Chapter 27 Ayanna
twenty-seven
Ayanna
“Ineed the jet ready in an hour. Fueled and ready to go.” Teo’s voice was a low whisper as he spoke into his phone, his free hand resting possessively on my thigh. “Yeah. That’s right. Make sure it’s fully stocked.”
I looked at him with my eyebrows raised and mouthed, “We’re going somewhere?”
He smiled, caressing the area above my knee. “Yeah... San Casciano.”
He was still answering whoever was on the other end of his phone, but his response confirmed my assumptions.
“No, it’s a thirteen-hour flight. We’ll sleep on the plane. There’s no need to break it up in two legs. Oh, and be sure you have a car waiting when we arrive in Italy and make arrangements for them to take us to the villa.”
There were a few more instructions and a couple more yeahs before he said, “Expect us at the airstrip in an hour.”
He ended the call and smiled at me. That soft one... the one he only reserved for me and always made my heart flutter. “I’m getting you out of here for a while. Somewhere quiet, just the two of us.”
Relief washed over me immediately, but it was quickly replaced by worry.
My mama was still here dealing with my dad and his condition.
Bash was likely going to spend his time making sure this mess got cleaned up properly, and seeing to it that nothing from the past few days hit the news.
I wasn’t sure if my brother would have time to check in on our mother like he should.
He was a good son and brother, but with my father still not doing well, the Reed empire was left to him.
There were only so many places he could be and so much he could do as one person.
I didn’t want me leaving adding to his list of worries.
As if reading my thoughts, Teo gently squeezed my knee.
“I talked to Mrs. Antoinette. She wants you to go and relax, Amore. She’ll call if anything changes with Samuel.
” His voice was soft, but there was still a demand in his tone.
One that I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to.
“Bash is going to keep an eye on things. Your brother is a big boy. He can handle it. You need a reset.”
Slowly, I exhaled, knowing that what he was saying was true. Combined with the fact that he’d already thought this far ahead, eased some of my concerns. As the seconds passed, the idea of escaping became even more appealing.
“So, Italy, huh?” I asked, tucking my bottom lip between my teeth, even though they were still tender and a bit puffy.
“Yeah.” A boyish grin covered his face. The kind that always melted my heart. His genuine joy made me smile back at him. “You’ll love it there. It’s a small village tucked away in Tuscany. It’s where my Nonno Alfeo and Nonna Perla immigrated from.”
“You’ve been before?”
“Yeah, I’ve been visiting since I was a child,” he nodded.
“I have a small place there. Nothing too big. Just somewhere we can relax. The village is slow... a small countryside town. Everyone knows each other and it’s the perfect place to forget the world for a while.
You need that. We need that.” He exhaled, his eyes pleading for me to let him take me away without a fight.
Truthfully, I wasn’t planning on fighting him. Space away from everything was exactly what I needed. The idea of a quiet town, tranquil countryside, and nothing but me, him, and the simplicity of life sounded like a wonderful gift, from a thoughtful man.
“Boss... straight to the airport?” Our driver glanced in the rearview mirror, waiting for an answer.
“Yes, straight there,” Teo confirmed, glancing down at his buzzing phone.
“Make it quick,” he answered, and I let myself sink deeper into the leather seat while he handled more family business.
The calls would be frequent and nonstop, so much had happened.
Loose ends had to be tied, bodies had to be disposed of and old alliances had to be severed.
Leaving things unfinished wasn’t who he was.
I respected that. I understood that. And I would never ask him to be anything else.
He wasn’t on the phone long, just long enough to tell his cleaners to handle the docks, to make sure the body wasn’t found, and if they had problems to hit up Keem or Sophia.
“I’ll be off the grid for a few weeks. They know what to do. All Atlanta business needs to go through Bash,” he commanded.
Voices barely came through the other end, but I could hear murmurs of agreement, then his final demand. “Listen good... don’t call me for shit unless somebody’s dying or the world’s on fire. I meant what I said about being off the grid. Y’all handle your business.”
There was no more conversation after that. He powered off the business phone and slid it into his pocket, and turned his attention to me. “Now, how are you feeling? Anxiety?”
