Chapter 39
River Thames
Vincenzo finally left Rome after I scolded him.
At first, he wouldn’t listen to Leo, refusing to be scared by Gabriel.
His villa was destroyed, barely standing, and dozens of his men killed along with civilians.
He wanted revenge and penance. Frustrated, I may have ordered him to leave Rome.
He wasn’t safe. I’m not sure if he believed my reasoning due to the clues left behind, but I think he believed my fear for him.
Did I care that much about him? No. Did I want to see what horrific desecration Gabriel would wreck onto his body? Bigger no.
The next three days were radio silence.
Only Isaac kept in contact with anyone, completely cutting off communications for Leo and me. Carrie published that we were in Paris for our honeymoon after having our small, intimate wedding in Rome. At least I didn’t have to take any calls, lying about where we were. Again.
The Crew was doing their best to track down Gabriel. Renato’s estate was in disarray from what we heard. Leo wants nothing of what’s left of it. With Gabriel still alive, it likely goes to him, until then there’s nothing we can do about it. No word of where Giovanna is or if she’s even alive.
Now the only question was, would he go after Vincenzo first or us? Or the wild card, Matteo?
This morning, Isaac told us that Jameson was suggesting we head to another country to keep moving until they found Gabriel.
No one wanted us in the states until he was gone.
At the moment, Berlin and Prague were at the top of the list. Never thought I’d be disappointed in traveling to other countries.
Leo and I both needed to think on it, so we decided to take our daily walk.
The River Thames is on one side and the Tower of London is on the other. Isaac shadows us through the late morning crowds of tourists that travel in groups. I glance over at some as they head into the entrance for the Tower. We take a turn up a road, walking past the stone walls.
“In all honesty, how long do you think you can continue the honeymoon excuse for the rest of your companies?” I ask, moving closer to Leo’s side.
“However long I want.” I squeeze his fingers playfully. He glances down at me, and I raise a brow. “Jameson will be able to handle it, along with Owen and Julio. Chiari will take care of the hotel, like the others I’m never at. Basically, they can self-sustain without me constantly at the helm.”
“Is that what you’ve been preparing for?”
Leo looks away, voice softer, “Often as I work, I never wanted my businesses to depend solely on me. For them to survive if anything happened. It’s somewhat why I have the Crew.”
My stomach flips a little as I inhale a long breath. Had he always been ready in case Gabriel snapped or was it because of something else?
I want to ask, but decide not to push as we continue walking up the slight hill. We take a turn down a road where more shops are. A tingling runs up my spine, and I flick my gaze over my shoulder. Isaac isn’t far behind, pretending to enjoy the sights.
“We have choices of where to go next, but if you had somewhere that you wanted more, where would it be?” Leo asks.
“Home,” I answer. I feel him look down at me, and he gently places his arm around me. “Prague sounds nice though.”
We’re quiet for a bit. We’ve walked like this every day, picking somewhere random in London, talking.
We’d take the tube and then just amble around the city.
Today we decided to walk along the Thames.
As we venture further from the river itself, we come upon smaller streets and less traffic along with streets of cobblestones.
It’s busy around us with tourists and just those who live in London.
“We’ll get home soon, dear Watson. I promise.”
“I know,” I sigh, leaning my head awkwardly against his side. “Never thought I’d miss New York so much, yet here I am.”
“Never thought I’d miss it either.”
I tilt my head up, and he meets my gaze briefly. He leans down enough to kiss my head, moving his arm down to his side to grab my hand again.
“What are you wanting for lunch?”
“Hmm, well we could do fish and chips again.” Leo snorts at my suggestion. “Or pick a random pub. Isaac knows a place with really good chicken tikka masala.”
“The upside of traveling is that you’re no longer suggesting cereal,” Leo muses.
I gently push him, and he smiles at me.
There’s a sudden shout nearby, and we both turn towards the noise. It’s just someone yelling at another for their bike almost hitting them. They’re loud, garnering attention, but it’s a quick argument as the crowd goes on as it has been.
I notice Leo’s hand had gone to his firearm, hidden under his jacket, but he eases back as we continue walking.
We come around another corner and that tickling sensation comes back, worsening.
Dread fills me. Spine stiffening, my eyes flash to the side.
I clear my throat softly, trying to look over my shoulder nonchalantly.
There’s no Isaac.
I look forward, heart beginning to race.
Leo leads us around another corner, and I glimpse back again.
Still no Isaac.
“Leo…”
“I know. Keep walking. Stay within the crowd.” His voice is low as we maneuver closer to more people.
Leo’s hand grips mine as we act like our bodyguard didn’t just disappear; our ex-MI6 bodyguard didn’t just fucking disappear.
“The argument was a decoy,” I whisper.
“Do you have your phone on you?” Leo asks. I nod barely. “Knife?” I do it again. “There should be a station about two blocks from here. Take it to get to Kings Cross.”
“I’m not leaving you—"
“You run when I tell you.” His voice punches through me. “Go to the address we discussed with Isaac.”
“Not without—”
“I’ll find you in Edinburgh.”
“Leo.”
“Autumn, do as I say. What we planned.”
Except that plan was to run together. His hand grips mine, almost shaking as I chance a look to see him staring ahead with his jaw muscles tight.
“Leo…”
“I love you,” he says as we come to an intersection. A chill hits my skin when he lets go of my hand. “Run.”
My heart and soul scream as I sprint, obeying his command as I’ve done before.
Instinct drives me as I bolt through the crowds, racing for the tube.
There’s no noise behind me, no gunshots or even yelling.
I keep running, fighting back tears, but right as I should take a turn for the station, I go the other way.
I try to recall the maps I’ve looked at with Isaac, memorizing parts of London.
Unfortunately, it’s not set up like New York or even Rome.
I come to an intersection I’m unsure about, glancing at the street signs.
I take another turn as I try to find a way to double-back behind Leo, unable to leave him or Isaac behind.
Anxiety runs up my spine as my heart clatters in my chest.
My hands shake as I come up through a small street, recognizing I’m back to where Leo and I had just been. He’s nowhere. The tingling sensation yanks at me with warning. Slowly, I back away, looking in multiple directions for him or Isaac.
Shit. SHIT.
“Get to King’s Cross,” I mutter, turning around.
Suddenly, someone grabs me. I’m nabbed from the crowd of tourists not paying attention to anything around them as they talk loudly or play music.
I’m pulled into a more deserted side street.
There’s honking from cars and buses, people yelling as I let out a shout.
Too much noise for anyone to notice as an arm I don’t know wraps around my neck.
Panic consumes me as something soft muffles my screams, trying to shake my head.
I can smell something that’s wrong. The tightening around my neck worsens as my vision darkens.
No.
My mind is frantic, struggling to break loose.
No.
Everything goes black.