Chapter 17 #2
So they did. Telling her uncle about the men, escaping through the tunnels, returning to get money and the vehicle.
Dillon provided the barest of details on his search, identity, his dad’s, but made sure it was solid enough information that her uncle would believe them.
They explained their belief that the Yemeni warehouse might be key.
“That is a…almost too much to believe.”
Cove flickered her gaze to Dillon. “It is all true, Zio Santi. Like I said, I have been trying to prove Papà’s innocence all this time.
And Flavio kept insisting I wear the pink dress, but I refused—and we heard men say they were looking for the woman in the pink dress.
So, it is clear they are complicit in the attack and kidnapping Papà, I am sure of it.
Ever since I saw him meet with that man in Yemen… ”
“And now you both want to go to Yemen.”
It wasn’t a question. “Yes, sir,” Dillon stated.
“Achilles…the hero of legend was notorious for being weak in the areas of rage and pride. Is that a problem for you, Achilles?”
Only when I’m being treated like a criminal.
Stretching his jaw, Dillon told himself the question made sense, considering the fact he was sitting in a safe room in the man’s house with the man’s niece.
Though he considered some sharp retort, he opted for straightforward.
“No, sir.” But to be fair, he had inherited his dad’s short fuse.
Santi didn’t need to know that, though. “I am focused and determined.”
“You have tactical skills.”
Not really liking that the guy was probing his history, he also knew Santi could simply be looking out for his niece. “I do.”
“Zio, I know you are concerned—”
“Of course I am concerned. My brother-in-law is missing, taken at gunpoint, and my niece has been on the run with a man I do not know who broke into the villa where her father was taken, and now you want me to help you get to Yemen, one of the most volatile regions in this world right now!”
“Fair,” Dillon said, understanding the man’s outrage, yet growing irked because he could not give the man what he wanted.
“I hear you, sir. Get it. But I cannot provide you more proof or specific intel without compromising my father’s life or what I’m trying to accomplish.
And you’re right—Cove shouldn’t go down there with me. It is too dangerous.”
“What?” she balked. “I am not being left behind! I have been investigating that warehouse and Enzo longer than any of you balordo men! This is as much my mission as it is yours!”
“Think, Ilaria,” Santi said in a plaintive voice, “it is too dangerous. You are a beautiful young woman, and if anything happened to Achilles—Dio forbid—you would be on your own.”
“If you make him leave me, I am on my own.”
Dillon couldn’t hide the smile—that logic didn’t work.
“I will be there in two days, Lupina. Please, hear me.”
Cove shoved to her feet. “I am not staying behind.”
“If you defy my wishes, there will be no plane. I will not have that stain on my conscience. You stay, and a plane will get this man to Yemen. That is it. My only offer.”
Aware of alienating her, Dillon had to seize the opportunity. “Agreed, sir.”
“What?!” Cove’s eyes blazed with hurt and shock. “How could you do this?”
“Achilles, be at the airport at seven a.m.”
“Thank you, sir,” Dillon said, holding her gaze, knowing she likely hated him. But this…this meant she would be safe.
Cove unsealed the room and stormed out. Her angry steps thudded down the hall.
Dillon didn’t like the turn this had taken, but this shift in direction erred on the side of logic, not emotion. The thought of her getting hurt made his gut roil. No, this was for the best. Though he considered rushing after her, he thought she might need time to calm down.
Who was he kidding? He just didn’t want to see the hurt and hatred in those gold eyes again. So, instead, he sent an update to Helios and let him know what was happening.
SRY 4 DELAY. SAFE. VINE ATTACKED. ESCAPED WITH HEIR. SWIMMING WITH GODS. HEADED TO ORIGIN TMRW.
Next he looked up the directions to the island airport and ingrained them in his mind, then closed out and erased the history.
Grabbing the last slice of pizza, he stood, glad to see her phone still here.
At least in her outrage, she hadn’t lost situational awareness or compromised operational security.
Braced for impact, he left the secure room, pulled the door closed, and climbed the stairs to the main level. He expected a lecture from the formidable woman. Fierce in her own right, she was also intelligent. Surely he could get her to understand the logic.
He hit the travertine stone floor and paused.
Listened up and down the hall in both directions, but heard nothing from either way.
Where had she gone? At the end of the hall, he spied light escaping past an open door.
She’d said her room was on the opposite side of the house from his room, so was that hers?
He moved quietly toward it, listening, but didn’t hear anything.
He peeked inside. Scanned the bed and chairs, then the wall of windows that looked onto a private terrace with stone arches.
Another door with light spilling over the sleek floors turned out to be a bathroom, also empty.
“Cove?” He returned to the main living area, where he spotted a door ajar. He crossed the room and went outside, scanning the outdoor living area and kitchen where she’d earlier made the killer pizza. “Cove?”
He heard a quick intake of breath…below.
On the lower terrace.
Dillon shifted to the rail running the perimeter of the upper terrace and spotted her on one of the loungers that lined the pool. Hugging her knees to her chest, she stared toward the Aegean.
For a second, he considered just heading to his room because he did not want to have this conversation. Did not want those gold eyes eviscerating his conviction that leaving her was for her protection. She was safe here. Upset, yeah, but safe.
But he wouldn’t be a coward. Not with her. So, he took the stairs down and joined her poolside.