Page 93 of Girth (Marked Skulls MC 1)
He pulled me into his arms and we held each other as tightly as we could.
“I love you, Kennedy Anderson…soon to be Kenni Ferguson,” he said and I laughed.
“I guess it has a ring to it,” I said and finally, a soft smile grazed Nico’s downcast lips.
“We’ll be the same, just with new names,” he said and I nodded my head.
“Of course. Nothing’s going to change us,” I added and we kissed again.
“You should get some sleep, beautiful, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” I heard him whisper in the dark.
Chapter 24
Nico
I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. Under the circumstances, there was no way I could rest. Knowing that there might be people out there who were keeping a watch on the apartment! I didn’t want to give them any opportunity to catch me by surprise.
My phone was blowing up with messages and calls from my dad. I had it on silent so that they didn’t disturb Kennedy’s sleep. According to his texts, he wanted to speak with me. He said he wanted to listen to the plan I’d suggested. He even went so far as to say that he didn’t want to lose his son. He wanted to be a part of his grandchild’s life.
It was too late now.
I needed to get Kennedy out of the country before I could even think of solving the mess we were in. I hadn’t decided yet if I wanted to help my father get out of the problems he’d created for himself. Even if I did, I would have to do it remotely. There was no way I was putting my woman and my child’s life at risk in the meantime.
At three in the morning, I looked through all the windows to make sure there was no surveillance on us. Then I spent the next half hour packing. I didn’t bother with much of my own stuff. Instead, I filled up two bags with things I thought Kennedy might need and stuff she’d bought for the baby.
Then, tiptoeing over to her bedside, I kissed her cheek to wake her.
Kennedy moved and purred. She’d had trouble falling asleep herself, but I held her and spoke to her till she finally drifted away. She needed at least five hours of rest if we were going to make this journey. I was going to keep her healthy and strong, at least for the sake of our child.
“What’s going on?” she whispered, rubbing her eyes sleepily. I’d kept all the lights off in the apartment.
“I’ve packed two bags for us, all you have to do is change and we’ll be ready to go,” I said to her.
She looked over at the clock on her bed-side.
“It’s not even four!” she exclaimed and slowly sat up.
“I know, which is why we should leave now. I’ll drive to the airport. I’ve booked us tickets,” I said and stroked her back.
Kennedy gulped and shook her head.
“When you said morning, I thought in the day. I have to call my parents, I have to see Ava again before we leave,” she argued.
It hurt me to put her through this. I knew she was trying to be brave for my sake, but inside, she was still hurting. In one day, less than twenty-four hours; her whole life and the world she knew was turned upside down.
“Kennedy, you can’t. We can’t risk you seeing Ava again. We have to leave now,” I insisted and crouched down on the floor beside her.
“What about my parents? I need to call them. They’ll be so worried if I just disappear!” she exclaimed and her face was pinched with worry.
“You should text your parents on the way to the airport. Tell them you’re going into witness protection and that you’ll get in touch with them when the coast is clear. After that, we destroy our phones before we get to the airport,” I told her. I’d decided on this plan some time ago. I just never thought I’d be putting it into action.
Kennedy seemed horrified as she listened to me.
“Witness protection? When will I see them again?” she asked.
I helped her out of the bed. I needed her to hurry.
“Can I text Ava too? What if my parents contact the police? Do you think Ava will be safe?” she was full of questions as I pushed her gently towards the bathroom.
“Kennedy, listen to me, calm down,” I grabbed her shoulders and peered into her eyes. “Are you listening to me?”
She nodded her head.
“Give me some time and I’ll fix this. I promise you, we’ll visit Seattle for Christmas next year. You have my word on that. You’re not going to live your life without seeing your family and friends again. Our baby will not grow up clueless about its grandparents,” I tried to be as firm as possible. I was making her a promise that I didn’t know if I could keep. All I knew was that I would try my best to fulfill it.
I would just have to find a way to fix the problem. It was decided. I was going to have to help my father.
My words seemed to relieve Kennedy a little. She nodded her head and then went into the bathroom.
I waited for her at the door and she emerged a few moments later. She’d already changed into the clothes she was wearing the previous day. Other than washing her face, brushing and running her fingers through her long red hair—she’d not wasted time on anything else.
“I’m ready to leave,” she said in a meek voice. I watched her as she placed a hand on her belly protectively. I knew what she was thinking. That if she stepped out of the apartment—she was exposing herself to a host of dangers.
Until we got to Rome, we wouldn’t really be safe.
I grabbed her hand and picked up the bags from the floor. The next few hours were going to be crucial. It would be a test of our strength and our relationship, but I was optimistic that we would get through it.
Then our life in Italy could start afresh.
We left the apartment and on our way down the stairs, Kennedy stopped to look back up.
“Goodbye Seattle,” she said, to nobody or nothing in particular. I could feel my heart breaking. I didn’t know if she would ever be happy again.
Epilogue
Kennedy
Five Months Later
I was holding our baby girl in my arms. After twelve hours of painful labor, I had finally delivered a beautiful healthy child. Avery Martina. I stared into her face. She had her father’s dark hair, they were soft little curls on her head now. Her eyes on the other hand, were exactly like mine…green and wide.
She was a smiling baby. In the past three hours that she was born, she’d cried very little. I could sense that she was going to be a happy cheerful child.
Nico had left the hospital room. He’d gone to make a phone call and I was alone with Avery. He’d spent every moment by my side, refusing to go anywhere. Even though I didn’t have anybody else I knew around me, Nico was enough.
The past five months in Rome had been turbulent but we’d found our moments of happiness. I was clueless in Italy, but thankfully, Nico spoke the language and had distant relations who were willing to help
us out.
We’d made our escape out of America quietly, without any incidents. Now, it was time for us to build a home and a life here from scratch.
As the days went by, I fell more and more in love with Rome. It was a beautiful city steeped in history and culture. It was Nico’s culture, and somehow here, I felt more connected with him. I was immersing myself in a new world and a new language and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.
I cradled Avery in my arms as she giggled blissfully at me.
“You’re going to be fluent in Italian, just like your handsome daddy,” I cooed to her and she giggled some more.
I’d watched Nico these past months, trying hard and working all hours of the day to provide a comfortable life for us. We’d left America with some money, but not enough to live luxuriously here. However, Nico was determined and I was certain that if he set his mind to it—he would be a success.
He’d started working with his cousin in their car dealership business, but Nico didn’t want any favors. He was determined to put in the effort and the hours. He’d already decided that he was going to save enough money to start his own construction business soon. This time, it was going to be fully legitimate and free of any mob violence.
I believed he would. He just needed some time.
Avery giggled again, bursting through my thoughts and I bopped her little button nose tenderly.
I had never felt this happy or content before, than having my baby in my arms. Avery had changed everything and I knew Nico felt it too. I’d seen it in his eyes. Now more than ever, he was going to work his hardest to make sure that Avery had a comfortable life.
The only element of sadness in all of this was that my parents and friends hadn’t seen Avery. The situation was a little better back in Seattle, nonetheless, Nico didn’t want to risk it.
He was working with his father now, only on an advisory level, to help sort out the business. According to Nico, his father had turned a new leaf. Nico’s departure from the family business had challenged him and somehow made him see reason. He was calling truce with his worst enemies, paying his debts and going straight.
