Come Fly Away With Me

Meetings & Found Clues

"My love..."
Carina bolted upright and looked around for Maya, her heart beating fast.  She was alone in the room, the rain still falling but not as violently as it had overnight.  Sighing, Carina laid back down, running her hands across her stomach as tears rolled slowly down the sides of her face.
"Bambina, I miss you.  WE miss you."

"Bambina..."
Maya woke with a start, her pulse racing as she looked next to her for Carina.  But she was alone in their bed as the rain slowed and gently tapped against the window.  Turning her head, she peeked at Liam, sound asleep in his crib.  Maya grabbed Carina's pillow and held it to her chest, inhaling deeply as her wife's scent filled her senses.
"My love, I need you.  WE need you."

"Principessa, andiamo."
Carina sat on the bed in silence as Tony unlocked the door and entered.  Walking over to the bed, he grabbed her arm and lifted her up, forcing her to walk with him.
"The storm delayed his arrival, but she is here and wants to meet you."
"Non voglio incontrare quella stronza."
"You are a guest in this home Principessa, and I know you were brought up with manners."
They came down the stairs and crossed the foyer into the living room.  Tony walked Carina over to one of the wing back chairs and pushed her down, holding his hand on her shoulder.  A few moments passed before Carina heard the clicking of heels on the marble floor as a woman about Maya's height entered.  She was thin with Polynesian features and wearing a high ponytail, her makeup and nails perfectly applied.  Behind her, a bulky Polynesian man stopped and crossed his hands in front of his body, standing silently as she walked up to Carina.
"So you are the one hmmm?  The 'Principessa Doctor Deluca' who married that cunt Maya Bishop. Tell me, does she still cry in the shower like a whiney bitch when she disappoints her daddy?"
"Stai zitto, stronza!"
Carina spit at Sami, her saliva hitting the toe of the woman's shoes.
"Ahh, so you aren't the cowering mouse that my husband has always told me you were.  I bet Maya loves being dominated by you.  Tell me, how long did it take for you gain your confidence after my husband made a real woman out of you?"
Carina shot up out of the chair, her hands extended as she tried to reach for Sami's throat.  Tony grabbed her arms and held her back as she spit again, this time her saliva landing on Sami's cheek.
"Vaffanculo! Don't you dare-"
Sami stepped closer and slapped Carina across the face, her ring reopening the cut Carina had gotten when she fell against the rock.  The blood dripped down the side of Carina's face as she stared daggers back at Sami.
"You and your husband have fucked with the wrong person.  My family will not look away this time.  Pregherai per la morte!"
"Oh no my dear Carina, it's your cunt wife Maya who is going to be paying. I've been waiting a long time to see her lose."

