Chapter 16

The week went by quickly. Won netball, started slowly wrapping up loose end at work, everything was good.

My nerves had been on edge since this morning though.

I couldn’t even have my normal Saturday sleep in. I was wide awake at 9.30 which isn’t me!

I thought about going back home today since everyone was busy, but I thought I might just have a quiet day to myself.

Landon and Louie had gone to Perth for a few days, business of course.

I was sitting in the theatre room watching a movie, trying to ignore my nerves.

A text came through from Ma “How my girl?”

I laughed, putting the movie on hold and just gave her a call. Maybe that will help my nerves, talking to someone.

“Hey Ma! How are you?”

“Fabulous. What you doing?” like Landon. I loved her accent although hers seemed a bit more traditional as it was more broken English.

I took a deep breath “watching a movie just relaxing.”

“What wrong?”

“Nothing just relaxing as I said.”

“No! What wrong?” she said more forcefully, you can’t get anything past this woman!

“Just uneasy today. I think it is just because everyone is out and I have the house to myself.”

“Never go against your intuition. Do you feel in danger?” Oh this isn’t helping!

“Ummm… I am sure it is nothing…”

“No, where are guards? Who there?”

“All down stairs, I suppose. I haven’t seen anyone all day. They try to stay out of my face.”

“Not one?” she seemed even more alarmed as she yelled out in Italian in the background. Now my nerves were really picking up.

I couldn’t help but quickly get up and lock the theatre room door as my hands started to shake.

We are all just over reacting!

“I’m sure they are there.”

“Do you know who dere today? Text dem the code to make sure.”

We had set up a system where if something went wrong or I felt uneasy… like now actually… there were different phrases I could text them. I had them all saved under different codes, like Mom instead of mum and Daddy instead of dad, sissy etc. So I still had my real parents in there but, also had everyone else in there as well.

The text to check everything was a simple “do you want pasta?” so I sent it to the 4 I was sure were on today as I had Ma on the phone. They have to reply back “not at this time” and can’t abbreviate it.

“OK, I just sent the texts to the 4 I am sure are here.”

“Good. I am just having everything checked as well my daughter. Is there safe room?” Yes, she calls me everything from her girl, her daughter, her favourite child. Landon just rolls his eyes.

“No, but I just locked the door.”

“Any replies from messages?”

Oh f**k! “No…”

“What room you in?”

“Theatre” she yells out in Italian again and looks back at me with a creepy, calm smile.

“OK, everything be ok. Turn everything off. Are there any guns in the room?”

“Not that I know of.”

“OK, find hiding place, any cupboard? And whisper. Be quiet, all OK.”

Holy f*****g hell! I should have known I would die like this. I was stupid enough to date the mafia boss!

My hands were shaking uncontrollably as I checked all the cupboards as quietly as I could to see if I fit in any. Nope, definitely not that small or that much of a contortionist, or a contortionist at all! So I went up the back and hid beside the last row of chairs, against the wall.

“We have more people coming. Stay on the phone, my daughter. Keep phone on silent and low.”

Suddenly, I heard the door knob move.

I heard someone speaking in a different language but it wasn’t Italian. It sounded more Asian although it was very muffled through the door, so it could be anything!

I tried to quieten my breath as much as I could while trying not to hyperventilate. I know a lot of the guys live up to half an hour away, so they could be ages away. They may not get here in time.

I covered my own mouth and tried not to scream as the lock was shot out.

I could hear Ma on the phone trying to get my attention but I was frozen in fear.

Yes, I felt a bit more confident thanks to the self-defence classes Louie and the guys had been giving me. Although we all know that is going to do nothing against a gun.

When they say it feels like you can hear the b***d rushing through your ears, it’s true. You can hear everything, your breath, your b***d, your heart beat and your teeth that are currently trying to chatter except every muscle in my body is so stiff with fear.

2 men entered the room and reached for the light switch.

I close my eyes waiting for the light to come on and they see me.

I wait for the movie seen to play out where they see their victim and give a maniacal laugh.

The light doesn’t come on but I feel something metal against my forehead. No bets are needed that it is the nozzle of a gun, yep best hiding spot! Did it even take them 5 seconds to find me?

“Peek a boo” a man’s voice says as my phone is ripped out of my hand, “I’m sorry she will have to call you back” he says probably into my phone, but I can’t open my eyes, so I only guess. He has a typical Australian accent with only a hint of something else.

My eyes are glued shut in fear.

