Chapter 5 - Touchdown in Rome
The wheels of the private jet—because, as I later learned, Alexander owned the airline and had simply hitched a ride on a commercial route to prove a point to his board—touched down at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.
My stomach tied itself into agonizing knots.
Through the window, I could see the terminal. I also saw two flashing blue lights near the jet bridge.
"They're here," I panicked, grabbing Maya's hand. "The police. They're waiting."
Maya started to cry, sensing my fear.
"Sit down, Lily," Alexander ordered calmly. He handed Leo to a waiting nanny who had magically appeared from the staff cabin, then stood up, adjusting his immaculate suit.
"But they'll take us!"
Marcus stepped into the aisle, blocking my view of the window. "Nobody takes what belongs to Mr. Sterling, kid. Relax."
The cabin door opened. A rush of warm Italian air flooded in.
Instead of walking down the jet bridge into the terminal where the authorities were waiting, Alexander gestured for us to follow him down a set of private stairs to the tarmac.
Two sleek, black SUVs were waiting directly on the runway.
An Italian police officer in uniform approached, looking stern, holding a clipboard. He spoke rapidly in Italian to Alexander, pointing at Maya and me.
I didn't speak Italian, but I knew the word Interpol.
Alexander didn't flinch. He responded in flawless, rapid-fire Italian. His voice was smooth, authoritative, and carried the weight of a man who owned half the buildings in the city.
The officer shook his head, insisting.
Alexander simply pulled out his phone, made a ten-second call, and handed the phone to the officer.
The officer's face went pale. He listened, nodded furiously, muttered 'Si, Mi Scusi' repeatedly, and handed the phone back. He then saluted Alexander and practically ran back to his patrol car.
"What did you do?" I asked, utterly bewildered.
"I spoke to the Minister of the Interior," Alexander said casually, opening the door to the SUV. "He agreed that a noisy airport terminal is no place to process two exhausted children. Get in."
I hesitated. I was a runaway. I had learned never to trust adults. But I looked at Leo, sleeping peacefully in his car seat inside the SUV, and I looked at Alexander, who hadn't raised his voice at me once.
I lifted Maya into the car and climbed in after her.
As the convoy sped away from the airport, bypassing all security and customs checkpoints, I realized I had traded one dangerous situation for an entirely unknown one.
"Where are we going?" I asked, clutching the leather armrest.
"To my estate," Alexander replied, checking an iPad. "You and Maya need baths, hot food, and proper beds. And my legal team needs time to build a cage for your uncle Richard."
May you like
I stared at the ancient, beautiful ruins of Rome flying past the tinted windows.
For the first time in a year, I didn't feel like a prey animal running for its life. I felt safe. And that terrified me more than anything.
