***
Affluence dripped off of every single thing that the man walking beside me did. I was not surprised by his wealth. Everything about him before we met screamt money and power. The level of his wealth was, however, a true surprise. His control and dominance made more sense now than ever before.
I glanced back at the three men flanking us from behind, their expensive suits and hard demeanor keeping the airport waiting staff as far away from us as possible. I didn't blame them. The men surrounding me looked absolutely lethal. I wouldn't have approached myself either were the roles reversed.
I felt like an important Diplomat, a celebrity of some sort despite the fact that I knew, deep down, that I was anything but. The man was a monster. A truly ruthless and dangerous King who exuded power beyond what was rational for a man his age.
To think he built this Empire from the ground up...What a f*****g feat...
It was the only piece of information I was able to gleam out of a reluctant Marie who was certainly more petrified of my husband than my empty threats of running away from the penthouse. The three women clearly knew Soren better than I do and his proclivity to madness whenever someone went against his instructions.
Such a f*****g baby...Throwing tantrums because he didn't get what he wanted...
I could see my husband going absolutely nuts because I somehow managed to escape his home and put a serious dampen on his plans. His OCD would never be able to handle it and that damn well made me chuckle presently as I imagined the look on his face. My husband presently glanced at me, clearly stunned as were the rest by my sudden outburst.
"And what, pray tell, is so funny, Emilia?"
He paused outside the steps leading into the plane, his eyes never leaving mine as he waited for my response. It was the first time we had glanced at each other since breakfast's declaration of war. The fight for my freedom had began and my psychopathic husband would be the perfect guinea pig to unleash all my frustrations about this situation and more.
He f*****g killed someone...I knew he was a mad man but I never expected such callousness, not after the few, shared moments we had had.
I had no reason to trust him and yet I had given him a chance to prove my fears wrong. Oh how I wanted to be wrong in the face of my husband's choice of profession.
"How that is any of your business is beyond me."
I muttered in response, chuckling once again just to annoy him and annoy it did as he watched me through an irritated gaze. Satisfied at having pushed him to showcase an inkling of his emotions, I ascended the steps into the private plane where a gorgeous blonde air hostess waited.
The pretty woman blatantly ignored me, her dreamy eyes set on the man following behind me. Love and longing shone in her eyes as she greeted him enthusiastically despite his unamused and cold expression. It was the only sign that he had actually heard or acknowledged the woman and yet her excitement seemed boundless over that simple gesture.
Christ, you'd think he f****d her right here and now...Though I would not be surprised if I found out he's f****d her before...it would explain her apt preparation to wait on him for all his needs...
I shivered, unsettled and disgusted at my thoughts. I was not interested in picturing the two individuals behind me. Not when I had more on my plate, i.e, making sure I killed said infuriating man behind me.
Releasing a small sigh, I, yet again, muted the side of me that believed I had made yet another stupid decision that was fueled by emotion and not rationale. I could not allow myself to go down that rabbit hole and get lost in it all. I needed to be on top of my game if only to prepare for the battle I would have against the formidable opponent seated opposite my comfortable, white leather lounge chair.
I had never experienced such perfect comfort on a plane ride. I was in absolute bliss despite the fact that the man I really didn't want to engage and his flirty, former conquest were engaging in conversation opposite my own chair.
Don't let them ruin this incredible experience...You might not enjoy it ever again after all this is over. Savor it, Emilia...so that you can remember it every single time you take normal flights after all of this.
The little pep talk certainly helped, carrying me through take off that was certainly not my greatest part about flying. I unclenched my fists once the coast was clear, thanking my lucky stars for sanity and the ability to hide yet another weakness from my husband. He already has too much access to the damaging ones...
"What? No wise crack about my 'blood money wealth'? I thought you'd have multiple choice words for the tool transporting us to our destination."
Soren stated, his eyes holding mine. He was genuinely stunned by my silence, his surprise somewhat amusing me despite the fact that I had planned to ignore him the entire time.
Shrugging, I turned to look out of the window, unable to hold the handsome man's ever-indecipherable gaze. He knew me a little well than I wanted to admit and yet the realization that he had come to know my smart mouth was somewhat welcome. It made the challenge of facing off against him even more fun.
"Well, you said it, not me...though, I don't need any wise cracks. Not when I am going to bring down your Empire. Now that would be the greatest wise crack of the f*****g century, yeah? Oh...you wouldn't know when you're six ft. under."
