Page 18 of Single Malt Drama
I replayed their advice about relationships and independence as the plane touched down and taxied toward the terminal. I wanted to go to Marco, but I was terrified of putting him in more danger.
Alessio sucked in a breath and pushed his body back in his chair. “Giancarlo is outside.”
My hand flew to my throat. No. Please no. I didn’t really know him, but Giancarlo, the eldest of my five bothers, had a reputation as brutal as my father’s. “Are you sure?”
“It is him. He has four men with him.” Maria’s voice quivered.
The flight attendant hurried to my side. “You must hide.”
I had no idea how much she knew about the situation, nor did I care. My one concern was that Alessio and Maria were safe. My gaze fell on the quilted Chanel duffle I’d filled with my father’s money. Mother Mary, help us. “Quickly, we need another bag. My brother will know that one is mine.”
“I have one you can use.” She opened a closet, pulled out a plain black suitcase and dumped clothing and toiletries onto the couch.
Alessio moved the cash into the roller bag. “Go, Nico. We will be okay. Go.”
I turned to the pretty redheaded attendant. “Please be sure they make it to their family. I will see to it the Marchionnis reward you for your trouble.”
“Of course, now come.” She ushered me into the master suite, moved a chair to the side, and lifted a hatch in the floor.
I stared down into the dark space. “What is this?”
Her smile made her eyes twinkle. “You are not the first contraband cargo the Marchionnis have brought from Sicily. Hurry please. You’ll be safe here, but I must go open the cabin door.”
Voices carried from the front of the plane and had me scrambling into the secret compartment. I’d barely made it inside before she closed the hatch. A thud above my head told me she’d moved the chair back into place.
Resting my back against the cold metal, I mentally prayed the rosary, without the beads.
“Where is Nicolina?” Giancarlo’s unmistakable voice seemed to pull all the oxygen from my hiding place.
“We have not seen her since she helped us arrange our trip to visit my sister, Rosa.” Maria spoke a little too loud and much too fast. “She is very sick. She could die any minute.”
Please, God, let him believe she is telling the truth.
“When was this?”
“A week ago,” Alessio said. “What is this about? Has something happened to Nico?”
Giancarlo muttered something I couldn’t make out before shouting. “Search the plane.”
I held my breath as heavy footsteps echoed above me. Doors opened and closed, furniture shifted, and the person or persons knocked along the floor and walls. The men stomped directly over my head.
I pressed my hands to my mouth and closed my eyes. Please, please, please, go away.
A man muttered something that I couldn’t make out, and the knocking grew louder. Someone walked back toward the main cabin, and two sets of footsteps returned.
“Where is it?” It sounded as if Giancarlo stood directly above me.
I trembled hard enough to rattle the metal walls. Choking back a sob, I worried I’d give myself away.
My brother shouted, “Open it.”
The flight attendant said, “It’s an access door to the electronics panel and an emergency escape hatch.”
Shuffling, a thud, and a woman’s cry of pain echoed around me.
“I didn’t ask what it was. I said to open it!”
I can’t let them hurt her, but if Giancarlo finds out Maria and Alessio lied to him… If he finds me… He’ll kill them all. Paralyzed with fear, I didn’t dare move.
Above me and to the left, another hatch opened.