Day Out
“Over my dead body,” Cruz finally spoke as Presley began packing up things in the room. “What are you doing?”
“Packing.” She fought the tremor in her voice. She was hurting. All of Cruz’s angry words were under her skin like a million little needles. He thought she was a child. He thought he was the one who needed to come up with an adult plan to save her like she was some damsel in distress who needed a man to rescue her. Didn’t he realize it was a stupid man who got her into this s**t?
“Why are you packing?”
“Can’t have Liborio’s babies from your bed,” she said bluntly.
“You think you’re going to go move into his suite?”
“I did tell him I was going to have his kids.”
“Ladybird, if I have to bring Algernon into it and kidnap you and throw you on a yacht in the middle of the,” his voice trailed off. “That’s what I’ll do. I’m going to get you the f**k out of here.”
“Then he kills Odin, he releases the information Odin accused Mom of child abuse which will destroy her career as a child psychologist, Dad’s business will tank, Sloane will go to prison for dealing with some Chinese mafia and Halima’s brother goes to prison for whatever sins he’s committed as motorcycle club member. Not to mention, you and your father will also be in the line of fire, and you’ll get wiped out too. You can’t kidnap me.”
“The hell I can’t.”
“He’s listening,” she waved her hand around the room. “He already heard your plan. You can’t kidnap me because he already knows and he’s already onto you. Maybe your next plan, you can write it down on paper and hold it up for me to read,” she rolled her eyes, “unless he has video in here too which wouldn’t surprise me.” She shot a look at the bathroom door, “he’s probably seen you sitting on the toilet.”
“Presley let’s get out of here. Let’s go spend a day together. We were supposed to go look at wedding dresses
today.”
“Cruz, the fake wedding is off.”
“Let’s make it real then,” he said boldly gripping her by the hands and tugging her towards him. “Let’s make it real. Let’s really get married tomorrow. We will exchange our vows and mean them.”
She felt her heart stutter at his words, “it’s not fair to you. When you get married for real, Cruz it should be to someone who is going to do all your firsts with you.”
“Says who?”
“What if I’m gone for years? What if it takes more than one attempt at this baby thing?”
“Do you think you’ll fall in love with him and want to stay with him?”
“No.”
“Then let me judge what is fair. You’re doing IVF with him not climbing into his bed, right?” At her nod, “then you don’t need to move out to his room. You’re running away, Presley. Stay with me. Let’s go spend the day
Day Out
together. Let’s go be the couple we are. Maybe while we’re out, Inspiration will hit and we can think of a solution out of this but Ladybird, I’m begging you don’t leave me.”
“I feel like if I spend more time with you, it’s going to be harder for me to go.”
He took her by the hands and got on his knees, his face to her chest and stared up at her, “I love you, I need it for it to be hard because it’s otherwise you might not come back. I can’t compete with a scary and yet handsome mafia dude who makes me look like a pauper. He’s smooth and slick and I watched the fucker take you away today and he damn well glides. He makes Anderson look clumsy. He’s going to seduce the hell out of you, and you’ll never come back to me. I am on my knees here, baby and I am begging you. If you’re going to leave me for him, at least give me today.”
She wiped her tears onto her shoulder and then nodded. “Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s explore Nice. We don’t have to go too crazy. I only want to spend time with you.” He let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her body, resting his cheek against her breast. “I love you. I know I’m handling all of this badly. I know I’m being an ogre and I’m sorry. I’m scared. I don’t know how to keep you safe. I’m a ******g giant of a man and I can’t keep you safe.” His words caught in his throat. “Money isn’t power. Being strong isn’t power. This is a lesson in humility and I’m not learning it very well.”
Presley was shocked by the weepy tone to his voice and the sob which caught in his throat as he squeezed her to him. She rested her cheek on top of his head and closed her eyes.
“I want to f*****g kill your brother for doing this to you. Even if you and I weren’t a couple, I would not be okay with this happening to you. How does another human being treat someone the way Liborio Bartoli is treating you? How can he do this?”
She kept her arms wrapped around his shoulders as he struggled to get his composure. “Cruz”
Bers backs
“You’ve given up as if you’ve lost your will to fight back and I know it’s because you’re caught between a rock and a hard place but don’t give up. Please?”