I can hear Ma losing her s**t on the other end of the phone as he ends the call laughing.

My entire body is trembling and I now understand how people can pee and poo themselves. I haven’t yet, but dam it is close!

“Now…” he starts before I hear a couple of noises and thumps. I try not to think of what they were, but my mind is telling me someone just got shot right in front of me. Was it one of the guards?

Trying to still melt into the wall and floor, I don’t open my eyes because I seriously can’t still.

I’m going to die! This is how I die!

“Kate! Are you hurt?” It’s Gio’s voice in front of me. “I’ve got her. Keep clearing the house”.

I can’t talk, I can’t nod, I can’t do anything.

My body won’t move, can’t move.

“Kate, it’s just me, Gio. Open your eyes”. I can finally move my head from side to side no.

“I am going to touch your knees. It’s just me” I feel his hands gently touch my knee caps and give little squeezes “See just me. You’re safe now. Can I move you?”

I take a staggered deep breath and am finally able to slowly open my eyes a little. I didn’t realise the lights were on but they were dimmed right down. I wonder if the intruders did that and I didn’t notice.

“There is our sunshine. Now keep your eyes on me or close them again, but don’t look down or anywhere other than at me. OK” I nod and closed my eyes again. “Now give me your hands so I can help you up. I will then put my arms around your wa!st and guide you out OK”. I nod again and put my hands out, which looked like they had their own earthquake going on inside them.

I feel him take his hands off my knees and gently but firmly grab my hands.

“Good. Now I am going to guide you out of the house. It is safe now but we are still going to take you to somewhere safer, OK?”

I gave a small nod and let him do as he said. I keep my eyes closed the whole time as he holds me close and tells me to step over things, which I guess are bodies, and I make sure my eyes are scrunched tightly so I don’t see anything.

We made our way down the stairs slowly. I can hear everyone around me talking in soft, hurried voices, all in Italian, of course! And like always, I don’t mind, I don’t want to know!

“My phone”, I suddenly remembered.

“I’ll get it”. I heard someone say.

“It’s in the theatre room and my purse? Some clothes?” my brain is now slowly working again even though I am a trembling mess still.

“We will get it all. Just breathe and concentrate on your walking.”

I nodded “I think we are going to have to sell the house though. Know anyone in the market? Dead bodies included free?”

I heard Gio and a few others chuckle “I’ll let you know.”

I finally open my eyes when we get to the car in the driveway. The front just looks normal, nothing out of the ordinary, just lots of cars.

We could just be having a party!

Gio gets in beside me in the back, as Enzo and one other I don’t know, get in the front.

Enzo turned in his seat. “Were you hurt my dear?”

“No” I shook my head and gave him a sad smile.

He nods and starts the car. Frank comes running up to the car and hands me my handbag. “The phone is in the bag. Call Ma when you can. Where glad you’re OK Kate.”

“Thanks. Is everyone dead?”

“You don’t need to worry about that right now” Enzo cuts in.

“Please, I need to know”, I took another deep breath waiting to hear yes.

“2 yes and 2 were unconscious and now on the way to the hospital.”

“OK, can you keep me updated on the unconscious, who they were?”

Enzo starts driving. “The unconscious are Tim and Gab.”

I nodded, grabbing my purse gently from in between Gio and myself.

“And those who died?”

“Nico and Max” I took in a deep breath when I heard Nico. I was so hoping my memory was wrong about who was on tonight. I had become good friends with Nico… well, as much as you could when he was your guard.

The only solace was Nico was single, Max I didn’t know much about, but it was still horrific that they died protecting me!

I pull out my phone as the tears started to run down my face. I can see 5 missed calls from Landon.

“Kate! Are you safe Amore?”

“Yes, I’m in the car with Enzo, Gio and 1 other.”

“Thank f**k. We are getting on a plane right now. I will be there as quickly as I can. Gio and Enzo will stay with you until I get there. I promise I will be there as quickly as I can. I love you Amore.”

“I will see you soon” I almost whispered as he hung up and the sobs started.

I was about to call Ma but she beat me to it. I only just managed to get out “Hey Ma.”

“Oh my daughter. Were you hurt?”

I try to pull myself together with a deep breath. I stared at the ceiling of the car. “No, thank you for getting everyone to me so quickly.”

“No, Enzo was already on his way. He tried to reach Tim for check in as well.”

“Thank you Enzo.”

“No need, I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“Now when you get to da safe house, have long bath and let it all out. It is healthy to cry.”