The rain had ended, but the chopper that Jane had planned to use for their flight down to the town had taken some wind damage from the storm so quick repairs would be needed before they could take off.  Needing to release some of her anxiety because of the wait, Maya had just finished a run and was jogging up the side of the garden when she saw the smoke coming from the back of the villa.  Maya felt her heart racing as she took off in a dead run across the lawn.  She came up on the back of the villa to see flames shooting out of the kitchen where she had left Liam with Zia Sophia and Camille to feed him breakfast.  'Eyes Forward!' kicked into Maya's brain as she scanned the back of the villa spotting a hose attached to a spicket that the gardener used to water the plants by the patio.  Maya grabbed it and cranked the water on as she pulled the hose and raced toward the window.  The flames began to decrease as Maya kept pushing closer to the villa, trying to see inside.  She got to the window and pulled once more, extending the hose to its limit as she stuck her head and shoulders in and doused the last of the flames at the stove.  Turning around, Maya checked the walls and sprayed them as well,
"Zia Sophia? Camille? Vanno tutti bene? Dov'e Liam?"
"Si si, we are all fine Maya, he's here! We will meet you on the patio!"
Maya let herself exhale as she stepped back and walked over to turn off the water as Camille came out carrying Liam and Sophia ran to Maya embracing her in a tight hug.
"Grazie mille Maya!  You saved my kitchen! You are my second favorite niece!"
Maya smiled as Liam noticed her, his tear stained face changing to a smile as he reached for her.
"Amama."
Maya took him and hugged him before checking him over.  Kate and Lucy leaned over from the window of their room on the upper floor of the other side of the villa.
"Maya? What's going on?"
"Nothing, it was a kitchen fire, it's out.  Go back to...y'know, whatever fun you two were having.  And know that I'm jealous!"
Kate smiled at Maya and bit her lower lip as Lucy disappeared from view for a moment, coming back with her phone in hand.
"Jane said the chopper should be ready to go in forty five minutes.  We all need to hurry."
Maya wiggled a finger at them as Kate pulled Lucy back into their room.  Maya turned her attention back to Camille and Sophia.
"What happened?"
"I don't know.  We had the repair guy out because the stove wasn't working since the surge last night.  He left about twenty minutes ago and I was feeding Liam his fruit so Mamma could get his eggs ready.  The next thing we knew, the stove burst into flames.  I'm so glad you were there Maya, like Mamma said, grazie mille."
Maya half frowned as she listened, her mind still racing.  She looked at Liam and then back at Camille.
"Did you know this repair guy? Is he a regular?"
"Well, he's from the company we use but no, I've never seen him specifically.  Do you think there's something going on?"
"I don't know, maybe I'm just overreacting or it's this whole...ummm...'family' thing.  You know what? Never mind me, I'm picking at a scab that doesn't need to bleed right now.  I've got to go get ready because I need to find Carina.  I'm seriously unraveling the longer she's missing.  Can you both watch him?  I know Gabriella is coming over to see him so I'm sure she won't mind helping if you need to do anything else."

Carina was back in her room and pacing like a caged tiger when she heard the sounds of the helicopter. Moving to the window, Carina looked out and watched as it landed, the door opened, the stairs came down and Giancomo Buratti stepped out. Carina felt her stomach turn at seeing him again after so many years. The memories of that night that she had worked so hard to forget came crashing over her like a wave and she found herself shaking. She gripped her arms together against her body and closed her eyes, trying desperately to imagine that it was Maya holding her, protecting her and their growing babies. Opening them again, she watched as he walked across the lawn and toward the house. Carina began taking slow and deep breaths, working to keep herself focused and strong. There was no way she would get out of it now, she had to face her attacker once more.

Maya stared out of the window as the helicopter landed in the dirt parking lot next to the little store. She watched as Jessie and Kai waited by their SUV with an elderly Italian woman until the blades slowed enough for them to walk over and greet her, Jane, Kate and. Lucy.
"This lady said she talked to Carina."
Maya pushed past them and approached her.
"L'hai vista? Hai visto Carina?"
"Si si! La Principessa Carina era legata al volante. L'uomo usci e la porto in bango. La rinchiusa dentro. Poi l'ha portage fuori e se n'e andanta."
Maya nodded and turned to the group.
"She said she saw Carina tied to the steering wheel and a guy came out, took her to that bathroom and locked her in. Then he came back and put her in the car and they left. Has anyone checked the bathroom yet?"
Maya didn't wait for a response as she ran toward the bathroom on the side of the building. Standing in the door, Maya's eyes darted all around, desperately trying to find anything that might be a clue. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as Maya's shoulders slumped and she moved in to sit on the toilet and look again. Kate appeared at the door, concern on her face.
"The storm washed away any traces of tire marks or anything else out here. Did you have any luck?"
Maya kept her gaze down as she shook her head and let the tears fall on to her folded hands. Lucy and Jane came up behind Kate, who put a hand up for them to wait as Maya let out a scream and pounded her fist against the wall, loosening the toilet paper holder which fell to the floor and began to roll.
"Maya look!"
Kate's eyes went wide as she saw the dried dirt writing and stepped in as Maya blinked in shock and gently picked it up.
"Oh my God, this...th-this is from Carina!"
"How do you know?"
"Th-the heart with the xo! That's our love note to each other! Katie! She's been taken to Malta!"