“Okay. Cruz let’s get out of here. Let’s go get some fresh air and take in the sights and forget all about this s**t for today. We’ll figure the rest out but let’s go.”
“You sure?” He looked up at her with red rimmed eyes. “You know I don’t think I’ve cried real tears since my mom died?” He let her help him to his feet.
“Really?”
“I mean I’ve cried from like hot pepper sauce in my shampoo and when you booted me in the balls a few weeks back, there were tears of pain there, but crying isn’t usually my go–to.” He gave her a lopsided smile as he wiped his face off with the back of his hands. “I’ll get it together, beautiful. Let’s get the f**k out of here.”
“Wait,” she watched as he started to pack his backpack up with beach towels and the like. “Leave it all. Let’s
room bring some cash, credit cards and room keys but I don’t know if he’s bugged our bags or clothing or what, but we can buy what we need while we’re out.”
n into
“Fine.” He nodded and took her by the hand as he shoved the room key, a credit card and a wad of his pocket. He picked his phone/up off the nightstand, “sending Anderson a text which says you and I are going to spend the day alone and we’ll meet up around dinner.”
“I’ll send Halima and my mom the same thing,” she sent the two texts quickly. “Let’s go.”
They tossed their phones onto the bed and then left the room. Entering the lobby from the elevator, Presley
4
Day Out
noted Mina was sitting in one of the chairs there. She dragged Cruz towards Mina.
“Hey, what are you doing down here all alone?” She waved between them, “Cruz this is Algernon’s assistant, Mina. Mina, this is my fiancé, Cruz.”
Mina was confused. “Flancé? I thought you were having babies with the rude man.”
“I’m supposed to be his surrogate yes.”
“Ah, are you doing it for money?”
“Nope. For my family.” She gave a tight smile. “Why are you down here alone?”
“Algernon walked up to a woman who was coming out of the breakfast area and said something in her ear which had the girl running after him to the elevator. He has been a very devoted man to his wife for as long as I have known him. It was kind of weird to see him with another woman,” she frowned, “however the elevator doors weren’t even closed, and he had the woman up against the wall. It seems he’s ready to move on from his wife. My room won’t be ready until this afternoon.” She nudged an overnight bag and her laptop carrier “and this is all the luggage I have with me. I thought I’d sit here and wait for my room. I would love to simply lie down on the beach, but I didn’t bring a swimming suit or anything.”
“Oh,” Presley looked her over. “Look, go up to my room. I have a pile of bathing suits not even worn with the tags still on sitting in the top drawer of the closet. Take one of them. I’m not fussed over which one. We are going out for the day. You can go to our room, take a shower, freshen up, change into a bathing suit and I even have wraps there. I’m not shy at all. Please go help yourself.”
“Are you sure?”
“A thousand percent,” she paused, “I will say, Liborio Bartoli has been watching me to make sure I don’t mess up our arrangement,” Presley censored her words, “so be aware there is audio equipment in our room.”
“He spies on you?” Mina gave a stomp of her foot. “Disgusting.”
“Well, he is renting my womb.” Presley rolled her eyes. “He’s also a very dangerous man, Mina.”
Mina laughed, “and Algernon isn’t? He is the head of the biggest syndicate in all of France. He prides himself on loyalty and getting loyalty from his followers. He’s made friends with some of the scariest men on the planet.” Mina leaned forward, “there is even one man who runs a Russian organization, and he is Algernon’s closest friend. He keeps a yacht docked around here somewhere and he tells everyone I am his long–lost daughter. I’m not worried about Liborio Bartoli. I have a Frenchman and a Russian to protect me and everyone who knows Algernon professionally knows I am his assistant. Nobody would dare come for me. If your silly little Italian boss wants to listen to me shower, let him.”
With that, Mina took the keycard from Presley’s fingers and her bags and stomped off in the direction of the
elevator.
“What was all that about?” Cruz asked out the side of his mouth.
“I don’t even know,” she whispered back confused and then met his gaze in surprise. “Algernon is the head of a French mafia?”
“This vacation just keeps getting weirder and weirder.” Cruz said he took her by the hand and led her out of the hotel.
