Chapter 36
Goodbye, Rome. Hello—
It’s late when we switch bikes at some random shop.
A middle-aged man greets us, taking the Ducati and helmets.
We’re given clothes to change into: jeans, boots, shirts, and jackets to ride safer and warmer.
Thank goodness, because even though it’s summer, the night is chilly, worse going the speeds Leo’s been taking.
We’re given either a Bonneville or BMW, but I’m too exhausted to double check. We’re soon off again into the night as the engine revs underneath us. Leo squeezes my knee, and I do it back around his middle as I remain close to him even if I don’t need to on this model like the Ducati.
The engine rumbles as we ride north to Pisa.
Anxious thoughts still swirl, adrenaline wearing off as I focus on the vibrations of the bike.
It’s not a Harley, but it’s enough to help calm me as I try to process what happened and lies ahead.
The breeze rushes past as I turn my head, staring out at the coast we ride alongside.
The full moon glistens over the water. It could almost be a peaceful night ride.
Horrendous as this night has been, it’s comforting to have Leo with me this time escaping a city. Two times in a row. New record.
At some point, I have to focus to stay awake as we approach Pisa.
Leo easily guides us towards the airport, and I’m soon blinking as we approach it.
We come upon a small airfield where there’s a smaller private jet sitting on the runway.
Someone meets us, and it’s a whirl of quick conversations as the bike is turned off and handed over to someone else.
My eyes have a hard time focusing as we get onto the plane.
It’s much smaller than the other one. White leather seats and two areas to sit in. One with chairs facing each other, and the other with sofas sectioned off with a curtain. It feels more luxurious. I slump into one of the seats pulling my jacket off as I lean back tiredly.
Please don’t let me get sick again.
Leo’s gone for a few more minutes, talking with the pilots before he comes back and tosses his jacket off next. He instantly starts to buckle me in as the doors of the plane are closed.
“No hostess this time?” I ask.
“No. Only us and the pilots.”
“We can trust them?”
“Yes. They’re Renaldi’s people. And his plane.” Explains the fancier feeling.
He gets into his seat next to me. “How much do we owe him?”
“Only message he left for Enigma was his apologies to you for a terrible leave of Italy.” I lean my head back as the plane starts to move. “I think he likes you too much.”
“Good thing for him he’s across an ocean.”
Leo takes my hand, running his thumb over my wrist. “There’s no bed this time, but we can sleep here or on the sofas.”
“How long is the flight?”
“About three hours.”
So, we’re going somewhere else in Europe I’m assuming.
“Fingers crossed I don’t get sick again.”
He brings my hand up, kissing it as I hear the engines rumble. It pauses in moving, and other noises come from the cockpit.
“How are the other three?” I ask.
“Animal and Ringer got to their planes with no issues. Iron Buffalo will get to his in an hour. All three were followed, but Renaldi took care of it.”
“Guessing between our plane and helping them, he’s not pissed at us.”
Leo shakes his head. “His anger is with Gabriel and Renato. He’s declared his own war with them.
Given the destruction caused and civilians killed, he has every right.
The Salvadori name can die with Renato and Giovanna.
Renato crossed a stupid line allowing Gabriel to hire his men. He’s likely learning that now.”
“I thought they were mercenaries.”
“It would’ve been worse if they were.” Well, that’s comforting. Not. “And Matteo’s plane has been diverted to Atlanta, and then he’ll go to New York.” I flick my gaze to him, anxiety flipping in my stomach as the plane starts moving again.
Leo’s gaze remains forward, exhaustion pulls at the corners of his eyes. He swallows hard, letting out an exhale.
“I doubt Matteo had any part in tonight, but if he ever does touch you again, I may kill him. When we finally get home, I don’t want you near him.
” Leo’s voice is rough, his jaw tightening as he brings our joined hands up to kiss my knuckles.
His eyes finally meet mine, and I hate seeing how tired and pained he looks.
The last few hours weighing on him. “When I heard you scream, for a moment, I thought I lost you.”
My chin quivers, trying to give him a reassuring look.
I kiss his knuckles next, squeezing as the plane starts to move quickly.
The seatbelt sign blinks, and I loosen a shaky breath as the plane races forward to fly off.
My stomach flips as we lift into the air, and I stiffen entirely at the odd sensation.
We’re still tilted upward when he moves the armrest between us, giving me the ability to lean into his side. He kisses my temple as the plan jostles. I grip him tighter, wishing it was the helicopter or to be back on the bikes.
Unable to stay quiet as we glide into the sky, I abruptly blurt, “I watched you kill multiple men. How’d you even…I mean, I know how, but…”
“An entire life of training.” He strokes my leg, keeping his face against my hair.
“Childhood?”
“Partly. A requirement of my father.” Explains why Gabriel was so lethal, too. “Then later with Isaac, Owen, and Julio. At first it was because I’d be this hotel mogul, potentially targeted, but also paranoia if Gabriel came looking.”
“Good instincts.”
“Good instincts yourself.”
I scoff, going rigid once more when the plane bumps.
