Page 23 of The Runaway Bride

We sit quietly, both pondering onour situation. “Let’s continue playing nice but as you just said, Tia, let’sfind out as much as we can before we plan the escape.”

“Yeah, I agree. But I would haveliked a taste of that man. Honestly, he’s so hot I could feel my panties melt.”Tia leans her head back, resting it but it’s the look on her face that has meshaking my head. She’s obviously thinking filthy thoughts, and I don’t want toknow what they are.

Later, we are both becoming boredafter having a shower, doing our hair and choosing what to wear from theselection of clothing in the walk-in closet. A tap on the door before it opensand a smallish man, well, compared to the rest at least states it’s time forlunch.

“Who are you then?” Tia asks.

“My name’s Tiny as far as you areconcerned.”

Oh dear, he’s a bit of a tetchyone. I remember him from the room when we were told about the engagement andTia’s upcoming marriage.

As we reach the entrance hall Ihear my brother’s voice, and spinning around I see he is standing next to Nicowith a damn smile on his face. I don’t stop to think, I storm over to him andpoke his chest with a finger as I snap at him. “Oh, so you are all friended upwith this one, hey BROTHER. Sold your sister, just like my father did. I’m morethan pissed with you Alex, and where is my TRUCK?”

Yeah, I lost it, and the look onmy brother’s face is shocking. He is brewing with anger after I called him outlike my father. “Don’t you ever say that to me again, Elli, or you and I aregoing to have a huge problem. Your truck is here, parked in the garage for whenyou are in a position to use it. As for friended up, well yes, he is my boss,he runs the firm, you know this. But Elli, he is a good man, as good as he canbe with the life he has to lead. He will be a good husband to you, and you willbe a good Don’s wife. You need to pull up your big girl panties and step up tothe plate.”

Oh, he is an asshole, I neverquite realized before. I don’t stop and think I swing my fist and land a punchon his jaw. “Asshole,” I snarl as I walk away, knowing he’ll not retaliatebecause he would never strike a woman unless it was a last resort, and beingthe Don’s intended means he can’t risk lashing out.

Tia is standing next to Tiny withher mouth dropped open in shock. But as I reach her she shakes herself intomovement, tucks her arm into mine and we head into the dining room. We can hearmurmuring behind us but we are taking no notice of what’s being said.

Taking a seat at the dining tablewe both sit quietly and wait for what is going to happen next. Not expectingthe man called Bruno, Tia’s intended, to walk in and take Tia to the other sideof the table and sit her beside him.

Tia has one eyebrow raised athim, and I’m inwardly smiling because I have a feeling she is going to reactany moment.

Standing, Tia walks back aroundto my side of the table and takes the seat next to mine again. Bruno, howeversighs before coming around and picking her up to carry her back to her seat.

Nico, Alex, and the one namedAeron walk in and are about to take seats. None saying a word, but I can seethey are not worried about the altercation I had with my brother.

I turn to look at Tia who slidesdown and under the table. I look at Bruno who is more than a little shocked atthis point. But when Tia pops up from where she has scrambled under the tableto take the seat next to me once more, I giggle, and it turns quickly intolaughter.

The room erupts when Bruno againstands ready to come around to grab Tia, but this time she grabs a knife fromthe table and takes a stance ready to do whatever she thinks is necessary. I,of course, as her sister take a knife too and stand next to her.

“Bruno, sit, we don’t need shitgoing south at this time. But you know you have to get this under control atsome stage,” Nico drawls before picking up his glass which is filled with icedwater.

Both Tia and I head slowly to thedoor of the dining room ready to escape but Tiny is standing in the doorwayblocking our exit. “Move,” I state, but he remains solidly in the way.

“Don’t do it, Elli,” mytraitorous brother says, but I can hear the amusement in his voice.

I throw a punch which Tiny dodgeseasily, but I drop sweeping a leg out to crash against his shin. He, howevergrabs the leg and holds firm. I spin onto my back and throw my other leg uptowards his face. And again, he grabs the leg. But what he didn’t expect wasTia jumping onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist and shoving afinger into each of his nostrils. She yanks back, he lets go of my legs, and Igrab Tia before we make a run for the bedroom.

Once we are safely inside andhave slammed the door and locked it behind us, Tia grins, takes a gun out ofher pocket and giggles. Yeah, this is a move we have practiced and it workedwell, apart from Tia lifting the gun. That is a new move.

“We are sticking to this bedroom,aren’t we?” Tia asks me as she is studying the gun in her hand.

“Yes, we are not being separatedif we can help it. We need to stay together as we are stronger together. Yourman seems determined now to get you on his side,” I grin, “I liked your move,you know, going under the table instead of around it.”

“Yeah, he didn’t expect that, didhe?”

The next hour I have Tia takingthat weapon apart and putting it back together. Now it is a Glock 17, which hasseventeen rounds that we can practice with. We’ll have to find more ammunitionwhen we can. But for now, we’ll have to make do.

Opening the window, I point at atree across the side of the lawned area of the yard. “Try and hit that, Tia.”

Tia fires and it misses by quitea way. I stand behind her and hold her hands in the right position. She firesagain and we see dust fly from the side of the tree. Men start appearing in thegarden below us, all with weapons out and ready for whatever is happening. Wequickly close the window and giggle as we watch the men search the garden forany trespassers.

“This could be fun,” Tia murmurs,and I nod in agreement because I think this could be good. Give them all therunaround so they are concentrating on something other than us, giving us timeto skedaddle.

Chapter 16

Nico

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