Page 20 of Little Rabbit

“I love her already,” Sofia sighs happily. “I’m going to enjoy picking her brain on how she does it.”

“Fucking hell, Alessio, you clearly still have some brains in your head,” Aurelio says as he comes back on the phone. “Seems Booth’s yacht just left Spain to head for Greece for a show. He played in Barcelona just last night. I’ve already pulled up camera footage from the docks.”

My phone pings and I open the footage. I watch as Sienna takes the hand of one of Booth’s bodyguards, helping her onto the yacht, and the man himself comes running over and pulls her into a big hug. Fury surges through me that she allowed some other man to touch her. “Lazaro, tell the pilot to get ready to take off for Greece,” I order, the darkness inside me settling but brimming with anticipation.

Lazaro gives me a knowing look and heads for the cockpit. I stare at the video, relishing the thought of catching her by surprise. Sienna Harris is good, but I’m better, and I’m about to remind her of that very shortly. Because she is not getting away again, and she’s going to pay dearly for letting another man touch her.

The only one that gets to feel her that way, to receive her smile and her embrace, is me.

12

SIENNA

Athens

Branson whoops in excitement the moment the boat docks and the crowds outside the gates start screaming his name. I can’t help but smile at the sheer joy on his face. When he and I worked together the first time, we developed a friendship, one I had to keep there because the man is notorious for his man-whore ways, and he sleeps with any woman that so much as gives him a willing smile. The past two days haven’t been any exception. Still, he’s a good man, and his fame and fortune haven’t made him a snob. Instead, when I called him to ask if I could hitch a ride, he readily agreed and delayed his departure for an hour so I could get there.

Being out at sea is always fun, and the yacht has all kinds of luxuries, but I’ve spent the time sleeping and catching up on the work I’ve neglected. Much to Branson’s dismay, but thankfully he didn’t push too hard. Well, other than insisting he and I have dinner last night before he started his party with the few groupies he allowed on board. The women hadn’t been happy, shooting me daggers, but when I walked out of there and told them to go on in, the ugly looks disappeared and they were more than happy to forget about me.

Of course, that meant I had to dig out my noise cancelling headphones and sleep with my own music playing in my ears to drown out the sounds of the orgy in his bedroom above mine.

We already said our goodbyes, and I disembark with his security, keeping my sunglasses firmly in place, my tablet in hand so that I appear to be nothing more than an employee. I get jostled a bit as the crowd converges, wanting autographs and pictures, but with my height, I easily blend in to avoid any pictures, or being grabbed. I doubt Alessio would grab me in broad daylight like this, but I’m not taking any chances.

Branson finally gets to his car, and his groupies give cries of anger and shock when they realize they can’t get in with him. This is where their fun ends. I roll my eyes, because what did they expect? That he was going to fall in love with them all and keep them around? It’s well known that he loves to pick up new women in every city he visits.

Myself, I give him a quick wave as he rolls down his window to wink at me, and then I start to head away with the crowd. I hear women gushing, men’s awestruck or jealous musings, and even some disappointed grumbles they couldn’t get an autograph. It’s madness, but it’s the perfect distraction I need, and I make my way down the crowded street toward one of the cafes I visited last time I was here.

I haven’t eaten since last night, too nervous to eat this morning. But if I’m going to keep up my energy, I need to force something down. I’m not stupid enough to think that Alessio hasn’t closed in on my location, and I need to be ready to come face to face again with the pissed off mafia Underboss. I also need to get ahold of Rori and let her know I’m alright before she freaks out. I was able to call her briefly to let her know that Alessio found me but I got away, and that I would be offline for another couple of days until I got to my next destination.

She wasn’t happy, but she understood and promised to be on the next flight if I needed her. The last thing I want is for her to be in the middle of this mess, though she did remind me that if I just gave in to Alessio, that it wouldn’t be such a huge one. I hate that she’s right, but something inside me is telling me not to give up yet. If I do, I’ll be giving Alessio more than just myself, and I’m not giving that up without a fight.

I get my drink and food and make my way to a table near the window that will allow me to have my back against the wall, and a view of the restaurant and anyone coming down the street. No point in being taken by surprise, is there? It also lets me relax just enough to think through my plans. This is only a temporary stop, and hopefully one that will keep me just enough ahead of Alessio and anyone else.

After I finish my meal, I need to make my way through the city and find the villa that Branson owns. He won’t be staying in it since he will be sailing back to Italy for a show after the festival tonight, and that means I have the place all to myself. It’s going to be a bit of a hike, but I want to stretch my legs and enjoy the sights and smells that are so uniquely Greece. Then, I’ll spend the night and continue on my way in the morning. Branson also owns a few cars he’s offered me the use of while I’m here; that will help me figure out where to head next. I’ll make sure the car is delivered back to him, of course, but no one will be looking for me under his name, so it will hopefully allow me to stay under the radar.

When I finally leave the cafe, I feel more relaxed and refreshed. I take my time as I make my way through the streets, following the directions that I searched up on the yacht last night. People call out friendly greetings as I pass, while others try to coax me into their shops to view their wares. I politely decline, telling them maybe another time, and they take it all in good stride.

I missed this. I’ve always loved Greece, having been here a few times throughout the years. It’s one of my mother’s favorite vacation spots. We usually try to come when it’s not so busy, but the hustle and bustle works to my advantage this time.

I finally find the street the villa is located on, and I groan when I realize this is going to be the steepest part of my journey. The villa sits at the crest of a hill, a simple road weaving up and around. By the time I reach the top, I’m a bit breathless, and silently cursing myself for skipping cardio recently. I’ll have to get back to that when I finally get settled.

I pull out the key Branson gave me, along with the security code, and hurry inside, locking the door behind me. I take in the beautiful space with a smile. Of course, Branson would spare no luxury. As soon as you walk in, you look straight through the wall of windows to the infinity pool that overlooks the crystal blue sea. I don’t think I could ever get tired of that view. I’ll explore the house later, but right now, it’s calling to me.

I open the doors and step out into the sun, closing my eyes and allowing myself a moment to bask in it before I move over to one of the many loungers out here in the shaded area. I settle in, setting my bag down and curling my legs under me.

I put the SIM card in my new burner phone and call Rori. She picks up almost instantly. “Where the fuck are you?” she demands.

“I’m in Greece at a friend’s place,” I tell her honestly. “Just got in. I had to take my time to make sure no one followed me.”

“Namely what is sure to be one very pissed mafia man,” she chuckles. “Fuck, I still can’t believe you managed to tie him up and hold a knife to his neck without getting yours snapped. You really are insane. And everyone said I was a bad influence.”

I smirk. Yeah, that moment is going to be playing in my mind for a long damn time. “You are, but this time, it was all my idea. He might just kill me if he catches up with me.”

“You could beg his forgiveness and go with him,” she points out drily. “I’m serious when I say that you really need to think about it, Sienna. You’re playing with forces you don’t understand. One wrong move, and you’re dead, or worse. Don’t be so stubborn that I end up attending your funeral, Sienna, or I’m going to be fucking pissed.”

“I’m not going to die, Rori. At least, I don’t intend to, anyway. I have a plan on what to do next, and then hopefully I can stop running.”

She’s silent for a moment. “Why do I have a feeling that I’m still not going to like this plan?”

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