Not once.
From the rage in his eyes and the line etched across his jaw, I could see my words stung.
“That’s okay my love. You can hate me if you want to, that’s fine. It happens just like shit. It happens. You simply don’t understand. That is all. I can’t expect you to fall in line with everything I say. But at least I know I got to keep you safe and with someone who can do it.” He looked from me to Armand.
I needed… some space.
God… I needed space. Lightheadedness and tension took me from the angst of everything.
Some time away from them was what I needed, even a minute to breathe.
“I need … two minutes.” I panted, running a hand through my hair which was now a matted mess.
“What for?” Pa flared.
“Please, I just need two minutes and then I’ll come back. The ladies room. I just need to go.”
“I’ll go with her,” Frankie offered.
I swore Armand was just about to say the same thing but he was one of the people I needed the much needed break from.
I was relieved when Pa nodded his agreement.
Frankie stepped forward first and started walking. I followed next to him.
Once we got a little distance away from them he set an arm around me and I found myself leaning into him for support. Support and comfort.
“Frankie I can barely walk, I feel like I’m dying.” I tried to stave off a fresh bout of tears.
“Princess, I need you to not die on me right now. I need you to have a little more strength just to get out of here.”
I lifted my head not quite following what he was saying to me.
“Frankie, Pa’s going to kill Xander…” my voice trailed off.
“No. He won’t. Don’t worry about Xander.”
I wasn’t sure how he could tell me that when he knew Pa was serious. We all saw today that Pa had every intention of killing Xander.
“I’m worried sick and I feel like I’m going to die if I step on that plane.” My voice shook as did my legs and he held me closer as I stumbled.
“Calm doll,” he leaned nearer to my ear. “Lucky for you, you won’t be getting on that plane.”
I tensed and shuffled to face him as we walked but he held me still, tightening his grip around my waist.
“Don’t,” he broke in quickly with a rasp. “Just walk with me and act normal. Please.”
God, my heart…
It raced a hundred miles an hour. It galloped.
Was this hope? Could I hope?
Frankie was the only person among Pa’s knights who would have known that just being here was killing me inside. He was the only person who knew how I felt about Xander.
He would have known that me stepping on that plane meant me signing my life away. It was death. It would be. Nothing else could describe it better than death. Death to my body and soul. All that was left of me.
Jesus please… Please let this be hope.
We went down the escalator and continued to the signs for the toilets. We went through the section and he went into the ladies division with me. The custodian on duty went to say something to Frankie, but one hardened look cast his way and the man backed down without a word.
Frankie was the kind of man I wouldn’t have wanted to mess with either.
We walked the whole way down the cubicles and headed to a door that said staff only.
He moved his hand away from my waist when we got there and took my hand instead.
He walked faster and I followed.
I followed and my brain caught right the hell up. I caught up to what we were doing, what he was doing.
We went through the door and the night air graced my skin.
Frankie didn’t falter in step, he kept going with me, pushing forward ahead in a straight line, never looking back.
We verged on the parking lot and I saw his truck. It looked like someone was in the back.
“Princess, jump in the back seat as quick as you can, now,” he ordered, letting go of my hand. We ran to his truck and he headed to the driver’s seat. I did as he instructed and jumped into the backseat.
As I did my eyes landed on Xander.
He was there.
I’d barely registered that this was real, and it really was him, before Frankie gunned the engine and took off at lightning speed out of the parking lot in true mobster style.
“Xander,” I gasped when Xander reached forward and touched my face.
His hands were shaking, but it was him. His face was a bloodied mess. Dark, dark circles were under his eyes and he was completely messed up.
“Baby,” he replied and rested his head back on the seat.
I slipped my arm around him and held him. He felt so weak in my arms.
Yes, Pa was right about him being close to death. He looked like he was on the verge of death.
Only God knew how my man must have suffered.
“Baby…” he whispered on the edge of a breath.
“I’m here.” I assured him and looked to Frankie who was looking at me through the rearview mirror.
He did this. Frankie saved Xander and they came for me. They saved me.
“Frankie thank you so much,” I told him. A tear spilled down my cheek. “Thank you so much Frankie.
“Jia, girl we’re in for one rough ride. I’m just letting you know princess. Just letting you know. Your father will not take this lightly.”
I nodded. “I know.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Jia
My senses heightened the minute Frankie’s phone went off. They were already on high alert from the second I felt that Pa would be looking for me, that was half an hour ago.
Frankie answered the phone. I thought it was Pa calling but it was Vinny.
Frankie had the phone on speaker.
“He just called me man. The boss just called me. Wants to know if you’ve been in touch. He’s looking for you and Jia at the airport. I said I haven’t heard anything,” Vinny blurted.
It sounded like he was in on this plan too.
“Good. I’m gonna get gone with them.”
“Fuck man, he’ll kill you I know it.”
“Yeah, he’ll try to. See you on the other side bro. Don’t call me again, and dispose of the phone. I don’t want you linked to this in any way.”
“Understood brother. I’ll do what I can from this side.” Vinny hung up.
Frankie focused on me and glanced at Xander who’d fallen asleep in my arms.
“We have separate phones. Your father would have tracked me if I used the phone he has the number for,” Frankie explained.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this. He’ll know it’s you,” I winced, swallowing hard.
“Yeah I know. I might have gotten away with getting your boy out because that whole area has no surveillance whatsoever, but I knew I was all in balls to the wall when I knew I had to come get you.”
“Thank you.” I couldn’t say thanks enough.
“Not just me princess. It’s him. You were the first thing on his mind when he realized he had a chance. Nothing else. The goal is to get the fuck off the radar. Giovanni has his empire of people and they have eyes. Cops and criminals alike. If I can get us out of sight then we can get ahead.”