Deadly Love

Chapter 22

I didn't know blackmailing Emanuele by threatening to destroy my whole remaining life would make him cave in so easily. If I knew it would have this kind of effect on him, I would have made it my first presenting argument.

He left shortly after admitting defeat leaving me all alone in the room once again. He said he needed to make some changes in his plans now that he was leaving with me and to also let his people know about them, including Saverio and Dario and the ones arranging everything for us to escape. He left me smiling in satisfaction at my victory and since then his face had morphed into a permanent scowl.

Emanuele was not used to defeat, of any kind, even if it is in an argument. And this time did he not only lose, he lost to a woman despite using every trick up his sleeve, trying to threaten and dominate me. That was enough to make me smug.

After he left, I had a shower, ate my sandwich and while eating kept thinking about the warped and indefinite future we were going to have. It will just be the two of us in a whole new state, starting a whole new life. We would still not be danger free, always on edge and alert, thinking about the possibility of any of them finding us and finishing us off. We will always have to be on our toes and keep a low profile. I know it is not every woman's preferred choice of living with someone she loves but in my situation, I was ready to choose that life if it meant I will get to be with Emanuele and under his protection for forever.

It will just be the two of us, without any kind of contact with our previous lives. Although the thought should be scary, it didn't look so bad right now...at least if that meant it will keep my loved ones safe.

Emanuele came back quite late in the morning. I was almost asleep by then but still heard him when he entered. He didn't take the bed like I wanted him to but slept on the couch in the room. And now he was sitting next to me with the same scowl etched on his face, staring out of the window, deep in his thoughts. We were in a taxi, making our way to the airport and he hasn't spoken a word to me since we left the hotel.

I kept glancing his way from time to time, smiling like an idiot for getting my way this time. I know he was not happy that he had to acquiesce to my order. He will probably bitch and whine about it for a while too. But I could care less about that; at least he will be with me this way. Alive.

He must have felt my eyes on him as turned and glared at me. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from smiling again. When he saw that his glare worsened. "Don't for a second think that I am not going to give you hell for doing this Jade."

I was looking forward to it. But I didn't say that out loud.

"So don't look so smug, I am going to get you for this." he warned.

I just shrugged my shoulders and looked the other way. I felt his frustration.

"Emanuele." he glanced my way. "Are we always going to be on the run?" I asked in a whisper. Although I have come to terms with it and accepted the kind of living that we will have to do, I just wanted to know if we will ever find peace.

His eyes softened a bit and he sighed. "It seems like we have to Jade. There is no other way. Maybe if you would have gone alone, you wouldn't have to worry too much, but now you are dragging me with you and people know me Jade. Wherever we will go, there are always going to be some people that know who I am. That is why I wanted to stay behind, so you wouldn't have to live in hiding."

"At least that is better than living without you!" I said with conviction.

He shook his head and groaned. "You are going to be the death of me Tesoro."

I wanted to smile.

Emanuele clasped my hand in his and began caressing the back of it with his thumb, igniting heat in the area which spread through my entire body. I almost gasped at the sensation.