It was his turn to lift an eyebrow, but it was genuine concern.
I had never been through any shit like this.
I didn’t hold court. Or issue out punishments.
My lane has always been gowns, brides, and flowers.
Yet, in the past two days I’d killed a woman and condemned two men to their death.
So yeah... his concern about my anxiety was valid.
His eyes searched mine, looking for worry, or any signs of distress.
While I did feel a twinge of unease, it was overshadowed by a strange sense of relief that the people who were dead set on harming me were gone, permanently.
I had crossed a line I never imagined I would, but it was necessary.
And if I had to do it all over again I would make the same decisions.
“Nah, I’m good.” I finally answered.
He studied me for a short while before accepting what I said as the truth with a simple nod.
“Pensavo di averti perso,” he whispered, pressing his head against the back seat, his eyes now weary.
The sigh that escaped him felt so heavy.
He’d been holding back, but his true feelings now that it was just us finally spilled out.
“Scared the fuck out of me. I thought I almost lost you, and I don’t know if I would have made it. ”
It was the first sign of vulnerability I’d seen since... ever. There was an expression on his face that was haunted and etched by exhaustion.
“But I made it... I’m here.” I placed the palm of my hand on his cheek, my thumb caressing his smooth baby face. My voice was tender. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His hand gently covered mine, pressing it further into his flesh. With his eyes closed, he breathed deeply, savoring the warmth of my touch.
“I need you, Amore mio. More than you’ll ever realize.” He slowly pulled my hand away from his cheek, and brought my wrist to his lips. The kiss was gentle.
“The world is full of darkness.” He blinked, his gaze distant for a moment.
But then he straightened slightly, his focus back on me.
“I’m full of darkness, yet you accept me for who I am, for who I could become, and for who I’ve been.
Even with all my flaws… you love me.” His voice was strained, and his eyes never left mine.
“You keep me human, Ayanna. You are the reason I try and be a better man. Just the smallest part of your light is strong enough to touch the darkest parts of me.”
I didn’t know what to say. There was truth in everything he was saying. None of it was news to me. I had loved him, despite him running a whole ass mafia family. I did accept him fully. Ruthless and all. And the crazy thing is I’ve always known he loved me too, and would burn the world down for me.
Instead of responding or interrupting, I just listened and watched the way his thumb pressed deliberately against my thigh. Possessive even in his honesty.
“I’ve loved you since I was sixteen, Yanna. Ever since I could put a name to what I felt.” Again, his eyes held me hostage. “And I’m not gon’ lie, losing you might’ve been the end of me.”
The raw honesty of his confession made my chest tighten and I felt the tears I’d been holding back finally spill over.
It wasn’t from sadness. No... it was the relief I felt knowing he had found me before those idiots did more harm.
It was from the fear we both felt. And more importantly it was because any harm to me would have truly killed him.
I didn’t even know Teo was capable of being afraid, but he just admitted... out loud that he was scared. This was one of the hardest, and most composed men I knew.
Reaching for his hand, I threaded our fingers together and squeezed. His response was to squeeze back just as tightly. No words were needed. He’d given me everything — his fear, his love, and his truth.
And I gave him my understanding. It was through a simple touch, but that’s all we needed in this moment.
When I shifted closer, laying my head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arm around me and buried his nose in my hair.
His free hand stroked my hair gently, soothing my tears.
Neither of us spoke for a long while, both lost in our own thoughts.
The vulnerability he’d shown me was precious, and I protected it the only way I knew how.
By not making him explain or elaborate. Just existing here, in this space and in his arms. It was enough for the both of us.
About thirty minutes later, the airport lights came into view and I felt him shift in his seat.
A soft kiss touched the top of my head. “We’re here,” he said lowly.
I looked up and saw we were on the tarmac, realizing that soon we’d be in Italy, someplace quiet, and safe.
The softest set of lips landed on my neck, then traveled to the bottom of my earlobes. “You’re doing well.” Teo’s warm breath tickled my skin, sending tiny goosebumps down my body.
“Mmm... just like that. It’s all in the hands,” he murmured, while his large hands covered mine.