Chapter Eighteen
GAbrIELLA-ROSE
I COULDN'T BELIEVE it when I saw Hudson walking into the living room. So many times today, he had told me not to give up hope, but I had. If he’d just told me he had a plan, I would have stopped worrying. Then again, I guessed he wanted me to be as natural as possible when I got home, and knowing that he would be here soon, I might have tried to stand up to Vincent and caused myself more anguish and pain.
After our introductions and Vincent’s obviously possessive nature, I decided it was best to let them talk. I was sure that whatever Hudson had planned, he would come and get me when the time was right. After excusing myself, I went to my bedroom in the hope that the next person who walked through the door would be Hudson. As I walked in, I turned on the light and went to my balcony doors to close the curtains.
I got the fright of my life when I saw someone on the balcony. It took me a few moments to realize who it was: Nico. I quickly walked back to my door and locked it. I didn’t want anyone inadvertently coming in. Then I rushed back to the balcony, opened the doors, and stepped outside. At least here, I would be able to talk without anyone hearing us.
“What on earth are you doing here, and how the hell did you get up here?”
I saw a smirk come across Nico’s face.
“Well I didn’t get to say goodbye, now, did I?”
And there was the smartmouthed Nico back again. I slapped him on the shoulder, and he faked a hurt face.
“There’s no need to be sarcastic. What are you doing here?”
His face turned serious before he answered me. “I need you to pack a bag. Enough for a couple of days, and anything you don’t want to leave behind. You won’t be coming back here anytime soon, so if you have your passport, take it with you.”
I was so pleased that I was going to be getting away from my life with Vincent. It was what I had wanted for so long. However, I had a sudden feeling of dread and worry come over me. I could feel myself starting to shake and my heart beating faster in my chest.
I turned to Nico. “But what about Vincent? How are we going to get past him? If Hudson’s here, he will know he took me. What if he sends the Russian mafia after us? He could get them to kill us all.”
I was starting to have a panic attack and hyperventilate. I could feel the sweat starting to seep from my pores and the tears forming in my eyes as I shook uncontrollably. The next thing I knew, two strong arms came around me and started to rub my back. Then I heard his soft, tender voice next to my ear.
“Deep breaths, Rosa. I will answer all those questions, but I really need you to calm down. Breathe deeply. In…out…in…out. La mia bella Rosa.”
I could feel myself starting to calm, his body so close to mine, feeling so good. The last few words were just a whisper, but I was sure he called me his beautiful rose, but I couldn’t be sure. My heart ached to be with him, but I was supposed to be with Hudson. However, the more time I spent with Nico, the more I was falling for him. I took one last deep breath and pulled out of Nico’s embrace.
He looked down at me, smiling. “Are you okay now?”
I nodded my head, still unsure of my voice.
“To answer your questions, don’t worry about Vincent. I can deal with him if I have to. As for how we are going to get out of here, that is all arranged. In a few short minutes, Vincent will be safely in dreamland, and I have arranged for a power cut to get out of the building without being seen. As for the Russian mafia, that is the least of my worries. Now, we don’t have that much time, so I really need you to start packing.”
I gave him a smile and another nod and walked back into my bedroom. I emptied my small case that I had used for my weekend with Hudson, and started to grab the things I would need for a few days. I got enough clothes in the case for nearly a week, and then picked up my bag to put more personal items in. I grabbed my phone, passport, and everything else I needed and placed it in the bag.
Nico walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Is that everything you need? If you need anything else I can carry it for you.”
“No, that’s everything. All the rest has been bought by Vincent, and I don’t want it.”
I looked down at my hand and saw the ring that he had bought me when we got engaged. I had taken it off for the weekend, but put it back on just before I walked into the building. I pulled it off my finger and placed it on my dressing room table, next to the jewelry box that contained all the other items that Vincent had bought me.
Well, all except one. I opened the box and pulled out the small box that contained the last things I owned of my mom’s. I looked down at the box as the tears started to fall from my eyes and watched as a hand came over mine.
“We need to get ready to go, Rosa. Hudson just messaged me. He is back at the car. Do you have everything now?”
“Yes.”
My voice sounded meek and shaky. I hadn’t been like this in months, not since the last beating I’d received from Vincent. I placed the box in my bag and went to pick it up.
Nico instantly took both bags and held my hand. “Don’t let go of my hand. It’s about to get very dark here.” He sent a message on his phone, walked over to my door with me in tow, and unlocked it. “Are you ready?”
I nodded my head. All of a sudden, the room was plunged into darkness. I gasped at the sudden loss of my sight. I felt Nico squeeze my hand and could just make out his silhouette in front of me.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to let you go. This is part of our escape plan. Just stay close and nothing will happen to you.”
I allowed Nico to guide me out of my bedroom. Although it was pitch black, my eyesight was starting to adjust, and I could make out the door out of the apartment in front of us at the end of the corridor. We headed out of the apartment and closed the door behind us. The landing was bathed in a soft glow from the emergency lighting. We headed for the fire exit and down the stairs.
My heart was racing as I wondered if Vincent would suddenly appear behind us, racing down the stairs to stop me from finally escaping him. I could feel myself starting to panic again, even with Nico’s hand in mine, guiding me down the stairs. Nico must have realized, because as we reached the next landing, he stopped and turned to me.
