Page 28 of The Sicilian Brotherhood I

“Got any warrants out?” Giacomo asked me.

I didn’t and somehow, neither did he. He went about shopping with chilling precision, forcing me to do the same. A pair of jeans, a few plain white t-shirts, and a summer dress were now the only possessions I’d owned. I had a world of possessions back at Franco’s place where I’d just moved in, but I didn’t miss any of them. I’d shed my life with Franco too easily. Or rather, he’d decided that I was disposable.

“So what are we going to do with these suitcases on a bike.”

“I’m leaving the bike in the lot and we’re getting a cab.”

He gave me just enough information that I wouldn’t be confused but not so much that I could anticipate his next move and get ahead of him. I stood out from with our suitcases while Giacomo parked the bike. If I hadn’t been on foot and penniless, it would have been the perfect opportunity for escape.

But once I got my mind working its way around escaping and what that really meant, all I could picture was Giac raising his gun to Raimondo’s head and then…

“Hey, I’m ready.”

I flinched, his voice drawing me out of my daydream and reminding me that despite what had almost happened, Giacomo was a dangerous criminal.

A cab pulled up outside and we piled our suitcases in. Giacomo had given me instructions not to speak, and I obeyed. If I had spoken up, I could have probably escaped from him then. But I didn’t want to drag this cab driver into my mess. That wasn’t fair either.

Boarding the plane was uneventful. I kept quiet like Giacomo asked. Once we passed security, he relaxed and I was glad to take a breather, and not feel absolutely terrified again.

We boarded the plane, first class, and Giac ordered a bottle of wine.

“Want some?”

I shook my head.

“You can talk now.”

I shook my head again and pressed it up against the glass, watching the city disappear beneath me as I flew away.

“Still not going to tell me what part of Sicily?”

I shook my head. I had to maintain my grasp of what little leverage I had left. I’d already boarded a plane with my kidnapper voluntarily. I’d very nearly let him…

Never mind that, best to focus on the city disappearing below, and the fact that I’d somehow managed to escape Franco, despite how bizarre the circumstances.

After an hour of silence into our nine-hour flight, Giac leaned over again.

“We’ll be staying in a country cottage in Syracuse, have you ever been?”

He didn't mean Syracuse, New York, but the city's namesake, the gorgeous Southern Italian sea village.

“I’ve only been to Sicily once,” I replied.

That time had been six months ago when Franco had proposed to me, when he’d hidden the diamond and when I’d had the worst night of my life.

“Did you like it?”

I couldn’t lie to him. What had happened in Sicily had put me off the entire country.

“No.”

“That’s a shame. I blame that bastard fiancé of yours.”

“He’s my ex,” I corrected him.

He chuckled, “You chicks always say that.”

“Whatever.”

---