CHAPTER 82 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
R ED PACES THE ROOM, barking orders to Liam and down the phone. I’ve seen him pull clout on several occasions, some in ways I’d rather not have, but this is one step removed from what I’ve yet witnessed.
I’m not entirely sure what’s gone on or what it means, aside from that the Bristonis and perhaps my father’s firm did something last night and someone’s planted a bomb in this building.
But Papà wouldn’t sanction an explosive being placed in a building that I could be in. He wouldn’t.
My throat constricts.
Or am I now so much of a traitor in his eyes that I’m no longer considered his daughter?
My heart thunders, and I feel sick to the back teeth. How has this feud come to this? Knowing that I’m the fuel sparking everything makes it even harder to bear.
My gaze darts around the room, not sure what I should do. Much to my horror, I’m still naked while Red is dressed. That Liam has seen me in my altogether is almost as humiliating as being caught in the middle of the best sex ever.
I bite my lip. What Liam said... How will Red explain this - us - to his brothers and firm now?
It’s a subject we hadn’t yet discussed, but I suspect he’d have preferred to be the one to tell them, rather than the worst brother ever, walking in and seeing for himself .
Too busy succumbing to the needs of our bodies, we hadn’t broached the elephant in the room; neither one of us wishing to break the cocoon we’d created.
While we remained in here away from prying eyes, pressure and people’s opinions, our broken promises were something we’d veered away from discussing - reluctant to break the spell and dampen the moment of the shift between us.
But a shift has occurred; there’s no denying that. And it’s mutual, so we should have broached the unwanted subject. If it was at the back of my mind, then I guarantee it was also in Red’s. We should have foreseen that someone would find out.
But why did it have to be Liam ?
We should have touched upon how changing our promise to ourselves and everyone affected everything going forward. We both knew it would.
Would we have kept it under wraps until things were less fraught?
I swallow dryly, my tongue feeling too big for my mouth.
But we didn’t discuss anything, and now it’s out of our hands.
Still, on the scale of it, there are more important things at stake here.
So much so that Liam hasn’t even used the excuse of still being in the same room as me to throw more insults and threats around.
But the time to face the music will come, and I don’t know which tune is best to play. Or which way Red wants to play it.
We need to sing from the same sheet, but I know nothing: not what to do or how to handle this, which means things really are bad.
And I don’t like it.
I don’t like that there’s a bomb somewhere in this building either. That’s if it’s true?
I reach for one of Red’s long T-shirts and hastily pull it on before Liam’s accusing eyes swing back on me. I’m just in time because Del bursts through the bedroom door.
“The staff have been evacuated, and a message sent to all customers informing them the casino won’t be open tonight.
I’ve quoted a pipework emergency.” Seeing me in a state of half-undress, with my hair and face guiltily revealing everything me and Red have been doing, stalls him for a couple of beats before he drags his eyes away and clears his throat.
“The only people left on site now are the inner circle and second tier.”
“Good.” Red stares at his mobile like it might provide answers.
“Del - organize a car for Arianna. Get Cal Bennett on the case.” Striding to a drawer in the dressing table, he pulls out a set of keys and throws them to Del.
“These are for my Mayfair apartment. Give them to Cal. He’s to take Arianna there and stay with her until further notice. ”
“Fuck me!” Liam mutters. “The ghost of Lorna will haunt you!”
I blanch. Red lived there with Lorna?
“Is that relevant, Liam?” Red snarls, showing me he’s losing his temper.
“But Cal Bennett?” Liam continues. “Why Cal Bennett? He’s good with bombs, so he’d be...”
“Why not Cal Bennett? I trust him,” Red snaps. “I’m good with bombs too, however, we need to fucking find it first!”
I jump off the bed, not caring if the T-shirt only just covers my ass. Rushing to Red, I grab his arm. Our secret is blown now, so whatever I do doesn’t matter. “I don’t want to go. I’ll stay here with you.”
“No, you won’t.” Red cups my face with his hands. “I need to know that you’re safe, baby.”
“For Christ’s sake!” Liam mutters, but he’s ignored. Del is talking on the phone, and the air is heavy with urgency.
I search Red’s eyes. “What about you? What will you do?”
“Find the bomb and diffuse it for a start!” Red glances at his watch. “Get some clothes on and go. You must hurry.”
Del eyes our intimacy curiously. “Cal’s on it now. The car will be here shortly.”
“What if it’s a false alarm again?” I want to be the voice of reason. I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with Red - the place I’ve only just realized I belong. “It’s happened before, so why not now?”
Red’s face softens as he strokes my hair, his actions reassuring me that he means everything he’s said. To make such gestures in front of his men and brother, he’s telling me without words that we are doing this. We are somehow going to do “ us” .
If we live...
“Baby, whether it’s a false alarm or not, I can’t risk it, but time is ticking, so I need you ready to go.” Red kisses me full on the lips. “Del will stay with you until Cal texts, so make sure to take this.”
Pulling a mobile phone from his pocket, Red hands it to me. “Answer it to no other number apart from the contacts in there. The only one you won’t have is Cal’s. You can’t dial out to anyone but those numbers either.”
“You’re giving her a phone?” Liam barks. “What the fuck? Why?”
Red cuts Liam a glare and ignores him, leaving me to cling to his arm, his strong presence everything to me now that I’m starting to panic. Is he saying someone else could contact me? “How will I know it’s Cal?”
“He has a code that he’ll text to you.” Releasing me, Red pulls another gun from a drawer and tucks it in his waistband. By the looks of it, he has weapons stashed all over the place. “The code is 4292. Have you got that?” He waits until I nod. “4292, okay?”
“Okay.”
“There’s also a tracking app installed on that phone.”
I blink, feeling more nervous. “W-Why would I need that?”
“In case you disappear back to Daddy or give him info, perhaps?” Liam mutters.
The daggers Red shoots at Liam doesn’t escape my notice, but what he said bothers me. Does Red think I’d attempt to run again or betray him? Did he not hear what I said about how I feel?
“It’s just a precaution, baby,” Red cups my face once more. “It’s nothing to do with what he says.” He then turns to Del. “Make sure she gets into the car safely and then come and help us find this fucking bomb!”
As he starts towards the door, I move after him, desperate to remain at his side, but Del holds me back. He’s right - I’ll only impede things, and I have to let Red do what he needs. For once, I’ll do what he says and try not to fixate on that he may still doubt me.
Red reaches the door and turns back to look at me and Del. “Look after her.”
“Already done.” Del watches Red and Liam leave the room and then smiles. “Get your stuff together. Cal will be here any minute.”
Nodding, I rush to chuck a change of clothes and the mobile in my small bag.
These sweatpants and T-shirt of Red’s that I’m wearing aren’t my usual attire, but it’s not like there’s time to worry.
I’m just glad Del is here. If I can’t have Red with me, then his loyal friend is the next best thing, and if Red also trusts Cal Bennett, then so must I.
I’ve just pulled my shoes on when my phone pings.
A text!
I rush to open the message.
[Unknown number]
17 Nov 07:01
4292 Back door. Now.
“It’s Cal.” I hold up the phone so Del can see.
Del nods and pulls me up from the chair. “Then let’s go!”