Whoever the fuck they are, I know it's me they want. In fact, I'm happy not being in the same car with Emillia and I have the chance to pull them away from her.

I can see with the corner of my eye that showing up just next to them and pretending I don't know what they're up to raise their interest in me and I see them in the rear mirror changing lanes, driving close to the back of my car.

I got them!

Without signaling, I pull the steering wheel to the right and part my way with Fabio's car while hanging up the call with him and his whining plea to stay away.

The black SUV follows me to the right and that's when I push the speed paddle to the floor, ejecting faster than an F-16.

As expected, they're keeping close to me and I have to admit that this must be a damn good driver. I don't find every day a driver to match my skills, mostly because driving is the incentive I need to sharpen my thoughts.

I grab the cigar with my teeth and the steering wheel with both hands, driving toward the old city of Nice and hoping I can get lost on its narrow streets but the motherfucker manages to align with me, forcing me to take the way outside the city throw the only exit to the city belt I can see around.

Luckily I manage to take the exit without being smashed into a wall and that makes me realize I haven't fastened my seatbelt.

I pull it quickly and lock it to my right side, speeding faster and trying to lose the car behind.

Fabio keeps calling, again and again, and that tells me he'll do something stupid. He can find me on GPS. I always activate the GPS when I drive alone.

I have a hunch he'll come after me but I wish so much he wouldn't. I need him to keep his eyes on Emillia.

I connect the phone to the car's audio system and finally pick up one of his tenths of calls, grabbing the steering wheel tighter.

"How many guns do you have with you?" he asks breathing heavily.

"Not enough, damn it!" I say realizing just now that I only have my pistol in this car.

"Cazzo!" he curses. (Fuck). "Listen, try to stay away from them until I get there. I'm on my way and I'm not alone. Just try to..."

"Why the fuck did you leave Emillia alone?!" I rumble completely ignoring his worries for me.

"Not the time, Raffa! Not the fucking time to play smart on me! You know I don't have enough logistics here to keep everybody safe!"

Curses roll between clenched teeth and I grab the wheel stronger deciding it's about time I lose these motherfuckers behind me and get to Emillia fast.

Grabbing tightly the steering wheel, I pull it to the left, making my car exit the highway by crossing the opposite lane and forcing the car behind to do the same but with no chance to avoid the truck coming from the opposite side, the one that I have just missed only by a millimeter but losing control of my car.

I hit the brakes to avoid crashing into an add sign on the side of the road and that does nothing but throw the car into an uncontrollable spin and I know I've completely lost control.

I wished I knew what happened with the car behind me but right now I'm busy ducking my head in my own car turning over a few good times while my thoughts fly to Emillia, visioning her honey-like eyes staring at me while walking into the conference room just hours ago, her beautiful lips stretching in shy smiles every time a new detail of the offer we've had for surprises her pleasantly.

And the thought of maybe never seeing her again sobers me from the daydreaming moment just when my car stops flipping and the excruciating sound of the iron twisting ends.

There's a smell of gasoline and melted iron but thankfully, try car has proved to be strong enough not to kill me.

The taste of blood tells me I'm hurt but still alive, which is most important but I need to get out of here fast. I'm not very sure it's safe with all the fuel smell around.

Before pushing the door and making my way out, I make sure I still have my gun and once I feel it with the tips of my finger, I get out, groaning with pain and keeping my head down, just in case.

I don't see any car around, not even the truck, just iron pieces scattered all around and two bodies thrown on the ground.

It must be them, I tell myself and run towards one of the bodies, fishing my gun from the inside pocket of the suit jacket and getting closer, hoping that I find a sign, a clue to who wants me dead, although I do have a hunch.

A car stops with screeching wheels and I snap my head up, searching for a place to hide but thankfully, it's not needed.

I see Fabio and two of my men armed to their teeth running towards me.

