Page 3 of The Runaway Bride

Stepping into the office, Inotice my mother sitting looking at her hands, which are clasped in her lap.She looks like she’d rather be anywhere than here. This is not a good sign, nota good sign at all!

“Take a seat, Elliana.” Fatherpoints at the chair in front of his desk while looking at me with his blankface. That face tells me I’m not going to like what he’s going to say. I take abreath as I take the seat, then give him my attention.

“As you know, Nico Vincholettineeds a wife. Varina ran away and died in that horrendous accident. I’m sureyou remember all of that happening over six months ago.”

He calmly waits for me torespond, but I don’t respond, and look at Mother when she tuts under herbreath, while giving me a side-eye to respond to Father.

“I remember that happening,” Ireply, but say no more than is necessary.

“An arrangement has been madebetween Nico Vincholetti and yourself. The engagement will be announced in fourweeks, and the marriage in six months.”

Jumping to my feet, I don’t stopto think as I snarl at my father. “You sold me to the Don… for what, morepower? You are already an underboss, what more power do you want?”

Mother jumps out of her seat butcontinues to look at her feet. Father, however, rushes around the desk andslaps me across the face, making my head whip to the side.

I make not a sound. I’m awarethat my father sees women as nothing more than commodities, but what he isdoing is selling his daughter, but to gain what?

“You promised me when I was ayoung girl that you would never arrange a marriage for me. You would allow meto find someone to love and cherish. Yet, here you are abusing me for your owngain. Shame on you Father, and shame on you Mother for allowing it.” Beforeeither of them can respond, I run from the office and directly to my room.

I know now is the time to get thehell out of Dodge, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. My grandmother hadgiven me money for birthdays, and on other occasions she would tell me to saveit in a safe place because one day I may need it. Now, I know why she said thatto me, and if she’d still been alive I would have gone to her, but she diedthree years ago, and I miss her greatly.

An hour later, I have collectedall the cash I’ve stashed away in different places. There is quite a fewthousand, and that’s not counting the money in the bank account I opened whenmy grandmother died. She had made me promise I would do that, and I, of course,fulfilled that wish. But it seems my grandmother knew her son better than Iknew him as my father. I never thought he would go back on his word, but I’llnever trust him, or my mother again.

I keep quiet as I pack a backpackwith jeans, t-shirts, underwear, toothpaste and brush, and a hairbrush. I’m notsure I can carry more than I have packed tightly into this bag, so I lookaround and decide it is best to leave everything else here. I will have totravel light, and without identity, because if I use anything with my name onit, my father will be able to trace me quickly.

A light tapping on the door hasme gritting my teeth. My mother quietly speaks through the door. “Elli, openthe door and let me explain.”

Oh, I’ll never allow you toexplain anything to me again, is what I’m thinking, and I ignore her.

“Elli, I know you are upset, butI need to speak to you about this.”

I can hear her speaking tosomeone, saying that I won’t open the door, and she’s right I won’t open thedoor to her. I’m waiting for darkness to fall, then I’m out of here.

“Mother, leave her alone. Ellineeds time to think about what she has been told. You married Father for love,yet you are agreeing to have your daughter given away as a bargaining tool. So,I have to agree with Elli. What is Father getting out of this shit of a deal?”

Hearing my brother, Alexander,who is three years older than my nineteen, saying he thinks this is shit has mesmiling. He’s my hero and always has been, but I know he has no power to stopthis from happening.

They both walk away from my doora few minutes later, and I set the alarm on my phone to vibrate. I need enoughsleep before I make a dash out of here and out of the state. The further away Iget, the better, and I need to keep my head down, out of the mainstream oftravel.

Waking quickly to my phonevibrating, I switch it off and head into the bathroom. I wash up quietly, anddress in black skinny jeans, black t-shirt, and black leather jacket. I pushinto the back of my walk-in closet and find the boots that I have for hiking.They are leather and similar to ankle biker boots. They are sturdy andcomfortable, and as I don’t know how long I’ll be walking, I need comfort orI’ll end up limping.

Unlocking the bedroom door, Icheck to make sure no one is around before I quickly and quietly head to thestairs, where I again pause and listen.

Nearly screaming when a handcovers my mouth, I flick my eyes up and see Alex, my brother, and he’s givingme a shake of the head to be quiet. I nod that I understand, and he removes hishand. Whispering to me, Alex states, “Follow me.”

I follow him down the staircaseas quietly as I can, and through to the office Alex uses. He closes the doorbehind him, then turns and hugs me to him.

“I’m sorry, Elli. But listen, I’mgoing to give you some cash, and a card that is in my false name. You know theone I mean?” Alex is bending down and looking me in the eye. I give him a nod,then whisper, “Roger Dalglish-Harriman.”

“Good girl, that’s the one. I’mgiving you a card with that name. Use it whenever you need more than the cashyou have on you. Go to the park on Hellman Street, and you will see a FordRanger pickup truck. Take that, here is the key. I have placed bedding andthings in the back, in case you have to hide anywhere. You’ll at least be ableto sleep in the bed of the truck, or lock yourself in the cab. Either way,you’ll get some rest. Get as far away as you can as quickly as you can,” givingme a hug, and kissing me on the forehead, he continues, “Here is a burnerphone, only use it to contact me, and I mean contact me every Monday withoutfail. Eleven in the evening, and I’ll make sure I’m away from everyone to takethe call.”

“Thank you, Alex. Don’t getcaught, please. I’ll be careful, and I’ll make sure to keep you informed thatI’m okay.”

“Okay, I’m going to distract theguards at the gate while you get over the wall by the old apple tree. You knowhow to do that and get the hell gone. But know I love you, Elli.” Alex hugs meone more time before walking out of the office, quietly closing the door behindhim.

After tucking everything Alexgave me into the pocket of the backpack, I open the window nearest to the appletree Alex wants me to head for, and wait until I hear no movement from theguards. I hear Alex speaking so quickly throw out my backpack and climb out ofthe office window. Grabbing the bag I quickly run to the tree, climb it withthe backpack on my back and drop over the wall.

On the other side of the wall, Ilook around before running for the park as fast as I can, and seeing the blacktruck, I head directly to it. I grab the key from the backpack and make myescape. I’m thankful that I was allowed to learn to drive, and that was Alex’sdoing. Without his support it would have never happened.

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