After another hour in the car, we arrive at an outdated hotel in the northern New York mountains. This is where we're supposed to meet Nico's contact. So naturally, we're currently staked out at the bar waiting.
"How about a round of drinks?" Asks the bartender, who's dressed in a bad 70s look.
"Sure. Whiskey, he's buying." I point towards Nico, who grunts. The bartender pours our drinks then walks off. "So, where is this mysterious contact?"
"Not here," Nico states as he drowns his drink.
"Obviously." I roll my eyes before finishing my drink and indicating another round to the bartender.
"Let's say we meet up with this contact. What then? I haven't heard a grand plan so far?"
"Maybe you should leave the thinking to me, yes?"
"First, never say that to a woman. Second, it's my business, so I will not leave it up to you."
"Cazzo, you can drive a saint mad." Nico runs his hands through his hair in frustration, and all I can picture is me doing the same as he kisses me passionately.
"Thank you."
"Wasn't a compliment."
...
After too many drinks and a no-show from Nico's contact, we are on our way to the hotel room. But as we pass by a gift shop, Nico becomes stiff.
"We are being followed." He mutters lowly.
"What? Where?" I turn to look, then hissed out. "Why are you yanking me around?"
"Stay calm and act as if everything is normal."
"I've been kidnapped by a deranged killer and forced to come on some crazy road trip for reasons I still do not know. Everything's perfectly normal."
"Sarcasm is not appreciated." He keeps glancing around at all the potential exits. "We need to find a way out."
"Oh, we're a 'we' in the decision-making now?"
Nico makes eye contact with me before harshly saying, "Callie, if we do not find a way out, we are as good as dead."
"No pressure." After several more minutes of walking, I see a bright sign blinking above a store. "Quickly, in here." I grab Nico's arm and realize too late that it was one of those cheesy love chapels.
"What are we doing in here?" He whisper-yells.
"Hiding. I thought that was obvious."
"Can I help you?" We spin quickly, with Nico reaching for the gun in his pants. I take a step back while stilling Nico's trigger-happy fingers before he shoots some crazy middle-aged man who happens to pop up behind us.
"No." Nico snaps, then stares back out the door.
"Oh, I see. Someone's a little shy." I have to try really hard to hold in my laughter when Nico turns around and glares at the man like he is a complete nutcase. "Totally understandable if you have performance anxiety." That time, I have to cover my mouth to stop laughing.
"Trust me. That's not the problem."
"Oh, Barry, there you are," says an overly cheery older woman coming around the corner. There must be something in the water. "Are you two lovebirds looking to get hitched?"
"No." Nico snaps, and I can tell he was losing patience.
"Honey, I'm helping this couple," says the man.
"No reason the two of us can't help." The woman replies back with a painfully fake smile.
"Remind me not to drink the water here," Nico mutters, and I smile.
"Why don't you just go do flower arrangements or something?" The man asks in a commanding way. I'm starting to think they were husband and wife.
"I already did that, dear." Yeah, kill him with kindness.
"All of this is unnecessary because we're not getting married," Nico growls with a clenched jaw. I see both faces drop in disappointment. This gives me an idea.
"Actually, we are." Everyone's head whips towards me, especially Nico's.
"You are?" The couple asks at the same time Nico asks, "We are?" With horror outlining his face. Gee, that makes me feel outstanding.
"Yes...honey. I know I kept saying not yet, but if we don't get married right now, when will we? And it's so..." I gesture around the room before continuing, "Romantic."
"Perfect! I'll get all the arrangements done, like flowers and your dress-" The woman starts before I interrupt her.
"No dress, I'm fine the way I am."
"No dress on your wedding day?"
"We don't need any of that stuff. Just the ceremony." I realize that sounds odd, so I rush to add an excuse. "If I think about it too long, it won't be as spontaneous. And we both love spontaneity."
"Of course. Well, be ready for you in five minutes." Says the man. I glance out the window and see the guys that are following us.
"I don't think I can wait five minutes."
"Now. We can be ready for you two right now. Follow us." The couple starts walking into the back room. I try to follow, but Nico grabs my arm.
"What the hell are you doing?" He hisses in my ear. I involuntarily shiver and not from fear.
"Saving our asses."
"By getting married?" He growls.
"Oh please, they can't really marry us. They're here for when people get drunk and do stupid things like wanting to get married. Then when they wake up the next day and start freaking out, they, thankfully, later find out that it wasn't real. It happened to be like my second cousin or something. Trust me, it's fine. I mean, could you actually ever see us getting married?" I give him my 'tell me otherwise' look. I blame that logic on the drinks.
"So, we won't be married?"
"No, and we'll just sneak out the back door afterward. This way, it will buy us enough time for them to think we escaped, and if they come in here, they'll see a lovely couple getting married." I finish with a smile.
"Fine. Let's get this over with." He starts pulling me towards the back, where the couple disappeared.
"What every girl wants to hear." I sigh dreamily.
"Shut up."
YOU ARE READING
The Vipers Temptation | Completed (edited)
RomanceAfter a failed attempt at a relationship, I try to make it on my own. However, I end up with a new neighbor who exudes charm, danger, and sexual energy as if it's a job. To make matters worse, I find myself semi-kidnapped by the same dangerous, foul...