"Stai bene?!" he shouts. "Cazzo, stai bene, Raffa?!" (Are you okay?!) (Fuck, are you okay, Raffa?!).

"Si, Fabio, sto bene," I reply. (Yes, Fabio, I'm okay).

"Damn, you're pretty wrinkled," he says once reaching me, finally laughing but still breathing heavily while trying to smooth the dirty fabric of my suit.

"Who the fuck told you to leave Emillia alone?!" I bark at him.

"She's not alone, Raffa. She's safe, in the hotel."

"I thought I told you never lose her from your site!" I continue scolding him while he checks the closest body on the ground.

"Yup, The Moroccans," he concludes. "Come on, let's go. Pico will handle this," he continues and grabs my arm as o walk me to the car but I jerk his hand away, still rather pissed for not having Emillia under my watch than just having been the closest to death than I've ever been.

He doesn't react or speak. He knows when to talk and when to shut the fuck up.

"Pico, you know what to do," he says instead and follows me close to the car.

"Hospital?" he asks once we are both in.

I must be really hurt if he's asking this and his question makes me curious.

I see a broken arch, a broken lip, and a lot of dry blood on my face in the rearview mirror. And most probably they're not the only things broken in me, judging by the terrible pain I feel in my ribcage.

"No. I'm good. We drive straight to the hotel," I order in a grave tone, groaning in pain with every move.

"You're sure?"

"Hotel, Fabio! Fucking hotel!"

"Alright," he complies still unsure but putting the car in motion, nevertheless.

Once I check on Emillia and I make sure she's safe and sound, I'll think about going to a hospital or rather call a doctor in. I feel to lay down and rest right now.

"This was the closest, Raffa," he finally speak the obvious after a short while.

"Yeah... the closest," I agree.

"The first one..." he continues.

"I know, Raffa. It's been damn close this time. You should have seen their faces when spotting me in the car next to them. It's good I was alone... and Emillia was not with me in the same car..."

"Also one of your first, Raffa," he says leisurely concentrating on the road ahead not because it's needed but because he knows better than facing me with the subject he's trying on me.

"What's that, Fabio?" I ask turning my head toward him, impossible to do without a groan of pain.

"Protecting another woman, struggling to keep her safe... putting her before you..."

He is not wrong, it is the first time I'm protecting a woman, but not only that. It is the first time when fearing for a woman, the first time risking my life so she would safe.

Cazzo, it's the first time when I feel I could easily kneel in front of a woman, and not just any woman,  one that cuts my breath the moment I lay my eyes on her.

I keep staring at Fabio, sorting my thoughts and making peace with my recent realizations.

He turns his head at me a few times, smirking at my poker face.

"Yeah, you're right. Too many firsts in my life lately," I reply and lean back into my seat, the pain in my chest almost cutting the air in my lungs.

He didn't say anything, just nodded his head in approval and kept quiet, allowing me to even nap for a few moments before we reached the hotel.

Of course, we took a back door which was available only for "friends".

I know the owner of this hotel since we were both kids and I have a full floor rented at all times.

That's where Emillia is and the closer I get to my floor, the faster my heart beats. With every second the elevator goes higher my breath becomes heavier and my anxiety climbs heights never touched before.

"Cazzo..." I mumble to myself and run the fingers of my right hand through my hair trying to fix it, to look presentable but what the fuck?!

I'm all covered in blood and my suit has just crossed the desert crawling.

"Do you want to refresh a little bit before..." Fabio suggests but I completely ignore hearing the elevator's doors opening.

"No, thank you," I reply absently and exit in a snap rushing my steps toward her apartment.

The two guards at the door step aside the moment I show up and I push the door open, walking into the dim light of the living room, welcomed and suddenly mesmerized by the scent of her perfume, sweet-bitter peony.

Since I can't see her anywhere around the living room I make my way to the bedroom, not giving a shit about the silence that the place is sunken into, nor by the fact that she is probably sleeping by now.

