“All right, I know everything now, bye,” I cut him off, stomping on the accelerator and driving off, tires screeching.
As soon as I left the estate, a black SUV started following me. I was in no mood for company, especially the controlling kind. As soon as I reached the highway, I stepped on the accelerator, feeling the enormous power Domenico had told me about. I was speeding like crazy, overtaking other cars until the black SUV disappeared from the rearview mirror. Then I took the first exit and drove toward Giardini Naxos. They wouldn’t count on me returning to town.
I stopped the car at a parking lot next to the highway and got out, putting my sunglasses on and walking to the beach. I sat in the sand and allowed myself to cry. What have I done? I had come here two months ago, and now I was the woman of the head of the mob, about to have his baby! I wailed. Not cried, but wailed. Howled in anguish. Hours passed like minutes and still I sat there. Hundreds of thoughts sped through my mind. Even those that suggested getting rid of the problem inside me. What would I tell my mother? What would I tell Massimo? What was going to happen to me now? How could I be so stupid? Why did I go to bed with that man? Why had I trusted him?
“Kurwa mać,” I groaned in Polish, hiding my head between my knees.
“I know that word.”
I lifted my head and saw the Man in Black sitting next to me in the sand.
“You can’t run away from the security guys, baby girl. They aren’t there to annoy you, but to protect you.” His eyes were full of worry, probing me searchingly.
“I’m sorry. I needed to be alone. I didn’t think this car would also have a tracker. Because it has one, right?”
Massimo nodded.
“They’ll be in real trouble for letting you go. If a woman eluded them, how are they supposed to protect me?”
“Will you kill them?” I asked, terrified. The Man in Black laughed out loud and ran his hand through his hair.
“No, Laura. That’s no reason to kill a man.”
“I’m an adult. I can take care of myself.”
Massimo wrapped his arm around me, pulling me toward him. “I don’t doubt it. Now, tell me, what was that about? Why did you go to that doctor?”
Thanks a lot, Domenico, I thought, disgusted by his lack of discretion.
I stayed in Massimo’s embrace, pushing my face into his torso. Should I tell him the truth? Or should I keep lying for a bit longer?
“I’ve had too much of everything. The stress. I went to the clinic to check if you’ve told me the truth. You were right. There was ketamine in my bloodstream. That’s why I can’t remember anything. Did you really kill him, Massimo?” I asked, pulling off my sunglasses.
The Man in Black turned to look at me and took my face in his hands.
“I hit him and then took him to the pond by the stables. I wanted to scare him a bit, but when I started, I couldn’t stop. Especially when he confessed to everything. So, yes, Laura. I killed him, and Carlo’s man took care of everything else.”
“Jesus,” I breathed, feeling my eyes tear up again. “How could you? Why’d you do it?”
Massimo got up and lifted me, holding me by the shoulders. His eyes were black and cold as ice.
“Because I wanted to. Now don’t think about it anymore. As you said: you don’t have a time machine, so you can’t do anything about that now.”
“Leave me. I need to stay here alone a bit longer,” I breathed, collapsing to the sand again.
I knew he wouldn’t give up, and I needed to tell him something that would break through his walls. Paradoxically, I wasn’t as worried by Piotr’s death as I was about having to give birth to a child of the man now looming above me.
“You’ve killed a man and it’s my fault. Now I have a guilty conscience and I can’t live like that! The only thing I want now is to get on a plane and never see you again. So either you do as I ask, or this’ll be the last time you see me.”
He paused for a moment, but then headed toward the promenade.
“Olga will be here tomorrow at noon,” he said, leaving, and disappeared into the SUV. The sun was about to set, which made me realize I hadn’t eaten anything today. I couldn’t allow myself to stay hungry for long now. Not anymore. I got up and crossed the beach, wandering from one colorful restaurant to another, finally stopping by the one where I had met Massimo for the first time. A shiver went down my spine, but at the same time my skin beaded with sweat. It hadn’t been that long ago, but so many things had changed since then—nearly everything.
I went inside and sat at a table overlooking the sea. A waiter appeared immediately, greeting me in fluent English, and vanished equally as fast, leaving the menu. Leafing through it, thinking of what to have, wondering if there were some foods I shouldn’t have in my state, I finally settled on what seemed the safest pick—a pizza.
I pulled my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, my phone in my hands. I needed to talk to Mom. In any other circumstances, she would have been the first person I would have called with the happy news. Not this time, though. The news was anything but happy, and I would need to own up to all the lies I had told her, probably breaking her heart in the process.
When I was finished with the pizza and a glass of juice, I passed the waiter my credit card, not even bothering to look at him. My eyes were focused on the sea, nearly black by now.
“I’m so sorry, Miss Biel,” he said. “I didn’t recognize you with that hair.” I turned my head, shooting the man a glance, a silent question in my eyes.
The young waiter was standing at attention by my table, the credit card lying in his outstretched, shaky hands.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean?”
“We have your photograph. Don Massimo’s men sent it to us. You’re supposed to be a VIP guest. Please accept my apologies. You don’t have to pay for anything.”
“Okay. One more tomato juice, then,” I said, turning back toward the dark sea.
The thought of returning to the mansion and seeing the Man in Black made my stomach cramp.
The next hour passed quickly. It was time to go back home and get some sleep. Olga would be here tomorrow, and everything would be better. I would be able to cry as much as I’d like.
“I can see you’re bored. Allow me to keep you company.” A young, dark-haired man took the seat next to mine. “I heard you talking to the waiter. Where are you from?”
I sent the man an angry, frustrated look. “I’m not in the mood for company.”
“Nobody is when they want to be alone. Sometimes, though, it’s better to spill your problems on someone you don’t know. That way, you don’t have to be afraid of being judged. Plus, it’ll be a relief. Trust me.”
That won him a small smile, but also did nothing to dispel my anger. “I get it. Trying to hit on me, playing the easygoing friendly guy. Well, first of all, I really want to be alone right now. And second—you can get in trouble just by sitting next to me, so you trust me: go pester someone else.”
The man wouldn’t back down, instead sliding his chair closer to mine.
“You know what I think?”
I didn’t give a shit, to be honest, but I knew he wouldn’t shut up anyway.