Chapter 27
Chapter 27
VERNERO POV
Sitting in my big leather seat in my office, my eyes were glued to the desktop screen in front o f me. The red dot moved from the spot where Dark Woods layed until it reached right within the city.
I reclined into my seat and watched steadfastly as it went round and round in circles, assumingly from this shop to the next! Just when I thought things were going to be less… fascinating, the spot took off hurriedly and ran in a different direction.
A smirk pulled up on my face and I leaned my arms on the table and watched it, things were about to get interesting!
A sudden vibration of my phone pulled my eyes off the screen; it was Ciello. I clicked on the
receive button and placed the phone on my ear:
“Boss, I am so sorry. I lost her.” Ciello rattled in the speaker causing me to deepen my smirk;
“I know!” I replied shortly, my eyes moving back to the screen, the dot moved in the direction o f the police station and I couldn’t help but swell up with pride. My girl was no dummy, that girl was wholesome with brains.
“I am so sorry boss. I went to the bathroom and she was just here in the dressing room, and then when I came back she was gone. They didn’t see when she took off. I just…” He began cursing in Italian causing me to laugh. My little Tesoro got him nice and well. As expected of the woman I love!
“Don’t worry. I know where she is.” I informed before ending the call and reclined yet again in my seat, watching as Leigh-Ari explored the streets of the ancient, golden Rome.
LEIGH-ARI
We arrived in town shortly and stopped at the largest shopping mall. Ciello was like a bodyguard walking a good distance behind me while busying himself with some things on the side. I took that he didn’t want to engage in any chin music with me so I went with the flow besides; that was a great advantage if I was going to escape. Imagine having to ask him t o go somewhere so that I can slip off while he wasn’t watching. Sucks!
We walked round and round in the mall, jumping from this clothing store to the next! The budget was unlimited and I made sure to hurt their wallets just a little to make them bleed; since they had so much money in the world! I opted for the most expensive items, shoes, and useless shits I didn’t see myself wearing! Frankly, none of the things I bought were my taste. They were too flashy for my liking but then who cares?
It’s not like I was going to wear them or something!
Although I had wedges on, I made it a mission to walk in circles to wear Ciello off. If he was tired he would ask to sit elsewhere while I finished up my shopping. Perfect right? But this fucking giant mountain of a man didn’t seem fazed or bothered by that. He had me completely under strict surveillance with his watchful eye and I knew I had to resort to other means!
I decided to bite my time while I thought of something really quick.
I entered one clothing store and began my stroll around shelves of exquisite apparel. He tailed me without showing, still maintaining a good distance from me. The sales consultant walked us around, presenting their best items, and one dress “caught my eye”.
“I am going to try this one on.” I put it up for him to see and he gave me a brief nod and led the way to the dressing rooms. Panic shot through me with the realization that he was going to enter into the stall
with me. I gestured for the sales consultant to come to my help but Ciello quickly stepped to the side and turned to look elsewhere.
I entered the stall and quickly pulled the lady behind me, shut the stall closed. “I need your help. I don’t know if you understand English but I need your help.” I whispered with her body gripped in my hands. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“Yes, I understand you. What’s wrong?” Her look was confused and she turned to see if the door was still securely closed.
“I am kidnapped. And the man out there is supposedly my bodyguard. Not bodyguard. But someone who’s keeping an eye on me.” Her hand shot up to her mouth as she covered it, terror striking her face.
“You want me to call the police?” She asked already fishing out the cellphone from her. pocket,
“No! Not the police. I don’t want to drag you into this. I don’t know what my captor is capable o f doing.”
“Madam Montreal?” Ciello’s heavy voice called out causing chills to run violently down my spine. I swallowed my saliva and looked up,
“Yes?” I answered with a rather pressed voice, and fear tore through me with the thought that he might detect that we were up to something.
“Is everything alright?” He asked, his shadow drawing closer to the door.
“Yes Ciello, I am okay,” I replied after silently clearing my throat. I watched from the small space between the floor and the door as his shadow walked off to the side. I let out a sigh of relief and turned to someone who was going to save my life.
“Listen, I want you to stealthily go to my bags, take a few clothes, preferably casual. Wait until
he goes away from the door and then bring them to me. After changing, I will take it from there okay?” The lady nodded and hurriedly took off. Her look of concern and worry lingered for a second and I gave
her a small smile, and then she closed the door, and off she went!
I turned into the mirror and took steady breaths.
I began stripping off my clothes and neatly placed the posh clothes I was wearing. The jewelry stayed at its place because I believed it would come in handy. If I succeed, I would need cash and trading diamond jewelry seemed like a very perfect idea. I then counted seconds, minutes, hours…The door flew open and the sales consultant threw the clothes at m e before getting in after that
“He just left the store right now, I don’t know where he went but you have to be quick. And please, take care. I don’t know what they will do to you if they catch you. But please, promise me that you will make it alive.” Her look of concern was utterly genuine and made my heart melt a little. She left the stall to myself and I quickly pulled on a different attire, then stealthily left the stall, the store, and the mall with no one knowing who I was but importantly, undetected.
As soon as I made it outside, I ran! I took off to the right and ran. I don’t know how long I ran but my feet didn’t fail me. At some point, I stopped dead in my tracks when I realized that I might get lost, and then decided to ask for help!
A small stand from across the road called for my attention and I quickly ran to it. The owner was selling a few things and I hurriedly stopped in front of the stand, startling the life out of him!
W
“I AM SO SO SORRY TO SCARE YOU! But I need your help. I need to get to the police station right now. Can you please give me the direction?” I rattled quickly and he took a minute composing himself. I nearly cried when he began directing me in Italiano. But at least I was able to make out where he pointed. I took off the diamond earrings I had on and gave them to him. His face lit up at the sight of pure treasure. He began to say something but I was already
on my way.
I ran in the direction he pointed and after five minutes, stopped to ask again! After asking, I gave out the diamond necklace. This was going to be a long day.
After a long painful moment, with my jewelry gone, I stumbled upon a landmark written Stazione di Polizia, and I will be damned; that meant police station!
I followed the landmark and nearly cried tears of joy when the building of the police station
came to view.
I wasted no time and busted in, then threw myself at the counter and began rattling.
“I am kidnapped. I live in Cyprus and was out for work and the next thing I knew I woke up in Italy and I need to get home.”
“Ma’am, please calm down. That’s right, calm down so that you can tell us what happened!”
the gentle middle-aged male police officer said smoothly, and it was then I realized I was hyperventilating. I took deep breaths and slowly let them out, then refocused my attention on
him.
“I am a citizen of Cyprus, and I flew to Turkey a few days ago for work. I am a doctor, and I went there for a workshop. One of the sponsors with whom I was to share a room, took me out for dinner. We sat down and talked softly and I began feeling dizzy. I thought I forgot to take m y meds and passed out. When I woke up, I was in Italy.” I laid my news forth and the guy already had a recording device taking notes.
“Okay, ma’am. Can you describe your captor?”
“They are twins. Identical twins. The other one was my neighbor back in Cyprus. He owns a few businesses. The other one has a lot of tattoos, even on the face. The one who is my neighbor is Lorenzo Cattanio. And the one with tattoos is Vernero Cattanio.”
Right on the clock, the police officer abruptly shot out of the seat and glared around with fear on his face. What the hell was happening?
“Sir?” I called out looking at him with fear and confusion.
“I am sorr… Miss, aaaaahmm. What is your name?” “Leigh-Ari Montreal!” I replied.
“Holy shit!”