I didn’t want to think of all the bad things. That I couldn’t get out of the damn car. That smoke was rising from the engine, meaning that something was burning within it. That the whole damn car could set on fire with me inside of it.
I couldn’t worry about it. I had to get out, but still every time I moved pain kept me there. And the seatbelt was stuck. I would have to cut myself out.
Please.
Tears and blood spilled down my cheeks.
If I didn’t get out of here, I could freeze to death. It was in the middle of the night. Gio and everyone else was probably tucked away in their beds. There would’ve been no need for him to worry or await my arrival. He was a busy man with a busy life. I fought against the seatbelt. My eyelids drooped down. I had to fight to keep them open. It was like I’d taken a bunch of sleeping pills.
Please.
I opened my mouth and let out a scream, hoping someone would hear me, but all I heard in return was the sound of the wind picking up. Cold settled into my bones. I fought the seat belt again, barely able to move much. My breathing came in labored spurts. Something was wrong with the car, the world, and definitely me.
I’d come so close. I’d worked so hard. And now I could barely move, breathe, or see. I struggled with my eyelids to remain open.
No. Not this way. I don’t want to go yet.
I struggled some more, but darkness swallowed me whole.
Chapter 6
Giovanni
Music is moonlight
in the gloomy night of life.
~Jean Paul
On my third cup of hot chocolate, I sat outside on the balcony. David stood in the doorway like a hovering ghost never leaving me alone.
“Sir, you should probably come inside.”
“Soon.”
He was good enough to not remind me that I’d said the same answer an hour ago and an hour before that.
But Simone needed me. I’d felt that something was wrong all evening. She’d taken too long, the weather was bad, and she was out here because of me. I had to make sure she was okay. I wouldn’t go to sleep or relax until I saw her face or heard her voice.
Several feet of snow had already landed, coating the whole property in silent white. I’d checked the news and they’d claimed this would be a record-breaking night of snowfall.
David’s phone rang. He backed away from the doorway and went deeper into my bedroom. I leaned back, spying on his conversation, and hoped it dealt with Simone. We’d discovered that she’d made her flight to Salt Lake City, landing there early in the evening. Later, she rented a car.
I checked my watch. It was after midnight.
She should’ve already been here.
I must’ve called her thousands of times while Ru harassed my line, going delirious with worry.
I’d had the police out on the roads searching for her between Salt Lake City and here. Two hours of roads. I owed the cops everything as they left the warmth of their homes to find her. I’d donated a million to their department, stressing I would be in the generous mood to double the total if she were found safely. Had it not been a holiday or a snowy tonight, I could’ve had the fucking National Guard out there. Sometimes money had no limit, and with my desperation to see Simone, I would spend it all. I would go poor just to have her in front of me and safe.
Guilt sank in my core.
Ru was right. I should’ve invited her next week. Of course, she was excited. I would’ve been if I’d got this contract back in the day. I knew she was hungry. I played into it because I was so alone. I didn’t know it, but that’s the truth.
“Okay. I’ll let him know.” David rushed out onto the balcony. “Sir, security said the front gate buzzed open and a small car drove through. We think it’s your guest.”
I jumped up from my seat, knocking the hot chocolate onto the snow-covered wood. “It has to be.”
David hurried to me like I was an old, dying man. “Sir, would you like to come in? I can clean that up and—”
“No, leave it for now. Let’s go on the road and make sure she gets up fine.”
“On the road, sir?”
“Yeah. If it took her this long, then something must be wrong or—”
A boom and then screech sounded off in the distance.
“You heard that?” I asked.
Worry creased over David’s face. “Yes, sir.”
“Let’s go.” I raced away, not really knowing what I would do. “Get everyone. That’s her.”
David ran after me, barely keeping my pace. “Sir, I can have the grounds crew check while we stay here.”
“No, I’m going with them.” I ran down the stairs.