6: The real Richard is here again

IN MIAMI...

IN FRONT OF LAURA'S APPARTMENT

BRIAN P.O.V.

I stopped my car in front of Laura's apartment and got out of it.

It was dark, but I couldn't wait until tomorrow.

I'm sorry, boss.

I went to the door and knocked.

As I guessed, no one opened up.

Laura was not here.

I went to her car and tried to open it.

"What? But ... how is this possible? She wouldn't ... she wouldn't leave her car like that."

ON THE PLANE

LAURA P.O.V.

He took my hand and squeezed it.

"You thought you'd be able to hit me?" he laughed. "You're very predictable, sweetie."

He was literally breathing down my neck. He was looking me in the eyes with his typical gaze as he squeezing my hand.

He was breathing hard, which made my body heavier, to take in more air.

I hated my body for reacting that way to his.

After a few seconds, he let go of my hand.

I looked around. I saw the tray and took the glass full of freshly squeezed orange juice. I poured it out and broke the rim of the glass.

I threatened him with it.

It was the only "weapon" I had.

"Now listen to me very well! You will tell your people that the plan is being canceled. That you are releasing me. I will return to Miami and we will forget about all of this. Is that clear?" I was waving the glass at him, as I talking.

"And what are you going to do with this glass? Are you going to cut me to pieces?" he laughed. "Come on then. I've already told you, you're not going home."

I couldn't believe he was so fearless. I was standing with a broken glass in front of him.

I could hurt his perfectly sculpted face.

"Come on, sweetie. Put the glass down. You don't want to die, do you?" he looked at me calmly. "If you want to live, you will put the glass down, go to the bathroom and get ready to land. If not, my people will kill you in a few minutes. So ... you have to decide. The cards are in your hands, baby. What choice will you make? "

Damn it. He was good at convincing. And he was right. If I hurt or even killed him, his people would kill me.

I wanted to live.

I wanted to put him behind bars, break up his whole gang.

If I attacked him now with this fucking glass, I would accomplish nothing but my own death.

I dropped the glass down.

"Good girl : ) ." he smirked. "I hope what happened, won't happen again, because next time I may not be in a good mood."

I nodded.

"And now get ready." he opened the door and turned to me before leaving. "And clean up that mess. I'd make Nicholas do it, but because you did it on purpose, you'll fix the mess by yourself." he winked at me and closed the door.

IN MIAMI

IN FRONT OF LAURA'S APARTMENT 

BRIAN P.O.V.

Unlocked? Her car was unlocked?

To let her car unlocked...this was unusual for Laura.

We were detectives.

We always locked our cars.

She must have been attacked.

Exactly.

Maybe she had been attacked right here.

I needed to know what had happened.

I called our boss.

"Boss, come right to Laura's apartment. I want to show you something."

ON THE PLANE

INSIDE THE LAURA'S BATHROOM 

LAURA P.O.V.

I washed my face and neck with lukewarm tap water.

I wanted to get rid of every touch and breath of Richard.

I started thinking about my boss and my mission.

He didn't know I was here.

I had hoped to persuade Richard to return my phone, but it was almost impossible.

At least for now.

The good news was that I had a tracking device that I turned on.

I was hoping my boss would see it sooner and find out where I was.

We were going to put him in jail. We were going to break him in every way possible.

I just didn't know when.

......

RICHARD VALENTINO P.O.V.

I was sitting on my seat, thinking about what I would do with her.

"You're thoughtful." John came to me. "You think of that woman, don't you?"

"She is such a bitch. She gets on my nerves." I began to explain.

He laughed lightly.

"What did she do this time?"

"She tried to kill me with a glass full of orange juice. Poured it out and pointed the glass at me." I rolled my eyes.

This woman was a bold and rebellious.

It made me nervous.

John started laughing, covering his mouth. 

"What exactly are you laughing at? I could be dead now." I said.

"No, you couldn't. We both know that very well. It's funny that she tried at all. No one else had gone against you like that before."

He was right. Only she had dared.

And that annoyed me.

"I have to get that audacity out of her."

"You're Richard Valentino. I'm sure you'll put her in her place." John winked at me.

Exactly. Well said. 

"Be careful, Laura. Because when I'm done with you, you will be a completely different person."

IN MIAMI, FLORIDA

BRIAN P.O.V.

My boss got out of the car and headed for me.

"Boss, thank God you're finally hear." I started explaining. "When I came I found Laura's car unlocked, she wouldn't leave it like that." I hurried to tell him everything. "I think she's in danger ..."

My boss interrupted me.

"Brian ... Laura is moving towards Italy."

That surprised me.

"So ... so the mission is going well?"

My boss sighed.

"I don't know ... she didn't call me, she turned on her tracking device. Which might mean she doesn't have a phone."

"Which might mean she's in danger." I continued his thought.

"We don't know how the things are. The good news is that she's traveling to Italy." he said, looking at me seriously. "I want you to go to Italy with the next possible flight. I want you to be close to her if she needs your help."

ON THE PLANE

LAURA P.O.V.

"Are you ready?" Richard entered without even knocking.

"Yes ... what should I do?" I looked at him. "I mean...."

"Haven't you flown before?" he looked at me in surprise.

It was true ... I hadn't flown before. Never. I was a detective only in Miami. I hadn't even left the United States until now.

"What?" I laughed pretentiously. "Of course I've flown before."

I hoped he would believe me.

"You are trying to fool me?" he laughed. "But you can't. You're not a good liar." he winked at me.

"You compensate for both of us." I looked at him. "I am not like you, I don't like to deceive people."

Richard looked at me but didn't answer as I expected him to.

"We'll land in any minute." he pointed, looking at one of the windows on the plane. "I've always liked to watch when we land. I feel like am I someone else. I like the peace here...up.“

"I guess you feel like the king of the world?"

"Rather like an insignificant, petty man."

What was that? Did Richard Valentino himself feel insignificant at least once in his life?

Was there anything human in him?

No. Of course not. He was just trying to lie me again. But I wouldn't believe a man like him.

Focus, Laura! You have a mission. You have to make him believe you.

"It must be nice ..." I said softly. "I mean... yes, it's nice. I feel it every time I fly with plane."

He smirked.

"Come on, sunshine. " he held out his hand to me. "You shouldn't miss this opportunity out just because of your stubbornness. It's not a big deal that you haven't flown before. You're here now. So feel the moment."

I watched his hand waiting for my answer.

I didn't want to show weakness at all, but I took his hand.

I did not like this method of work. I've been undercover before, but I've never done anything like this.

„It‘s happening. We are landing!“

I couldn't take my eyes off the window. I smiled, watching how small the world looked from here. 

It was growing by every second.

"Do you like it?" Richard asked me.

"Are you kiddning me? It's so beautiful ... I have no words to describe it."

He smiled slightly.

IN MIAMI

AT THE AIRPORT 

BRIAN P.O.V.

The tracking device said Laura was already in Italy. It was time for me to go, too.

I wouldn't leave her alone with this geek.

"One ticket to Italy, please." I told to the lady at the box office.

IN ITALY

AT THE AIRPORT 

LAURA P.O.V.

We landed at a private airport.

Of course.

I immediately felt the Italian air, the Italian atmosphere.

It was so magical.

"Let's go."

"Richard ... why don't you let me in here? I'll walk around Italy and come back on the next flight to Miami. Please ..."

He laughed.

"Listen, you'll either get in the car alone or I'll get you in. Choose quickly."

There he was. The real Richard.