CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX #2
My old one was in the guest room, my old bedroom. I walked around the space, trying to decide what I should take with me. Nothing big. It had to be unnoticeable. I decided on my watch. It looked regular enough.
But I could use it to secretly contact my staff. I decided on tiny stud earrings that could record conversations. I put on my small heart-shaped pendant necklace with the hidden camera in it.
I tucked it under my shirt, hoping it would go unnoticed. I put on a ring that contained crushed petals of a poisonous flower. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to use them. But if I had to choose between my life or his, I’d force these flowers down his damn throat.
I looked through my drawers, trying to see if there was anything else I needed. My gaze landed on my tracker hairpins. I snatched two black ones and pinned them at the back of my braids.
Ugh. I couldn’t believe Rome had seen me with my hair braided back into two pigtails. Why was I even thinking about that right now? My phone buzzed. I raced out of my weapons room to check it.
A car had pulled up in front of my gate. Someone was getting out and coming over to the camera. I jumped when the buzz echoed through the house. Time was up. I knew once I walked out my front door, my life would never be the same again.
I blinked back tears, refusing to cry. My mother hadn’t raised a weak woman. I stood in front of the mirror one last time, giving myself a once-over. Black form-fitting t-shirt. Black jeans. Black boots.
My braids were pulled back neatly, making the tracker hairpins nearly impossible to notice. I looked less like a florist and more like I was about to rob somebody. Turning away from the mirror, I retrieved my purse from the nightstand.
My gaze drifted to the top drawer where my pistol rested. I hated leaving it. I'd never gone on an intel mission unarmed. Tonight, I felt naked without it. I forced myself to look away. Taking the gun would be stupid.
He would definitely check me for weapons. If things went south, I’d just have to use my hands and whatever I could get a hold of to kill. Even thinking of killing him made my heart ache.
If it came down to it, would I really be able to go through with it? Would I hesitate? Or would my instincts and training kick in automatically? I’d never harmed someone I loved before. I had no idea how my body would react in the heat of the moment.
What I did know was that all Petals were trained to react immediately to threats. Hesitation could get you killed. I’d never hesitated when facing a threat. I closed my eyes for a brief moment.
Please don't make me choose between my life and yours, Rome.
The buzz from my security camera echoed through the cottage again, pulling me from my thoughts. Opening my eyes, I crossed the room and picked up my phone. I pressed a button, and the front gate camera filled the screen.
“May I help you?” I asked, already knowing why the man was there.
Standing in front of my camera was a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. He stepped closer to the camera.
"Ms. Blossom Brooks," he said, his voice calm and professional. "I'm here on orders from Mr. Cattaneo to take you to his home. Please come outside, Ms. Brooks. Please know I’ve been ordered to check for weapons before you enter the car."
Of course, he had!
This was really happening. I exited the camera feed and slipped my phone into my purse. I closed my security room panel, then closed my safe box and closet door. Turning off the lights, I left my bedroom.
In the living room, I armed the security system and then left my house. Everything was secure. Everything... Except me. Taking a deep breath, I headed toward the side gate where the car awaited me.
I unlocked the gate and stepped outside. Looking back, I checked to make sure my gate had closed and locked behind me. It had. I faced forward. The driver bowed to me.
"Good evening, Ms. Brooks. Please stretch your arms out so I can check you for weapons."
I held my arms out and allowed him to pat me down. He checked my purse next. I was thankful that he didn’t ask me to remove my jewelry so it could be inspected.
“Sorry for the inconvenience,” he apologized once he was done.
He reached for the handle and opened the rear door. I didn't get into the car right away. Instead, I turned and looked back at my property one more time. How long would I be away from my cottage, my flower shop, my little garden, my team?
Was this going to be a simple meeting, and would he let me go tonight? Or did he plan to drag this out? Or worse, was I overestimating his feelings for me and walking willingly to my doom? Would tonight be the night I died?
“Ms. Brooks, please get into the vehicle. Mr. Cattaneo doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
I bit my tongue to keep from saying, “Fuck Mr. Cattaneo.”
Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I turned toward the waiting SUV. Without another word, I climbed into the back seat. The leather was cool beneath me, and the car smelled of lavender.
A second later, the door closed with a resounding thud. The sound echoed through me. The driver climbed into the front seat, started the engine, and silently pulled away from the curb.
I stared through the tinted window as my home grew smaller with every passing second. Every mile carried me farther away from safety and the life I'd built and closer to my enemy, Rome Cattaneo, and whatever he had planned for me.
What the hell did he have planned for me?