“It’s okay, Rosa. I promise everything will be fine. We only have a few more flights to go down, and then we will be able to go and meet Hud. He’s waiting for us both. Please calm yourself for me.”
He leaned toward me and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. My panic was instantly replaced with butterflies in my stomach. If only I could have both of them, my life would be complete. I’d have my sir to look after me in the bedroom, and my sweet protector in Nico, who would never let anything happen to me.
I took a deep breath and spoke. “I’m good now. Let’s go.”
I was far from good. My head and heart had both turned to mush at this slight gesture of caring for me. I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive being in the same house as both of them for any long period of time.
We continued down the fire escape and soon found ourselves in the underground parking lot. Nico led me out through the side door, and there I could see the car that had taken me back to Club Lust earlier.
We walked up to the car and were greeted by the driver, who took my bags from Nico. He opened the door for me and helped me get into the car. As soon as I got in, I was immediately pulled into Hudson’s side. I snuggled into his side and looked across to see Nico had gotten into the back of the car with us. He was facing me with the sweetest smile on his face.
“All go well, Nico?”
“Of course, Hud. Did you really expect any less of me? The electricity should be back on just as we are taking off, and that pill you gave Vincent should keep him out of it for most of the night and some of tomorrow. By the time he wakes up, we will all be safely at home.”
I looked between the pair of them as they spoke. How could they say we would be safe when we were staying only a few miles away from Vincent’s apartment? He was bound to find us sooner or later, and my bet was that it would be a lot sooner. As we started to pull away from the apartment building, I felt Hudson press a kiss into my head before he started to speak.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was going on today. We needed it to be a surprise, which from the look on your face earlier, it was. Before you ask your next question, we aren’t going back to my brother’s house. We are heading home to New York, and you are coming with us. That is, if it is what you want. I can arrange for you to go anywhere in the world, but I would hope you might like to come home with me.”
I looked at him and then over to Nico, who just shrugged before he spoke.
“I guess you can tag along if you want. Won’t be as much fun having a chick around all the time, but I’m sure I will manage.”
“Nico!”
We were back to the bickering that I loved between them. How could I not want to go to New York with these two absolutely drop dead gorgeous guys?
I smiled at them both, although Hudson looked more annoyed than anything, probably at his best friend’s comment.
“I would love to come to New York with you, if you are happy to have me and put up with me.”
I felt Hudson give me a squeeze.
“Of course I want you. I have since the night I first met you. As for Nico over there, just ignore him. He wants you in NYC as well.”
I relaxed into Hudson’s side as we drove along the road. Looking over at Nico, I saw him give me a wink, and Hudson chuckled next to me. These two would be the death of me. Either that or I would be in for one hell of a night if I got them together.
WE WERE NOW SITTING in Hudson’s private jet – well, the company’s, anyway. I had never experienced such luxury before. The way the seating was meant that I would have either been facing Hudson or over the other side of the plane, so Hudson had decided after takeoff that I was going to sit on his lap in his chair. I wasn’t going to complain because it meant that I got to feel his body next to mine again for the whole trip. It also meant that we could chat with Nico.
I still wondered what the deal was with them. They seemed far closer than just best friends, and I wondered if there was anything else to their relationship. I saw being stuck in a plane as the ideal opportunity to ask them both questions.
“Can I ask you both a question?”
I couldn’t see Hudson’s reaction from my position, but I could see Nico raising his eyebrows. I expected him to answer me, but it was Hudson who spoke.
“This sounds like it’s going to get personal, but go on.”
I could tell that Hudson was only joking with me, because I could feel him chuckling beneath me. I decided to be brave and ask the question I was dying to ask. I had already skirted around the issue the first time I met Nico, but I was sure there was more to them than just being very old friends who knew each other inside and out. Being here and having their undivided attention, I hoped I would get a better idea of their relationship.
“Okay, here goes. What is the real deal between you two? I know you said you have known each other for a very long time, but your relationship seems a lot closer than that.”
I felt Hudson tense below me.
Was there something they didn’t want me to know?
I looked up at Nico, whose expression hadn’t changed. There was deathly silence for a moment, and I decided that I would put them out of the misery of having to answer.
“Don’t worry. That was quite a personal question to ask. You don’t have to answer it.”
I felt Hudson relax under me as I spoke. However, Nico spoke next.
“It’s not that we don’t want to answer. It’s just complicated, and with everything that’s happened to you over the past few days, we don’t want to add to your stress. Give it a few weeks, and then I’m sure we can all sit down and talk. Just don’t think it’s anything bad, because it isn’t, okay la mia bella Rosa?”
There was the caring and considerate Nico who had been with me in my room. I was starting to see the two sides of him: the sarcastic and argumentative one who loved to wind Hudson up, and the soft, caring one who slipped out every now and then.
“If you are telling me not to worry, then I won’t.”
I suddenly felt extremely tired; it had been an eventful weekend, and it was now the early hours of the morning. I couldn’t help the yawn that left my lips.
Hudson pulled me into his chest and whispered softly into my ear. “Sleep, Angel.”
He pressed a kiss to my hair, and before I knew it, the events of the weekend took over and I fell into a deep slumber.