Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“It’s a long story but an interesting one. Short version, he saved Lauren from a violent fiancé, and they fell in love. To have a future together, he went to the police only to find out they’d found evidence to dispute his guilty verdict, and he was released.”
“And then he married Lauren?”
“Yes.”
“I like that story.” I smile to myself. “He came here to hide away from the world but found his person instead.”
“I suppose,” Massimo says in a tone that tells me he doesn’t care for the romantic side of the story.
“You’re not very romantic,” I say.
“I’ve never needed to be,” he replies. “But I disagree with your observation. I can be very romantic.”
“Oh really?”
“I’m bringing you to the mountains, aren’t I?” he deadpans.
“Because you think some psychopath wants to kill me. But I suppose you are protecting me, and I admit that I find that very romantic. So I stand corrected. Massimo De Kysa, you are a romantic.”
He gives me a dark grin. “Wait till we get inside the cabin and I show you just how romantic I can be.”
The wicked lure in his voice tells me there will be little romance but a lot of orgasms. Which is fine by me. Driving these bumpy roads in a truck with no suspension has kind of got me aroused.
Massimo turns onto a secluded driveway and follows the muddy path deeper into the pine forest, eventually pulling up in front of a charming little cabin.
“Wow,” I say, climbing out. “It’s beautiful.”
The stone and timber cabin sits in the small clearing amongst the tall pines. There’s a small porch, a stone chimney, and a stack of firewood piled up to the windows.
I collect my bag from the back of the truck and follow Massimo up the front steps.
We pause on the little porch so Massimo can punch a sequence of numbers into the digital lock, which seems completely out of place for the rustic cabin. Heavy locks retract, and he pushes the front door open.
Inside, the little cabin reveals its full country charm. Timber floors. A large stone fireplace that takes up one wall. Arched windows looking out onto a sweeping view of the valley below. Comfortable-looking couches and recliner chairs set in front of the fireplace.
Massimo closes the door behind us, and I hear the clunk of a heavy lock sliding into place.
“That sounded serious,” I say.
“This whole place is rigged for safety. Follow me.”
He leads me to the first room off the short hallway. Inside is a desk set up with several monitors and other surveillance equipment.
It’s then I realize that despite looking like your normal weekend cabin on the outside, it’s far from that. There’s not one degree in the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree scope of the property that is not visible to the cameras.
“There are also twenty sensors set up outside that will alert us if anyone approaches the cabin.” He gestures to a monitor showing a series of little green lights all in a row. “If something triggers the sensor, the light will turn red, and an alarm will sound.”
“Do animals and birds set off the sensors?”
“No, they’re designed to detect certain sizes. A bird or a rodent won’t set it off. But someone walking through the woods will.” He indicates one of the monitors. “Every entry into the house is alarmed. But if for any reason we get separated, and you’re in danger, you’re to run to this room. It’s a panic room. And if anyone breaches the cabin, you come in here and hit this button.” He points to the red button on a panel of buttons by the door. “No one will be able to get through it.”
To prove his point, he hits it, and a thick, sturdy door shoots out from the door cavity and slams shut. He taps it to show me how impenetrable it is, then points to another button on the panel.
“This button here will alert the police to the break in. And this one will alert Axel.”
“Axel?”
“He’ll get here a lot quicker than the police. And he’s a lot deadlier.”
He pauses, and I see affection in his eyes. He can see I’m terrified, and it hurts him. “I’ll keep you safe, Bianca. You have my word.”
I shiver, and he notices. Up until now, I’ve put on a brave face. But this fortress with its booby-trapped backyard makes my situation all the more real, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m scared.
“Last week, I was worried because someone took all my money,” I say. “Now I’m worried someone wants to take my life.”
40
MASSIMO
When I realized Bianca was in danger, I was caught between sending her into hiding with my best soldiers and staying behind to find who is behind this or taking her to the mountains and protecting her myself.
I chose the latter because no one can protect her as well as me. I’d die before I let anyone get to her. And that has never been as true as it is now, standing here in front of her and seeing the fear in her beautiful eyes.