𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

Chapter forty-three (Part 2)

Pollie Ashford's POV

I kept hyperventilating the entire journey back.

Rome would check in on me every now and then, but he himself was busy with hushed conversations in Italian.

I had to continuously stop my leg from bouncing so many times that I lost count, not to mention how many times I swallowed the vomit that kept threatening to rise up my throat.

I felt physically ill. I felt like I could pass out at any given moment and I just wanted a shoulder to cry on.

But the one shoulder I wanted, was the one I couldn't turn to. I would hate to add another target to the list.

The thought of my fathers voice uttering poison shocked me straight to my core and had me gripping my seat to stop me from collapsing.

But even with all the emotional turmoil that was currently unfolding in my mind, I kept going back and thinking about what I was supposed to do. Get me the book.

I figured that part out almost immediately. Wasn't too hard to when I reminded myself of my previous encounters regarding the significance of the damn thing.

First it was Rome, telling me that it was for his other business affairs.

And my stomach twisted itself even more when I thought of Jonah the other day. Surely that was a mere coincidence right?

But even if I could get the book, how was I supposed to give it to him? How was I supposed to do any of this? I'm not a fucking spy, I'm a freakin PA for crying out loud.

I've never wanted to scream as much as I do right now.

"Stella, we're about to land." My eyes flickered to the voice that sounded like a strained lullaby, softening as soon as they met his familiar gaze.

Unable of forming audible words, I swallowed and nodded at him, reaching for my seatbelt but not before Romeo beat me to it.

He dropped to his knees, silence lingering between us until the sharp click of the belt locking sounded. "Pup, you're gonna be ok. It's just work." His jaw stiffened ever so slightly and I could feel him holding back.

But so was I.

"Rome, you never said what was going on." It only just occurred to me that I never asked and he never explained. We were both too caught up in our own dire situations that we forgot to talk to each other. Though I of course could not do that.

A pang of something I'm not sure what ricocheted through me as the conversation we had a few days prior rang out in my overflowing head.

Will you not shut me out? I remember asking, only this time I feel like I'm the one shutting down.

I feel like I'm betraying him and it's eating me alive. One pathetic hour is what it takes to shatter me, but Alice needs me so I can't break just yet. Not if I want to protect her. Not if I want to protect my Romeo.

"I'm sorry baby." Rome looked around the plane before plopping his head face down on my lap. Only then, did my shoulders finally relax.