not subtle. They stand out like sore thumbs.
Surely, they can’t know I’m here.
They’re covering the obvious exits. That has to be it.
I haven’t seen them before. Are they even Tiero’s men?
If it were Mauro or Santino, I’d be a lot more worried. But with these two? I think I can get away with my disguise.
They move along the platform, scanning faces. As one of them approaches my bench, I deliberately relax my posture. I place the book I bought at the newsagent on my lap and pretend to read, my body open, unguarded.
Inside, I’m unraveling.
My heart is pounding so hard I’m surprised it isn’t giving me away.
I can do this. I can do this.
He walks right past me.
Oh my god.
I slowly release the breath I’ve been holding.
They have no idea I’m here. They’re just guessing.
A flicker of confidence rises. I can do this.
But then…
Heat explodes in my veins. The fine hairs along my neck lift. My skin prickles.
Every nerve in my body lights up.
Fuck. He’s here.
Five seconds later, another SUV pulls up.
My stomach drops.
The doors open, and everything inside me goes still.
Tiero steps out from the backseat.
For a split second, the noise of the station fades. The movement, the voices, the rush of people… all of it blurs into the background as my focus locks on him.
He looks powerful, controlled, untouchable.
Except he’s not calm. I can tell from the set of his shoulders, and the way his gaze frantically sweeps the platforms.
If I can feel him this viscerally…
Can he feel me too?
My pulse spikes, panic clawing its way up my throat.
Santino and Mauro appear at his side, both tense, both alert.
This can’t be happening. I’m so close to getting away.
They must know I’m here, or they wouldn’t be.
But how?
How could they possibly know?
I threw the necklace into the lake this morning.
Unless…
A cold wave crashes through me.
Did he follow through on that threat and put some kind of tracker inside me while I was unconscious?
No.
No, he wouldn’t.
Would he?
I watch his men approach him, speaking quickly, but he cuts them off with a sharp gesture and sends them out again.
My mind races, retracing every step. I haven’t been followed. I’m sure of it.
The clothes from this morning are gone. There’s no chance of a tracker having been sewn into my new ones.
The necklace is gone too, dropped into the lake.
I’m clear.
How then? How did he track me?
My hands move of their own accord, brushing my ears and meeting…
Shit.
My entire body goes cold.
I’m still wearing the blue sapphire studs Tiero gave me on the yacht.
How did I miss that? How did I not think of it?
I fight the urge to panic, forcing my hands to stay steady as I remove them. My fingers fumble slightly, but I manage to pull them free and wrap them quickly in the protein bar wrapper.
The train finally rolls into the station. It’s ten minutes late.
If it had been on time, I’d already be gone.
But they would’ve followed me.
This might actually work in my favor, if I can get on unnoticed.
A strange calm settles over me, thin but steady, cutting through the chaos.
Tiero checks his phone, then gestures sharply to Santino, who starts speaking into his watch.
I scan the others. The two men from earlier press their hands to their ears, listening through their earpieces over the noise.
Mauro breaks away, blending into the crowd, scanning faces.
I angle my body slightly, stealing another look at the man who, despite everything, still holds my heart.
Tiero is openly furious, having lost the calm and collected demeanor he normally shows to the world.
A shiver runs through me. If he finds me, I’m in serious trouble.
I tighten my grip on the wrapper in my hand.
Then I move.
Calmly.
Casually.
I gather my things and step toward the train.
The doors slide open, passengers spilling out onto the platform.
Among them, a young couple pushes through. The woman carries a large, open woven bag over her arm.
It’s my opportunity.
I angle my path toward her and deliberately bump into her shoulder.
“Sorry,” I murmur, already moving.
In the same motion, I drop the wrapper into her bag.
She doesn’t notice.
Within seconds, they’re gone, heading in the opposite direction.
Good. That should buy me time.
I glance up at the digital display and frown.
Milan?
Am I on the wrong platform?
I quickly check my ticket. No, it’s definitely the right one.
I tap the man in front of me on the shoulder. “Is this the train to Basel?”
“Si,” the middle-aged man replies.
I point at the display. “It says Milan.”
“It’s already changed for the next train coming in after this one,” he says in a heavy accent.
Of course. Because the Basel train was late.
Casually, I scan the platform for Tiero and his men. Mauro is closest and moving in my direction.
I force myself to stay calm and edge toward a group of friends standing nearby. They’re laughing, talking over each other. I slip into their space, smiling as if I belong.
God, they probably think I’m a complete weirdo.
Finally, I step onto the train just as Mauro passes behind me without a second glance.
Holy shit.
That was too close.
My legs feel like they might give out as I move down the aisle and drop into a seat beside a young girl by the window. My hands tremble as I lean forward, just enough to look out.
Santino is gesturing sharply, calling the others back. He shows something on his phone to Tiero.
Oh please. Let this be the earring signal pulling them away.
But Tiero barely looks at it. He shakes his head. And then he turns.
Straight toward the train.
Straight toward me.
Everything inside me locks up. My heart drops into my abdomen.
Shit, shit, shit.
I lean back immediately, eyes closing, willing myself to disappear into the seat.
He can’t see me.
He can’t.
It just felt like that. He was looking at the train. Not me.
I force my eyes open.
Tiero is running toward the train.
My breath cuts off completely.
Oh my god.
He did see me.
The doors slide shut.
He’s shouting now, gesturing at someone.
What if one of his men jumps on?
Time stretches.
Then the train jolts.
Moves.
Slowly at first… then faster.
Tiero slows to a stop. He’s still watching the train. Watching me.
His expression shifts. He looks… crestfallen. Anguished.
My heart breaks at the sight.
I never wanted to hurt him.
A tear slips down my cheek as I finally let out the breath I’ve been holding.
I did it. I really did it.
I got away.
But there’s no relief. No triumph.
Only heartbreak.