Page 120 of Ruined By Protection
Noah nods approvingly. "Perfect. This gives us the opportunity we need." He’s immediately on the phone with Damiano and before I have the chance to back out of this nightmare, he comes back with the timeline arranged.
"Tell him you’ll fly in tonight," he directs.
“Wait,” Matteo interjects. “Don’t make it sound too pre-planned. Tell him, you had booked a ticket to visit your parents. That might give him a scare after what he tried.”
I send the message to Elliott about flying in tonight and my stomach turns as I wait for his response. The phone buzzes almost immediately.
Perfect. I'll arrange a car from the airport straight to the estate. Don't worry about anything—I'll arrange something special for the two of us. Just like old times.
Just like old times. That makes bile rise in my throat. I know exactly what ‘special’ means to Elliott—expensive gifts to make up for bruises, champagne to wash down my tears, and promises that evaporate by morning.
"He's arranging transportation from the airport," I tell the others. "And something 'special' at the country house."
"Of course he is." Matteo's jaw clenches so hard I can’t imagine he’s not breaking his teeth.
I look into his virulent gaze, seeking comfort, suddenly overwhelmed by the reality of what we're planning.
"How are we going to do this?” Lucrezia pipes up. “He'll know something's fishy if Hazel doesn't arrive on a commercial flight."
"We need to check the next commercial flight to Austin," Matteo tells the others.
“On it,” Noah’s fingers move quickly. The others wait as he pulls up flight schedules. "There's an American Airlines flight leaving JFK at 8:15 arriving Austin at 11:37 local time," he says.
"Our private jet will land before that,” Matteo instructs. “Hazel, you can exit the airport normally the same time the commercial flight arrives."
Daniel studies the airport layout on his phone. "There's a private aviation terminal on the east side. I’ll arrange ground transport to the main terminal—it’ll only take about ten minutes."
I watch them work with terrifying efficiency, each one, even Lucrezia, pitching in to handle a piece of this deadly puzzle.
Matteo
"Let’s eat something," I announce, noting the wilting in Hazel's posture. "You haven't had anything since breakfast."
The planning session has stretched on for hours until every detail is meticulously arranged. Hazel's shoulders sag with exhaustion, the weight of what's coming pressing down on her.
"I'm not really hungry," she protests, but I'm already guiding her toward the door with my hand at the small of her back.
"Trust me on this," I murmur close to her ear. "You'll need your strength."
We navigate through the mansion, quiet except for distant sounds of Ettore banging copper pans in the kitchen. A delicious aroma cuts through my tumbling thoughts about everything that could go wrong tonight.
Hazel is close, her delectable body occasionally brushing against mine. It's these small moments of contact that keep me centered and remind me exactly what I'm fighting for.
We enter the kitchen to find Ettore fussing over a large pot, his sleeves rolled up and his forehead glistening. The kitchen smells like heaven—rich tomato, fragrant herbs and the unmistakable scent of slow-cooked meat.
"Ah! Perfect timing!" Ettore booms when he spots us, his face lighting up. "My best ragu—you must try it before anyone else!"
Despite everything I can't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
"Sit, sit," he insists, waving Hazel toward the island stools. "I can always rely on Matteo for an honest opinion before I serve to the family."
Hazel slides onto a stool, tucking a strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear. Even exhausted and worried, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"You're in for a treat," I tell her, moving to grab dishes from the cabinet. "Ettore's experiments are better than most Michelin dishes."
Ettore beams with pride, stirring the thick sauce with reverence. "This one is special—egg pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Twelve hours of cooking, twenty-three ingredients."
He serves the wide ribbons of pappardelle coated in rich, dark sauce studded with tender chunks of meat. The steam carries the complex aroma straight to my core, awakening hunger I hadn't realized was there.
