“Where are we going?” I asked as he secured the exit.
“Las Vegas.” When I said nothing, he lifted and cocked his head. “You are coming with me, Fallon. That’s the only way I can keep you safe.”
A slight trickle of fear was right there, easy for my mind and my heart to grasp, but I shoved it aside. “Fine. I won’t fight you. For now. However, we’ll need to refuel. I suggest Miami. I can make arrangements.”
He thought about what I’d offered and nodded. “Make it happen.”
Everything about him was different on this beautiful morning. He even appeared more dangerous with his constantly locked jaw and the penetrating look in his eyes. The man was also much more possessive, as if he’d laid claim to me, since our pasts had been revealed.
Was he still going through sadness? Yes, but it was as if a cloud had been lifted.
I took my seat, grabbing the headset and doing my preflight checks.
And all the while, every inch of my body was tingling.
Not from the terror and strangely unraveling despair from the night before, but from a stronger sense of being. Of knowing who I was. Of believing that love could conquer all.
Naïve?
Maybe, but I would hold onto my thoughts for a little while longer. Just to pretend this was some fairytale instead of what it was.
A nightmare.
People were out to kill us. The danger wasn’t finished yet. I could feel it in my bones.
After contacting the tower and being given instructions, I looked over my shoulder, studying him the same way I’d done when we’d first met.
How things changed in such a short timeframe.
Now I had deep feelings that I didn’t understand and shouldn’t want.
But I did.
Just like my mother had felt.
With the storm having passed, I had no issue guiding the jet to a successful takeoff. Hopefully the ride would be smooth.
A sudden brush of something against my arm made me smile. “Hiya, sweetheart. You’ll need to be good for mommy dog. Maybe you can spend some time with… With Vissarian.” I’d almost called him daddy dog.
Another memory surfaced of Megan.
The day a stray pup had appeared on the ranch.
We’d both loved the furry creature more than anything. She’d been so adorable, all blonde thick fur and bright eyes. She’d spent her time lounging on my bed or on Megan’s and when Megan was away taking classes, she’d never left my side.
I stroked behind Bella’s ear, almost wishing the memories wouldn’t keep popping to the surface. Right now, thoughts of my sister were painful.
I’d long since stopped believing she would walk back into my life one day, but I’d hoped she was happy, living a fabulous life. Maybe I was still shell-shocked from what Vissarian had told me and yes, I wanted proof. Proof that I had a monster for a grandfather who’d possibly commanded Luis to marry my mother to keep her silent or on a short leash.
There was anger mixed with the sadness, more so than I thought possible given my hatred of Antonio. Maybe he hadn’t killed my mother. Maybe Giovanni Bruni had ordered her killed. Maybe Luis had cared to a point about her, which was why he’d also been murdered.
The ugliness would remain in the forefront of my mind.
While I should fight Vissarian on being taken to a city I’d never been to and didn’t have any interest in, I now honestly had nothing and no one. At some point, I’d call Jasmine, but what could I tell her? That my entire life had been a big, fat lie?
Bella rested her head on my leg, her tail constantly thumping back and forth. Now I knew why the sweet and loving dog had entered my life.
My sister had sent her.