I can hear Fabio on my tail, asking me in a whisper to calm down and come back but unfortunately for him, I don't give a fuck about what he says or thinks right now, and fortunately for me, her perfumes become stronger in the air with every step I get closer to her bedroom.

I don't remember if I should be quiet or not, I don't care, the speed of my steps taking me to her is uncontrollable, even if I wished to.

"Oh fuck, Raffa..." Fabio curses behind me when I grab the doorknob of her bedroom door and swing it open, impatiently searching for her in the king-size bed and having the glorious satisfaction of finding her there, wrapped in perfect white sheets.

She jumps from her sleep when I burst into the room and once laying her eyes on me she pulls the bedsheet up to her chin, staring at me with frightened eyes, like a deer pinned with the gun's aim.

"What..."

"Are you okay?" I quickly ask in a low tone hoping to ease her anxiety and walking close to the bed.

She dives deeper into the bed and under the sheets, covering her face until only her amber eyes can be seen.

"Yes, I'm fine," she mumbles still staring.

I nod. Fuck, I've got my answer so why am I still lingering around here?

"Good... good," I reply rubbing the back of my neck, feeling embarrassed for the awkward moment I find myself in.

"Um... I'm..."

"Raffa, right?" she completes my words.

I snap my eyes at her, my name rolling sweetly on her lips and making me freeze in my spot seeing her getting down from the bed and walking towards me.

She keeps her eyes glued to me, studying my face, and only now do I remember I'm fucking covered in blood.

"Listen... I..."

"Are you okay? What happened to you?" she says, surprisingly enough showing no discomfort for the way I look.

She lifts one hand and touched my chin with one index, turning my head to the right to have a better look at my wounded temple which she studies for a few good minutes.

And I let her do that. I stand tall in my place, having this gentle, tiny woman in front of me, giving me a peace I have never felt before.

"This doesn't look too good," she says and grabs my hand pulling to the bed and forcing me to sit.

And I sit. I sit like a fucking obedient puppy.

She disappears into the bathroom and quickly comes back with a damp towel in hot water and a first aid kit.

Cleans my face with the towel and I can't take my eyes off her, her beautiful face, gorgeous eyes, and sensual lips while she's concentrated on properly cleaning my face.

Her chest reaches the tip of my nose and I secretly inhale the air around her, enjoying the scent of her skin and the care she is adamant to give.

"There, now it looks much better," she says after she's done cleaning and then covering my wound with a medical plaster.

"It does?" I ask cockily, grabbing her hand and preventing her from leaving the immediate space around me.

She stares back at me, surprised and pleased at the same time but not fighting back a bit when I pull her closer and fit her between my bent knees.

"You don't seem to be doing this for the first time."

She puffs sweetly.

"Let's say I've had my fair share of adrenaline in my life."

I smile and raise her hand to my lips, placing a soft, lingering kiss on the back and staring intensely into her eyes.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I've woken you up so late," I tell her while standing up, impossibly close to her slip frame, looking deeply into her eyes and feeling trapped in this beautiful moment we are sharing right now.

She exhales long, her cheeks blooming into such a beautiful shade of red, fitting her perfectly.

A small smile shows up in the corner of her lips and motherfucker I can't help but softly kiss it.

"Good night," I whisper with lips still touching her skin.

I can feel her exhaling more than inhaling, almost fainting in my arms, and boy, do I love this effect I have in her.

"Good night," she mumbles back at me.

I hardly have the strength to part myself from her and walk towards the door, knowing damn well I have to let her rest and me be attended by a doctor.

"I'll be in the apartment..." I want to tell her but then I remember that in this game Fabio is the big boss and I'm his right hand. "I mean Fabio will be in the apartment across from yours," I correct myself. "This is our floor so... you're safe here... and there, you're safe anywhere on this floor."

"Okay," she obediently replies.

"I'll see you at breakfast," I say and leave, not because I want, but because I can't stop myself.

~~~~~
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