Page 41 of The Demon

This time there are minimum soldiers waiting for us and I wonder who these men are, concluding they must be part of Club Mafia, making me wonder about the man I trusted my life with.

We don’t make it far until the car stops at a helipad a short distance from the airfield and Malik takes my hand and says wearily, “The final stage of our journey. It’s not far and then you can sleep for a week if you need to.”

As I feel his hand in mine, it makes my heart flutter because now we are away from his home, Malik’s hard edges have softened a little and it’s as if we shared something that has brought us closer together, making me feel safe with him. In fact, he’s the only person in my life so far that I’ve been this close to, and it strikes me that I’m not even concerned that he murdered my father. I only hope Diana and Mario were with him.

I have so many questions about what happens now because I understand my father’s death will start a war back at home. The king is dead and there are three successors, none of whom want to rise to the challenge. At least I don’t think they do, and I wonder what will come of everything I know and hate.

However, now is not the time or the place for answers and as we make the final stage of our journey, Malik’s hand remains firmly in mine.

CHAPTER27

MALIK

I’ve failed. I’m no further forward with finding Frankie, and just blew up two people who may have been able to help with that.

I’m not sure where we go from here and yet I would do it again in a heartbeat just to keep Eliza safe.

My feelings for her have blindsided me.

What started out as a mission for information turned on me in the most spectacular way. Somehow, I acquired feelings for Eliza and now must make good my promise and keep her safeforever. Safe from everyone but me, it seems, because she brings out the worst in me alongside the best.

I’ve always loved testing limits. It’s kind of what I do, so it was no surprise that I enjoy testing hers to extremes. I love pushing her as far as she can go, and she always faces it with a bravery that has impressed me.

She is more than a match for me because I hate women who use their sex as a shield. She never has and always tells me exactly what she thinks, which I kind of like.

Now she will need every ounce of her bravery because I’m not sure of the reception we’ll get. Winter and Alessandro will never be happy until their baby is returned to them, and I am responsible for that. I wonder how they will receive Eliza, knowing she sent him off with a stranger. She was tasked with caring for him, and Winter may not understand her reasons for that.

The helicopter circles Club Mafia and Eliza grips my hand hard.

“Is that it?” She shouts above the noise of the engine, and I nod, experiencing a surge of pride for the place we all call home.

“It’s impressive.” She gasps, the awe in her eyes reaching out and touching my pride because she’s not lying. Itisimpressive, that is undeniable, and I’m grateful that it will be our home for as long as we can hide.

The helicopter touches down and as we exit into the black car waiting to transport us the short distance, Eliza shakes her head. “Surely we could walk.”

I lean down and whisper, “Look around you.”

She shrugs as she takes in the view. There is nothing to see for miles across the flat land and she raises her eyes. “I see nothing.”

“Exactly.”

I laugh as she rolls her eyes. “I’ll never figure you out, Malik.”

As we step inside the car and travel the short distance to the house, I point to the walls surrounding the huge iron gates we are sweeping through.

“Now, what do you see?”

She glances up and stiffens when she views several armed guards staring down with machine guns at the ready, pointing out to the barren landscape.

“I don’t understand.” Eliza appears confused and I say darkly, “Open ground makes you less vulnerable than trees and shrubs. However, we are still under threat. Currently, nobody knows about this place, but one day that will change. We guard ourselves against visitors and the reason you were brought here in a car is because out there on that open ground you are at your most vulnerable.”

Eliza nods and stares out of the window, allowing me to sit back and arrange my turbulent thoughts, because this homecoming isn’t the one I planned for when I left not that long ago.

Eliza.

It makes sense now he points it out and as the gates close behind us, I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t doubt him for a second that they have many enemies. Just the fact he blew the Marina apart tells me there are many people who would want him dead if they discovered who was responsible. It reminds me of the way I grew up. Never trusting anyone, always fearful, wondering if my father would make it home, or be slaughtered in his bed by a hitman.

Mafia is a life nobody should ever choose willingly, and when you are born into it, you know of nothing else. It becomes your normality and I suppose I never thought about it any other way, but Malik has opened my eyes to the fact that if we want our lives to change, it’s up to us to make that happen.

---