CHAPTER 34 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
“YEAH, I’VE GOT THEM.” Liam scans both me and Maria in the back of the car from his rearview mirror, his voice loud in the silence. “They haven’t said much, but she’s okay... No... no issues... When? Yeah, that’ll work.”
Maria glances at me when Liam ends the call and I squeeze her hand in response. Liam’s right: I haven’t said much, if anything, and she’s said little to me, but her eyes convey there are a thousand questions waiting.
I expect them. But I won’t discuss anything in front of Liam, and it seems neither will Maria.
Catching Liam looking at me again, I raise an eyebrow.
I can only presume that it was Red who just called, but as no information is forthcoming, I won’t ask.
I’m more interested that Maria is okay and there were no dramas at the meeting place.
Around ten minutes have passed since we picked her up, so we’re out of the danger zone now. At least, I hope we are.
“Arianna, what’s going on?”
Maria’s childlike voice sounds younger than usual. “We’ll talk later. I’ll tell you everything you want to know, I promise.”
I finally give way to the urge and hug my sister. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I say, enveloping her in my arms and breathing in the peachy shampoo she always uses.
As Maria hugs me back, it’s impossible not to feel the trembling of her body. “Where is it we’re going?”
I smile. “Don’t worry, I’m staying there with you.” Vague, but that’s all I know myself.
In the chaos and short notice of bringing my sister in, there’s been little time to ask questions. But one thing I do know is that Red’s done what he promised, so I trust whatever he’s organized.
The same can’t be said from Maria’s side. It’s not the first time I’ve caught her eyeing what she can see of Liam with distrust. “Is... is he one of... one of them?”
I see a slight smirk of amusement on Liam’s lips and shoot Maria a warning look. I forget she’s indoctrinated with the same viewpoint of the Batemans as I was, however, she’ll soon work out they’re not like what Papà and Eduardo Bristoni made them out to be.
“I should have introduced you,” I say brightly, thinking how ridiculous it sounds, given the situation. “Maria, this is Liam - Liam Bateman. And Liam, this is Maria, my sister.”
Liam chuckles. “Good, otherwise we’ve just plucked a random chick off the street who happens to look a lot like you - except less bolshy.”
His eyes crinkling with amusement annoys me, but I return his half-smile. “Yes, I suppose there is that.” I send an eye roll in Maria’s direction to let her know this is Liam’s way, but it does little to remove her discomfort. She’s like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
Fidgety silence returns. That is until Liam veers off the main road into a half-deserted industrial estate.
“Where are we going?” Receiving no answer and with the car rapidly coming to a halt, I steady myself against the seat in front as the motor is slammed into reverse and Liam backs into a roofed section between two buildings.
When I spot another car behind, I can’t control my edge of panic. The last time I was taken anywhere, it didn’t end well. Fear knows no logic.
Maria clutches my arm. “What’s happening?”
“I-I don’t know,” I hiss. “Liam? I...”
Liam’s out of the driving seat and opening the back door. He jerks his head. “Out you get.”
Maria’s eyes bulge at the gun in Liam’s hand. “Arianna! You said we were safe. You said...”
“Come on!” Liam tugs Maria from the car. “Hurry. There’s no time for questions. Get in the car behind. And you, Arianna.”
Reminding myself I have little choice but to trust a man who hated me so much to begin with, I scramble to follow my sister as she’s frogmarched away, mute with fear.
“Liam, what the fuck is...”
The driver’s window of the car behind opens an inch, and immediately recognizing the eyes through the gap, I gasp with relief. Opening the back door, I usher Maria in and then clamber inside myself.
Maria stares into the piercing eyes of the driver in the rearview mirror, paralyzed with terror as the engine roars into life. This time I’m not so slow with my introductions. “Maria, this is my husband, Red Bateman.”
“Nice to meet you, Maria.” Red reverses out of the opposite end of the covered tunnel, which I now see is a disused truck washing bay. “Apologies for the ad hoc car swap. We thought it best to do a vehicle change mid-journey to reduce the chance of being tailed.”
His eyes meet mine, burning with the raw intensity that I yearn for again. It’s then I realize I introduced him as my “husband”.
Well, he is my husband – albeit in name only again, but is this a way of my brain telling me I want something more?
And does Red still want that?
Want me?
“I take it Liam omitted to mention this stage of the journey?” Red asks.
“Your take is correct.” I’m not angry, just relieved.
Red pulls the car onto the main road and continues at speed. “There’s not far to go now. You ladies can have time alone to talk once we arrive.”
I give Maria’s hand another reassuring squeeze. She’s more terrified than ever now, but I’m left with the burning knowledge that I don’t want to be left alone without Red at all.