I laughed as that was not what I was expecting. “Oh, I don’t think that will be a problem! Are we making sure the families of those that passed will be looked after?”

“Oh my daughter, of course. We will talk tomorrow and I will tell you everything if you want. Do you want to help?”

“I would like that.”

“Good. You go now and you remember always go with gut! Ti amiamo figlia” and she hung up.

“What does Ti amiamo figlia, I think it was, mean?”

“We love you daughter,” Gio smiles at me.

“Thanks!”

He nodded, watching me still out of the corner of his eye. All of them were.

I felt so weak and pathetic.

I’m a simple country girl, this isn’t my world. I don’t belong in this world!

I’m a liability, not a strength!

With Landon away, there shouldn’t have had to be anyone there and those men wouldn’t have died.

They died because of me!

It was becoming harder and harder to stop the tears that wanted to spill.

Tears for the men that past, tears for the thoughts that I needed to break up with Landon, tears for everything!

As if Gio can read my mind “This was not your fault.”

“Yes…” is all I can squeak as my emotions try to take over again. I cover my face with my hands, taking deep breaths.

“NO. IT. IS. NOT. Kate… the problem in Australia was bigger than what was expected and… they didn’t know we would come down on them so hard. They would have attacked the house anyway, hoping to find Boss, Lou, files, money, anything. They are getting desperate.”

I couldn’t answer because no matter what he said I couldn’t believe it wasn’t my fault.

I was happy he left me alone after that. We drove to some expensive hotel in the city. I wasn’t really paying attention.

“We made sure everything is clear and there are guards everywhere as well as security cameras. You are safe here”, Gio whispered to me as we walked through the foyer and straight to the elevator.

I just nodded and kept my head down.

“Your clothes are 20 minutes away, Enzo and I will stay in the apartment with you in case you need anything. Are you hungry?”

“No, but I need at least a bottle of Baileys though, maybe 2, and I suppose a bucket of plain ice cream to go with it wouldn’t hurt”. I could see the smirk on his face through the mirrors of the elevators.

“Done. We have organised for a bath to be run and ready for when we arrive. Go and try to relax. Landon is 3 hours out.”

“OK thank you” I nodded again. I was like one of those bobble-headed toys, all my head was doing now was nodding.

We entered the apartment as Gio called it with 2 guards already inside. They nodded and left.

“I will have your clothes put into your closet while you’re in the bath, so please don’t be alarmed.”

And once again I nodded as he showed me to my new room.

The place looked huge but I couldn’t really concentrate. I just followed my feet that were following Gio’s feet.

I was happy to see there was a TV in the bathroom and found a silly Rom Com movie to watch to help me relax in the bath.

Before getting in my phone pinged. I looked to see a message from Ma “You are safe. We love you.”

I’m not surprised she is getting full updates from either Gio or Enzo. I don’t mind.

I sink into the bath and stare at the TV and movie.

Before I know it the movie is ending. As soon as it gets to the part where everyone is going to live happily ever after, I break down.

It all hits me!

I got Nico and Max killed!

I’m not getting a happily ever after!

I don’t deserve a happily ever after!

I’m some plain stupid country bumpkin that can’t even look after herself.

If I wasn’t here, there wouldn’t have been a target! I don’t care what Gio said, they wouldn’t have stormed the house like that if there was no one there. Of course they knew where Landon was, they knew he wasn’t there.

Wait! If I leave, will I ever be safe?

Will I still be a target?

Are my parents now targets?

I cry and cry and cry, wallowing in my own self-pity.

I’m a bottle and a half down in Baileys, the ice cream is long gone and the water is cold. I stare at the ceiling and decide to just refill the bath and put on another movie to drown out the crying.

I finished the second bottle of Baileys but need more. “GIO!” I call out “I NEED MORE BAILEYS!”

“I will slip it in the door. Did you want more ice cream?”

“YES PLEASE! MAKE IT CHOCOLATE THIS TIME”, I yelled back.

After a few moments, which could have been 5 or 20 minutes, I don’t know, as the bathroom is spinning, 2 more bottles of baileys slide into the bathroom and a big bowl of ice cream.

“THANK YOU!”

I stumble out of the bath, grabbing them and bringing them back to the tub. Luckily, there is a big tiled l*p down the side of the bath so I swap the old for the new, putting the old on the floor and hop back in.

I keep drinking and eating until suddenly Landon’s face appears in front of me.