Mia, Mine #sytycw15 #RomanticSuspense Book 1

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19: "So you're telling me that you have no idea whatsoever of what you want for your wedding dress?" Ana-Marie asked in part astonishment and part horror. Natalie bit her lip and fiddled with her napkin in her lap as she shrugged a shoulder.

"I've never really thought about it. I was busy taking care of my...my mother and I never thought I would have the time to get married." She said softly and hated the pity she saw that flashed through Ana-Marie's beautiful eyes so she hurried to say something.

"I like simple. Elegant. I've always loved lace." She admitted with a slight smile and Ana-Marie nodded as she wrote down on a little notebook she had pulled from her purse. Natalie couldn't believe that she was actually going through with her marriage to Giovanni.

She had to admit though, the thought didn't scare her anywhere near as bad as it had. Why? She had no idea.

"What about theme?" Ana-Marie asked as she scribbled notes in delicate and elegant handwriting. Natalie furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean 'theme'?" she asked and Ana-Marie stared at her before giving a growl of frustration as she began to stuff the notebook back into her purse.

She chewed on the end of her pen as she stared at Natalie.

"This is going to be harder than I originally thought." She murmured and Natalie grimaced, but didn't say anything. Ana-Marie waved over the waiter and he immediately came over to the table, as he had done each time Ana-Marie had raised a dainty hand.

He watched their table like it was a snake about to strike at any moment. Ana-Marie asked for the check in Italian and since Giovanni hadn't given Natalie any money she stared helplessly at her as she pulled out her wallet.

Ana-Marie caught the look in her eyes and smiled softly.

"Giovanni gave me money." She said and that only appeased Natalie somewhat.

Standing, Natalie looked pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder and stared out of the glass window that had sat right next to their table.

Just as they were turning to leave there was a loud scream and the sound of glass shattering pierced her ears even as the glass pierced her skin. Ana-Marie instantly dropped to the floor and one of the body guards lunged for Natalie.

She hit the floor on her left side and she cried out as her side throbbed with pain and more shards of glass cut into her skin. She could feel warm rivulets of blood and the slight sting, but the adrenaline that was pulsing in a hot rush through her made it seem dull in comparison.

The guard who had tackled her leaped up and pulled a gun from his holster. Ana-Marie began cursing in Italian, her eyes furious.

"Can't I have one normal lunch!?" she growled as she dusted off glass.

She had a small cut on her cheek and brow and small ones along her arms, but other than that she was fine which Natalie was grateful for.

Finally finding some sense to move, Natalie got onto all fours, ignoring the glass that bit into her knees and palm as she glanced frantically around. Her gaze stopped at something sitting on the floor and she slowly crawled to it.

Ana-Marie tried grabbing her ankle, but Natalie only focused on the small red brick that had white paper taped to it. She grabbed it just as Ana-Marie managed to get a firm grip around her ankle to pull her back with force. Natalie was surprised at the strength she had for such a small woman. Ana-Marie stared at her like she was crazy.

"What in the hell were you thinking? You could've been seriously hurt!" she started and looked down at what Natalie was gripping tightly in her bloody hand.