Page 51 of Poison and Wine
That simple fact told me everything I needed to know about what awaited me should my father catch us. While I rushed to the doorway, Callum grabbed my luggage off the bed. Talking directly to me, Nera said, “Tell him I know a way out of town that will buy you some time.”
Callum shot a questioning look between me and Nera. “What’s she saying?”
“She knows a way for us to get out safely.”
His harsh gaze narrowed on Nera. “Do you think we can trust her?”
After translating to Nera, I strode back over to grab her hands in mine. “We can trust you, can’t we?”
She nodded. “I have no love for your father’s relatives in Sicily. We align with the Malgieri’s, and I heard this morning they’ve aligned with the Kavanaugh’s.”
“Caterina, now!” Callum barked.
“You’ll need to come along with us to show us the way. We don’t have time to write anything down.” As Nera chewed on her bottom lip while wringing her hands, I added, “Please. I’ll make sure that you and your family are rewarded.”
After a quick nod of her head, I grabbed her arm. “She’s coming with us.”
“Then let’s go. Now.”
Nera and I hurried out the bedroom door with Callum close on our heels. Considering her age, I felt bad pushing her to go faster down the stairs. But with each step I took, I could feel my father’s hot breath on my neck.
An even larger SUV than the one we took from the airport sat waiting right outside the door. Oddly, I couldn’t help lamenting all the beautiful flowers it had crushed along the pathway before I refocused on the task at hand. All of the Kavanaugh men were inside the SUV, and they were all armed.
After Nera got into the front seat with the driver, Callum grabbed my arm. “How do I know you two aren’t plotting against me?”
“You don’t. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“Don’t disappoint me, Kitten.”
“I won’t.”
Callum’s hands came to my waist before hoisting me up onto the seat. Once I was in, he slid in beside me. “Drive,” he commanded.
Chapter Fifteen: Callum
If there was one thing I despised, it was not being in control of a situation. I didn’t like relying on anyone other than my brothers, and sometimes I didn’t even want to rely on them. I wanted complete and total control in any situation. Maybe it was the control freak in me, or maybe it was part of being a leader.
I despised having that control in the hands of a woman I didn’t completely trust even less. Or I suppose I should say two women. When it came to trusting Nera, she claimed to have no love for the Sicilian Neretti’s. But she had to know that by aiding us she could face repercussions. As long as she came through for me, I would make sure to have the Malgieri’s give her and her family protection.
If she double crossed me, I’d blow her brains out right in front of Caterina to drive home the point. You never double-cross a Kavanaugh, especially me.
Deep down, I knew Caterina had more to lose if her father was to capture her. I doubted even a fear of eternal damnation would keep Alessio from forcing another marriage on Caterina just as soon as he could annul ours. A lesser man–a true bastard–wouldn’t have been wasting this time on escape. He would’ve been forcing himself on Caterina to consummate the marriage to where its legality couldn’t possibly be questioned.
While I was a bastard, I would never be that level of a bastard. With a snarl, I imagined it would’ve been something my father would’ve done. But I could never do that. Even if I could, my brothers wouldn’t have allowed me to force myself on Caterina.
After one of my soldiers, Fionn, gunned the engine, we sped down the driveway to the main road. Nodding at Nera, I asked Caterina, “Where do we go first?”
After Caterina translated, Nera replied while wildly gesticulating with her hands. “She says to turn right out of the driveway.”
Considering it was the opposite direction we usually took upon leaving, I tried not to order against it. Instead, I nodded at Fionn.
Just as we reached the end of the driveway, a black SUV tore down the road towards us. Before we could get into position, gunfire erupted around us, blowing out the rear window. Both Nera and Caterina screamed as glass shards rained over the backseat.
Grabbing Caterina by the arm, I flung her into the floorboard. “Stay down.”
“You could’ve just told me to move instead of manhandling me!” she shrieked.
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Stop arguing with me when we’re in a fucking gunfight.”