Page 19 of The Virgin and Her Bodyguard
He takes off in the direction of the party room, and Nolia lets out a breath I didn’t realize she was holding.“I wish I could kill them all with my bare hands,” I say.
“We can’t just leave,” she says as I pull her into the empty kitchen and open the back door.
“I have to make sure you’re safe.Then I’ll deal with everyone else.”I’m not going to argue this point with her.We are running out of time before someone notices we’re gone.
“Wait.”She pulls on my arm and points to the stove in the kitchen.“Isn’t that gas?”
I look at the cooktop, and understanding dawns on me.“That could work,” I say, and we hurry to it.“But we’ll have to break the gas line.If someone smells it too soon, they could turn off the burners.”Tugging the stove away from the wall, I see the gas line feeding to it.“Back up.”
When Nolia is behind me I raise my leg up and then drop my boot down on top of the gas line.When it snaps in half, the scent of gas begins to fill the room, and I go over to the microwave.
Grabbing a handful of metal forks from the drawer next to it, I toss them inside and set the microwave for five minutes.It won’t be enough of an explosion to burn the entire estate down, but it will create a distraction, and that’s what we need to escape.
“Let’s get out of here,” I say.I grab the keys next to the door, and we rush out to the garage.
We climb into the truck that’s normally used for deliveries, and I hit the button for the garage door.When it opens and I pull out, I can see a few guards in the distance heading for the party room.We don’t have much time now.
Up ahead, the gate is open, and at first I’m surprised there’s no one there manning it.That’s when I see the row of black SUVs on the other side and Vitaly standing in front of them shooting the guard.
When the guard falls to the ground, Vitaly turns his weapon on our truck.Then he sees it’s me, and relief floods his face.He comes over to the side of the truck, but before he can say anything, the explosion happens.
It’s much louder than I imagined it would be, and Vitaly’s expression changes to one of delight.“That’s your handiwork, I take it?”
“Is Pru okay?”Nolia asks, and Vitaly nods.
“She’s fine.And so is your father.”Nolia sags with relief, and I feel the same.“Get Nolia back to my house,” Vitaly says and then nods in the direction of the estate.“We’ll take care of this.”
I’m torn between staying and fighting with him and getting Nolia to safety.As if he can understand my dilemma, he pats me on the arm.
“Several of the other houses have joined to take this place down.They were eager to put an end to what Renzo and Marco created.Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”
“You’re sure?”I ask him, and he nods.
With his assurance I drive out of the gates and see the rows of people waiting to get in.Reaching over, I pull Nolia against my side and kiss the top of her head.
“It’s over,” I say and hold her a little tighter.“We made it,amore.”
ChapterSixteen
NOLIA
"What do you think Vitaly meant when he said my father is fine?"I wring my fingers together, still unsure what to make of his part in all of this.My mind is reeling from everything that has happened over the past few hours.
“If he said he’s fine, that’s what he means.”Luca’s hand is resting on my thigh, and he gives it a small squeeze to try and reassure me.
“I found a hidden room in his closet,” I admit.I don’t want to keep anything from Luca.Not after what we’ve been through.“He’s not who I thought he was.”
“Hey.”Luca pulls over, and the second he stops, he pulls me into his lap.“Parents try to protect their kids.Does your dad have secrets?Yeah, he does.But I think he hid them to protect you.There could also be some guilt and shame in there too.”
“Yeah, maybe.”I can see my father doing it for that exact reason.It matches some of the things he said over breakfast the other day.
“He’s made mistakes, but I think he’s always tried to do what he could to protect you.”
“He loves me.”I know that much, for sure.
“You’re impossible not to love, Nolia.”I suck in a breath.Is he saying what I think he is?“Yes,amore.I love you.When everything went to shit, I knew I needed to get word to Vitaly, but nothing was more important than getting to you.”
“Really?”This time, I don’t fight the tears that start to form in my eyes.I always try to hide my emotions, but with Luca, I want to show him everything.