Forty minutes later, I made it to the airport, and my phone was blowing up. I saw missed calls from Curtis, Rena, and my parents. Not looking back, I passed the cab driver fifty dollars, thanked him, and shut the door. Going through the double doors, I dropped my cell in the trash can and continued toward the line for Paris Airlines. Savio wouldn’t be able to manipulate his way out of this lie. If he thought I would be quiet, he would learn. Once I purchased a ticket, I went behind a family and put my backpack through the scanner. The security agent motioned for me to walk forward to the metal detector. I grabbed my backpack and held my passport and ID in my hand with my ticket and headed to my flight. A family of four came over and sat near me. I smiled at the little guy who waved at me.
“Sorry, he’s overzealous,” the wife explained.
“No problem, he’s adorable.”
“Jake, say hi to the nice lady.”
“Hi!” Jake said.
“Nice to meet you, Jake.” We shook hands, and the airline called for our flight to board.
“Are you going to Paris for pleasure or business?” she asked.
“Pleasure.”
“I’m so rude. My name’s Jessica.” She held out her hand, and I grabbed Jake’s hand while her husband picked up their bags.
“Ruby. It’s nice to meet you.”
“This is my husband John and Jacob our baby.” She passed her tickets to the flight attendant.
“Your boys are gorgeous.”
“Thank you. No kids for you?”
“No, I’m not ready for that step.”
“But you’re married, right? I see that huge ring on your finger.” Jessica pointed at my left hand, reminding me that I forgot to remove my wedding band.
“Still in the honeymoon stage.”
“He’s not going with you to Paris?” she interrogated.
“He’s a workaholic, so I suggested I take a solo trip.”
We found our seats and loaded our bags in the storage units. I buckled my seat near the window and sighed, resting my head on the back of the seat and closing my eyes.
“Ruby.”
I turned my head and saw Jake smiling at me, holding his Superman doll at me.
“He wants to play you, sorry,” Jessica said.
“It’s okay. He can sit next to me.”
Jessica helped Jake sit in the seat next to me, and we played Superman and watched movies together for the rest of the flight.
My memories of Paris were during a break between high school and college. I took a few months off to travel, and Paris was the goal to see the museum, theaters, food, and culture.
When I got to the hotel, I turned the water off in the tub, pinned my hair up, and stepped in. I laid my head back and let the warm water soak up the long flight.
“This ring was a lie.” I twisted the ring on my finger.
The next morning, I walked out of the bathroom and heard the doorbell ring. I sauntered to answer it to get my morning started.
“Room service.” The young woman pushed the cart in my room.
“Thank you.” I picked up the strawberry from the table and groaned in satisfaction.
“Where would you like everything?”
“The patio would be great.”
I reached in my bag and grabbed money for a tip. I turned around and dropped my smile when I saw a gun being held on me.
“No need for a tip.”
“Who are you?”
She reached in her pocket and held out a phone.
“Take it.”
All my time as a journalist never compared to the amount of chaos and drama I’d sustained since meeting Savio Calabresi. I grabbed the phone and hesitantly answered.
“He…lllo”
“Mrs. Calabresi,” a raspy voice answered.
“I think you have the wrong room; my name is Ruby.”
He laughed at my comment.
“No need to lie, McKayla. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Sorry if I can’t feel good about that when a gun is pointed at me.”
“I do apologize about that, but your husband has made things difficult for me.”
“Who are you?”
“Where are my manners? I’m Gennaro Greco.”
“Viviana’s father.”
“Yes, and I understand you’ve left your husband.”
“Again, what do you want?”
“Smart.”
“I might be young, but I’ve learned about men in your world.”
“Your husband tried to kill my daughter and vote my family out.”
I gasped in shock, raised my hand to cover my mouth, and sat in the chair near the desk.
“For repayment, I unfortunately will have you accompany my assistant.”
My eyes glazed over to the woman wearing the hotel uniform.
“He doesn’t love me. I doubt you’ll get anything out of this.”
“Let me worry about what I get out of this deal.”
“We’re no longer together.”
“So, you ran, and you don’t think Savio Calabresi is looking for you.”
“I doubt me leaving would cause him to get out of bed.”
He chuckled again.
“A man like Savio doesn’t like to lose.”
“Mr. Greco, I can pay you.”
“I don’t want your money; my family and daughter have been insulted.”
“All right, so you don’t want money.”
“Oh, I do, just not from you. I want Savio to step aside as the don.”
“Like I said, Savio and I aren’t speaking.”
“You will be. Get dressed and have breakfast, and my assistant will help you travel.”
“Where?”
“I’m a man of my word. You won’t be harmed, but do not question me.” He ended the call, and I dropped the phone.
“Go get dressed.” She motioned for the bathroom. I looked around the room, thinking of a way to get out, but as fast as I got to the door, she might shoot me. She was about my same height, maybe an inch or two taller, with red hair and a mole on her upper lip. I walked over to the bag to grab my clothes.
“Don’t make me shoot you!” she shouted. I raised my hands to show I was getting clothes out of my bag.
“It’s just a shirt.”
“Hurry up,” she snapped.
After fifteen minutes, I came out of the bathroom and saw she was standing next to my bag, holding my wallet.
“Grab your things.”
“Where am I going?”
“Mr. Greco wants to visit with you.”
“Am I coming back here?”
“He will decide that.”
She threw my jacket at me, and I stuck my feet in my shoes and picked up my things. She pushed me to walk forward out of the room and toward the elevator.
“Try to run, I will kill you.” She pushed the down button, and the doors opened. I stepped in, and she stood beside me with the gun in her pocket, still aimed at me.
“What’s your name?
“None of your business.”
“You know my name and threatened me. I felt maybe knowing your name would make it easy.”
“Keep quiet, and you’ll survive.”
Five seconds later, we got off the elevator, and I tried to walk over to the front desk, but she gripped my arm and pulled me toward the doors to leave.
“Don’t be stupid.” She pushed me, and I almost tripped, but she caught me by the arm.
“Okay, I’m not trying to run.”
The door of a black SUV was open, and she nudged me in. I scooted over, and she went to the passenger side upfront.
“Mrs. Calabresi, thank you for not making this difficult.” A man puffed on a cigar, then blew the smoke in the air.
“Mr. Greco.”
He nodded.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No, can you tell me where you’re taking me?”
“A little drive.”
“I have nothing to do with Savio’s business.”
“That may be true, but my business has everything to do with you.”
Even if I were ready to walk out on Savio and his family, I would never betray him and tell his enemies any of his business. We had our problems, but I’d rather die than talk. His dark cobalt eyes, grey hair, and beard showed a distinguished handsome older man, but beneath those features, I could see someone who thrived on killing and hurting people. Mr. Greco reached down, picked up his phone, and dialed a number as he continued smoking his cigar.
“I have something you’ve been missing.”
I heard yelling and shouting coming from the other line.
“I suggest you calm down and speak to me with respect.”
From Mr. Greco’s smile, I took it that Savio relaxed and calmed down.
“You can speak with her, but I want payment and your agreement to step down.”
“I’m not his wife!” I shouted.
“Silenzio!” Greco spat in Italian.
“Let me out of this car!”
“One more word from you,” the girl spoke from the front seat.
“Here, speak with your husband.” Greco held the phone out for me to take.
“No.”
“Yes!”
“I’m not going back.”
I heard heavy breathing on the line.
“McKayla, did he touch you?” Savio asked.