Forever, Ever...? Part:2

“Isn’t that what monsters like you do kill innocent people who get in your way?”

“I am sorry for your loss Tara I really am and contrary to what you think I liked the old man. As for the men I killed the reason their dead now is because they were kidnapping and trafficking foster kids. I’m sure as someone who dedicates your life to protecting them you can understand why that shit couldn’t fly.”

“You’re such a fucking liar, you’re just a damn monster who doesn’t care who he hurts. Why should I believe you after you spent the past three months hunting me down like a fucking dog?”

“I wouldn’t have needed to hunt you down if you would have just accepted my request to join me for dinner. But I never killed your friends if your sure someone might have hurt them, I’ll hunt them down and drag them back myself I promise you that Tara.” He says looking at me with an intensity that was beyond my expectation.

“So, you really didn’t do anything to Stella’s car to make them crash?” “Of course, not sweetheart I was with you the whole night and the only men with me were My friends Steel and Shadow that you met earlier.” He says reaching up to brush something off my face. “Not that it matters but as you saw for yourself, when I want someone dead, I damn well make sure they are. With car accidents there’s still a chance of survival, which means more mess for me to clean up later. I got the commissioner, mayor and the governor in my back pocket but it’s still a pain having to deal with.” Did he just say the governor? if I thought I was screwed before I had no Idea what I was now.

“And you’re really not going to kill me?”

“If I wanted to you dead you would have already been long ago sweetheart. See as far as my uncle and the rest of the family know you’re my future wife which makes you off limits to everyone so long as you’re with me. See Tara when I claimed you, I put my life on the line because only family is allowed in these tunnels anyone who breaks that rule dies and we don’t make exceptions.” He put his life on the line for me and I accused him of killing my friends. But either way he was a still a killer I had witnessed that my damn self.

“So those guys from earlier really were sex traffickers?”

“Yes, my guys have been looking into the missing persons cases that James brought to my attention that night at the banquet. Honestly if it wasn’t for him, asking for my help I don’t think we would have caught them before they had a chance to take off with the girls.”

“That’s what he talked to you about that night he wanted help with finding the missing kids.”“Actually, he wanted me to track down all the missing people from the southside but we only found thirteen girls. There are a lot more still out there but I’m still working on looking for the rest.”

But he said you were dangerous so why did he go to you and not the police?”

“He said the police weren’t doing anything about it, maybe James understood that sometimes it takes a murder to deal with a real monster.”

I take in his words knowing James that was exactly why he reached out to Gio he wasn’t exactly a fan of the cops in the cops he thought they were all corrupt and lazy.

“That sounds like something he would do James cared about the foster kids just as much we did it was the main reason; he came to work for us. He told us he had saw some horrible things happen to runaways in the city and he wanted to find a way to help keep them safe. Don’t get me wrong I still don’t agree with him reaching out to the mob for help but I understand why he did.”

“He was a good man he definitely was gone to soon. I’m sure he would have done a lot more. He still is even in death he found a way to help them whether you approve or not.”

I sigh in relief knowing the truth about James and Stella even if it still hurt knowing they were gone but it gave me peace knowing that Gio wasn’t responsible. He had been helping James honoring his wish to find the missing children of this city even in his death. He hadn’t even hesitated to make sure I was safe even at the risk of his own life. I step back walking around him as I make my way back to the front of the bus having a newfound respect for him. As I rush over to the windows to see if anyone is still around. I scan the tunnels seeing all the other buses are gone and only Steel, Shadow and the driver are standing outside the bus discussing something. Relieved that the army of men were gone. I take another quick scan of the area to prepare for my escape. I couldn’t wait to get back home and put this mess behind me finally.

“What are you doing Tara?” Gio says after coming over and resting his arm on the panel over the window just above my head. He’s standing so close behind me I could feel his breath on the back of my neck, and it sets my nerves on end sending a signal to my now vibrating clit.

“I’m checking to see if anyone is still out there so I can head home.” I say still scanning the tunnels for any hidden bodyguards.

“Thank you for helping me out earlier I really didn’t know anyone else would be down here and I’m sorry for accusing you of killing my friends.”

“You’re welcome and it was my pleasure to help you out.” He says observing me curiously

“I’m sorry you had to lie to your family to help me out. Maybe you shouldn’t have said you know me it’s just going to cause more trouble for you once I disappear right? Honestly, I'm surprised they bought that you wanted to marry me.” I ramble on nervously becoming all to aware of his hard body pressed up against me.

“I don’t see why its not like I haven’t made my intentions clear. Besides I’m the head of the family it takes a lot to convince someone to doubt me.” He says as he leans in closer to me his breath tickling my ear. I clear my throat before I look over my shoulder to face him and ask.

“So, how long do I have to get out of town before you tell them the truth. Or will they come after me the minute they find out should I start packing now.

“Tara, I already told you already, you’re my fiancé so long as your mine then your safe.”

I slide away from the window needing to put some distance between us. Sure, I feared the man, but I wasn’t a nun and to tell the truth. It had been a while since a man that damn fine was within breathing distance of me. I hadn’t been laid since I caught my ex-Keith cheating on me with his neighbor, he would go over her place to borrow sugar all the time. There was not that much need for sugar in the world to stop by every other day, He had a job why couldn’t he get his own damn sugar.

“Maybe I didn’t explain the seriousness of our current circumstance clearly but allow me to correct any misunderstanding you may have. From today on Tara as far as the family knows we are engaged. Which means as the new Don of the Berlusconi family it is considered an insult not to invite the other Dons to my wedding formally. It would be considered an act of disrespect and could possibly lead to a war. So not marrying me isn’t an option.” He says seeming to watch me closely for my response.

“Fuck!” I whisper in a panic. “So, there’s no way out of this if I don’t marry you, we could both die?” He nods in response with a look on his face as if to say duh. “Ok…ok.” I say more to myself as the wheels in my head start to turn. Running my hands over my face as I try desperately to come up with a plan. It was not until I stopped to turn and look at Gio that I realized I was pacing.

“How about we pretend like were engaged for a while? We just act like we're together for a while and then you break it off with me like you changed your mind I'll take off and they'll never hear from me again.” I say my mind working at a million miles a minute I continue when he remains silent. “That way you can go back to your real-life after all your doing this to keep me alive which thanks by the way. But I know girls like me…” I say gesturing my hands down my body then gesturing towards him. “Don't get married to a guy like you with your family ties,” I’m sure that my plan is solid and a guaranteed solution to our little marriage problem as I quickly check the window again for any possible stragglers as I get ready to take off and start planning for my new life on the run, at least that is until I see Gio’s face and did I say he was scary before he was walking toward me and his face was petrifying now.

"Wait...what the Fuck did you say?" he said zoning in on me and if looks could kill, I’m pretty sure I’d be six feet under right now.