“I fucking froze and almost…” I huff, rubbing my free hand over my face.
Leo pulls my hand away, tilting my chin towards him gently. “What you saw would’ve made anyone freeze or panic. You witnessed a massacre; you’re allowed to be scared.”
“You didn’t.”
“Training, remember?” I purse my lips, recalling Chesty saying something similar. The Crew did have training from military to police work, for specific situations like what happened tonight. To know how to act, whereas I hadn’t. Just survival instincts. Yet, the shame was still there.
“You were targeted, chased, and attacked while explosives were going off, and surrounded by death, Autumn,” Leo says slowly.
“Even those trained for the worst situations would’ve needed a moment.
” He strokes his fingers over my cheek as I shakingly inhale.
“You got us out, helped us not get caught. You hotwired a fucking Ducati. Fought off those men, too. Nothing for you to be ashamed of after what you saw.”
“I watched him kill them,” I whisper. “Igor and Garett. And then Michael…”
“I know. If it wasn’t for Michael, I wouldn’t have gotten to you in time.” He kisses my forehead. “Their job was to protect us. They did. Remember that.”
I nod against him. We’re quiet as the plane starts to ease from its jostling, and the seatbelt sign turns off.
Leo undoes our seatbelts, helping me over to the sofas.
He pulls a blanket out from the overhead compartment, closes the privacy curtain completely, and then finds some water.
Leo then pulls off my shoes and his, settling us onto the sofa under the blanket together.
His arm goes around me, holding me close.
My head hurts, aching and throbbing along with the rest of my body. Leo’s warm against me as he breathes deeply, stroking my arm in a comforting manner.
“Try to sleep, dear Watson.” His voice is rough, breathing deep against my hair.
Somehow, even with the nightmare we lived through tonight, my eyes close as I feel his body go lax. We fall asleep, finally leaving Italy behind.
The next twelve hours felt like a warped montage of exhaustion.
I was jolted awake by the plane when we landed, and we were quickly escorted off.
I barely remember anything as Leo got us onto a train.
Guess I can finally mark that off my mode of travel.
We arrived at our destination, both fatigued when we fell asleep in our hotel room.
My eyes snap open, a tightness around my chest when I wake up again. Hand reaching out, I feel Leo beside me in the bed and I calm. Slowly, I sit up and groan. Headache is barely there, but it faintly throbs. My body is sore. At least I didn’t get sick this time flying.
I glance out the window beside the bed, which shows a pretty view of London.
We’re in a hotel owned by an acquaintance of his, non-mob related. I pull my legs in, wrapping my arms around them as I try to breathe after whatever nightmare woke me up. There’s barely any sunlight, making me guess it’s early or just really fucking cloudy.
Leo mutters in his sleep, turning over and runs his hand under the covers. He touches my leg, and then my hip. I look over as he lifts his head a little, and roughly asks, “Nightmare?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna start some coffee. Go back to sleep,” I whisper. He makes a noise, putting his head down. I lean over to kiss his head before getting out of bed.
Our room is more modern than in Italy. It’s not a fancy suite, simple compared to Leo’s hotels.
Different luxury hotel vibes. The furniture is more minimalist, dark colored and rigid, the rest of the room a light amber with touches of blue.
The bed is just around a corner from the living room space and kitchenette, where there’s a breakfast nook to eat.
I glance through the cabinets, thankfully finding stuff to make coffee.
I half expected to only find tea honestly, glad to be wrong.
I put on the kettle, pulling out a French Press and get the coffee together. It’s not long before I have a cup and am sitting near the window, staring out at a cloudy London.
I definitely have a knack for unexpected travel.
First New York when I was seventeen, then New Jersey, Rome, and now London. In a year, I’ve accidentally become well-traveled. College Autumn would be stoked.
As I drink the coffee, my mind wanders going over the last 24…48 hours. Week. Month. Two months. Shaking my head, I slump back into the chair and groan inwardly. Oh, don’t do that you’ll land yourself in Arkham, Autumn.
“Can’t change it. Focus on now,” I murmur to myself. “Like the fact that you’re in a foreign country with your husband, running from his maniacal older brother who essentially caused a massacre. Okay, not helping.”
I grumble to myself, putting my coffee down and hold my head. “Deep breath. You’re safe. The others made it back home. You’re safe. For now…”
My head goes onto the table.
Suddenly, there’s a soft knock on the door.
I pinch my brows together as I look up. It’s barely 6:30.
Maybe Leo ordered an early ass breakfast…
or the mobsters here are nice enough to knock before tearing through a door.
The knock occurs again, and I briskly get up and walk over to the bedside table next to Leo.
I grab his gun as he stirs a little, while I go back to the door.
I hold it ready at my side as there’s one more soft knock.
My heart pounds, chest shaking as I exhale steadily.
I unlock it, getting ready for whoever is on the other side, except I’m not when I open the door. Familiar blue eyes greet me, and a smirk when he notices the gun in my hand.
“Decided to shoot me instead of kicking me in the balls this time, Miss Autumn?”