Our eyes met in an unmistakable stare on that was fueled with silent promises and a blood thirst that I had never expected to feel so soon into the battle.
And certainly not from him too...I mean, that joker grin is f*****g perfect for the big screen...
It chilled my very bones to see his blatant display of power and madness. And yet deep down, at the depths of my soul, I was as excited at the prospect of battling this strong as hell man as I was at him making me a member of the mile high club.
Could we really bathe in each other's blood whilst marking each other's bodies in a tyrst of absolute passion?
The thought made me blush crimson and I was thankful for barbie b***h's approach that kept my husband from pulling the string of my conflicting emotions.
Ah, hell...I need a really strong drink...
"Will that be everything, Mr. Alexander? A whiskey on the rocks?"
The woman waited expectantly, shamelessly sticking out her chest and wetting her lips in efforts to seduce a man who barely glanced at her, let alone acknowledged her existence. It was sad to watch, honestly, and irritating as hell considering she was completely ignoring me.
"Well, I am going to assume you have some hearing or seeing problem and let you off the hook for ignoring me this entire time. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't care less about interacting with you. I just need a damn water so if you're done flirting and embarassing yourself in front of this cardboard cutout of a man, I suggest you get me my damn water."
I had not planned to go off on her. Heck, the look on her face would have been comical if it were not alarming. Barbie b***h really looked like she didn't know I had been here the entire time, damn her. A frown took over her features, her gaze turning away from glaring at me to my husband whose mask had broken to reveal a small, amused smile.
"You're going to let her talk to me like that, Soren?"
His demeanor shifted instantly from amusement to absolute anger. His eyes darkened in displeasure, the sight chilling my bones. Barbie b***h seemed to comprehend the horrible situation she was in as she took a small step back and away from my husband.
"Don't speak to me as if you know me, woman! And do not disrespect my wife! The fact that you serviced me at some point or the other does not uplift you into a position that allows you to f*****g speak to me. Now, I am guessing you're not f*****g deaf. When my wife orders you to bring her anything at all, you f*****g get on it like your life depends on it because it f*****g does. Are we clear?"
His words were dark, laced with anger and silent threats of despair. I stayed silent, watching as the fearful woman nodded and immediately got to work. Her demeanor had shifted. And the fear of death had settled into her heart completely. Her strong sense of self preservation would save her this time.
I oddly didn't feel sorry for her. Maybe it was the fact that she was petty and horrible to me. I had faced way worse and yet the fact that it was her-a woman who has been intimate with my husband in a way that I never could be- made me feel like she deserved it all and then some.
"See, being a man w***e is more trouble than its worth. That's why I suggested the ground rules. For peace of mind. We wouldn't want bare p***y's thrust in our faces again."
I shrugged, my words earning me a shake of the head as he smiled into his newly topped up drink. I didn't know why that small gesture made my heart soar, just as it had when he defended me against barbie bitch...
The rest of the flight was spent in comfortable, peaceful silence. And I was okay with that...
**
The climate was warm, breezy and carribean, certainly different from the hellish blaze that New York currently was. I thanked the heavens for Marie's outfit choice for me this morning. The spaghetti strapped, white sun dress was perfect, offering a glimpse into my bare thighs, legs and nude colored sandals.
My hair was in a high ponytail and my make up was light, ensuring no caked up disasters under the warm climate. Three SUVs were waiting for our arrival and it was only after we were settled inside and on our way to our destination that I found the strength to ask the question that had been bugging me.
"Why am I here, Soren?"
It was a neutral question, one that was received with a single raised brow and small sigh before he glanced out of the open windows.
"You said you wanted to find your friend. Well, we're at the last placee he was before he went underground. I brought you along so that you can check to see if he left any breadcrumbs that only you would understand as his closest friend,"
I was speechless, simply watching and taking in the sincerity and seriousness in his eyes that he had allowed himself to reveal to me.
"I told you, malyshka, that I would find your friend. I intend to keep my word. We will locate him."
His confidence was the only form of reassuarance I needed to pull me back together. He had provided I comfort that I didn't know I needed. And despite everything, I was grateful as hell for it.
And so, turning to him with a small, genuine smile, I relayed my true emotion through my gaze. I knew he would see it. He was the most perceptive being I had ever met. And I was glad for it as he granted me a small nod in response before restoring the ever present wall on his features.
Killing him will be difficult but not as impossible as many people believed. As I had believed once...
***