“Better get dressed. We need to find our seats.” He said, stepping back and buckling up his pants again. Looking for my clothes which were strewn all over the cabin, I hurriedly dressed and when I was presentable, I walked over to Lorenzo and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?”
“For the quickie.” I smiled.
It was black as night when I walked down the stairs of the plane. The only lights that illuminated the darkness were from the plane. Looking around, I noticed that the plane had pulled into a hanger. I spotted several people milling around, armed heavily as they waited for our arrival.
I reached for Lorenzo’s hand.
“Just breathe baby.” He whispered, pulling me closer as a woman dressed in all black, walked towards me. In her early fifties, she was an older woman but didn’t look a day older than thirty. Stunningly beautiful, she held her head high as she approached. Her blonde hair pulled back in a simple chignon, I noticed not a single hair was out of place. There was something familiar about her. Like I’d met her somewhere before, and as she got closer, I realized who exactly she was.
I didn’t know what to expect but when she smiled at me and opened her arms, I couldn’t stop myself from running into her embrace.
“Oh, my darling girl. I’ve missed you,” she softly said, her arms holding me tight. “Let me get a good look at you.”
Pulling back, I tried desperately not to cry.
She looked so much like my momma.
Even down to the crooked smile she had.
“You look so much like your mother.”
“I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“I miss her too, sweet child. So very much.”
“Mom,” Gideon interrupted. “We need to get her to a secure location.”
“Shut up Gideon. We are safe. Look around. You have more men here than at Army Platoon.” She chided, then turned to Lorenzo. “And you, young man must be Lorenzo Valentinetti. Please accept my condolences about your mother. Nicoletta was a beautiful woman and a good friend. She will be dearly missed.”
“Thank you, Mrs. St. James.”
“Oh, none of that. Call me Sylvia or Mom. All the boys do.”
“Thank you, Sylvia.”
“Gab later. Cars. Now,” Gideon ordered, ushering his mother and myself to one of the waiting SUVs. I had just sat when I saw Gideon grab Lorenzo’s arm. “Lorenzo, you are with me.”
“Not happening asshole,” Lorenzo clearly said, shaking off Gideon’s hand and jumping in the vehicle after me. Sitting between my aunt and me, Lorenzo just stared at Gideon.
Something was wrong.
Lorenzo seemed happy and Gideon looked pissed.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Oh, the boys are having a pissing contest. My money is on your young man. Oh, do get in the vehicle, Gideon.” my aunt sighed, ignoring her son. “It’s been a while since you’ve met your match. Now only if you could find a woman like that and make me some grandbabies. Then my life would be complete.”
“Mom!”
I giggled.
“I need to stop by the penthouse. Something came up in flight. Just make sure Donatella gets safely to the compound.”
“Boy, don’t tell me what to do.” Aunt Sylvia sternly replied. “If all these men can’t do their jobs, you need better men. Now go away. I want to get reacquainted with my niece.”
“Mom, please.”