I nod back. “I’m going to read in my room then.”
Frankie holsters his gun. “We’re splitting into four groups rather, as per Alessandro. It’ll be safer once we’re on our own territory.”
I blurt out. “I want a gun.”
Frankie eyes me out. “That’s a bit dangerous.”
“I know how to handle a gun, Frankie. My father made sure of that. I’m not being separated from you and going unarmed.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Frankie looks at Joel. “Get her a small handgun, something that can fit in her purse.”
Joel nods, going to one of the men and then bringing me a small revolver. “Use it wisely, don’t forget to take the safety off.”
I nod and take the gun to my room, putting it in my purse. I spend most of the day reading and packing my bags. I try to sleep at night, but I’m too unsettled to get any real rest. Then, while it’s still dark outside, Frankie knocks at my door. “It’s time.”
I take my overnight bag, the only one I’ll be taking with me. Other me, I discovered her name is Heather, is taking my main luggage with her. I wind a scarf over my head and have my sunglasses on hand. Cars are waiting downstairs to take us to airports, bus stations, and train stations.
“How are we going to get out without being seen?” I ask.
Frankie holds out his hand. “Move with me, quickly. When we get downstairs, get in the front car. Don’t wait or look around or look back.”
I nod and take his hand, it’s warm in mine, and I can feel the electricity that flows between us. But I know the sparks are from me, not him.
We wait at the door, and then it happens—all the power goes out.
“Go,” Joel says, opening the door. Frankie leads me down the dark hallway, moving quickly. I keep up with him.
We get to the stairway and go downstairs quickly, not stopping to see if anyone is following us. We’re a large party, but it’s early, and there’s no one else on the stairs. When we reach the front, the staff scramble to get the power back on, but we don’t stop. We burst through the front doors to see four cars waiting, all running.
I let go of Frankie’s hand, and a cold shudder passes over me. Me, and two of the guards, I climb into the front car, and the driver pulls off without a backward glance. I don’t look back, either.
We pull up to the bus station, and the guards hand me my ticket. “Quickly,” the dark-haired one says. I have not even had a chance to ask their names. “We’ll sit behind you, so it’s less obvious.”
I take my bag and climb out. Looking at the ticket, I scan the busses and find the one going to New York. People are already boarding, so I join the queue. I hesitantly glance around, the sun has just risen, and the first light is showing.
I climb aboard the bus and hand my ticket to the driver, who checks it and lets me through. I stow away my overnight bag at my feet as I sit down in a single seat toward the front. Then I watch carefully who boards the bus, always keeping my purse slightly open and within reach.
The guards board the bus and sit down two rows behind me, on either side of the bus.
I only relax a little when the bus pulls off fifteen minutes later, and we’re on the road, but I can’t shake this feeling that I’m being watched. I’m sure it’s just nerves because I know Jose’s men are after me, but the hair on my neck prickles.
I try and close my eyes. I’m so tired I don’t know what else to do. I’m restless, though, and it’s hard to sleep comfortably on a bus at the best of times.
I pull some crisps out of my bag and eat them slowly. Shifting in my seat, I glance around the bus once more, see nothing suspicious, but then I look again and notice two men sitting at the back. They’re dressed as tourists, but somehow, they don’t belong. Everyone except my guards and I are tourists. It’s a luxury bus with only about twelve passengers, but those two men sitting in the back right corner don’t fit in. They’re too stern, too hard. I wave at the guard near me to bring him over. “I think we’re being followed,” I whisper.
He glances around. “I don’t think so. I think we’re safe. It’s just a bunch of tourists, and no one followed us from the hotel. It’s impossible. Don’t worry.”
But, as I sit there, worrying is all I can do.
Chapter 14 - Frankie
I climb into the car at the very end of the procession, and we take off in a different direction from the other three. We’re driving the whole way to New York with no stops. I have my phone in my hand, watching it carefully for updates.
I am overwhelmed with worry about Amelia, and I don’t feel relieved when one of her guards texts me that they made it to the bus without incident because that doesn’t mean anything. Are they watching her carefully enough? Are they keeping an eye out for Jose’s men? Alessandro has sent some of our best men, but I should have sent Dominic.
I wish I had, but Alessandro disagreed.
I look out the window for a moment before I glance back. It seems like regular traffic flowing in and out of Maryland. No reason to worry. Except there is always a reason to worry, this isn’t a game. This isn’t like the movies where it’s an easy getaway. There is danger around every corner, and you never know when your enemies will strike. It’s a lesson a lot of families have learned the hard way.