Page 14 of Saved By the Game

“I love everything you bought me. How did you have time to do all of this? How did you know the police would save me from the kidnapping and that I would see your surprise? I can’t believe you planned this after my shopping spree!”

“I’m a praying man, baby. I asked God to rescue you from the kidnapping and bring you back to me. I trusted him and keptfaith in him. God is good because you’re back with me, right where you belong.” He reached down and gave Bella a loving kiss. She lingered in his kiss for a couple of moments longer to cherish it. “Mm, I never thought I would be rescued from the kidnapping or have the chance to feel your lips against mine again. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world now.” She twirled around the room, wrapping herself in the ballons and smelling the roses.

Adonis was smiling from ear to ear. He loved seeing Bella enjoy the beauty of the room and her gifts. In his eyes she deserved the world considering the trauma she endured. All he was focused on was making her forget everything Brian did to her. “Please, get dressed so I can take you out. I’ll wait while you shower and change into the dress. I want you to come out and model it for me.” Bella nodded in agreement. She was all smiles when she was with Adonis. The bodyguards were standing close by the door. Now, two bodyguards were always on duty to protect them. One bodyguard at the door, and another at the end of the hallway. Brian rented out the entire hotel floor, ensuring that no one could walk down the hallway without clearance from his bodyguards.

As Bella was showering, Adonis could smell her alluring fragrance. Her scent was making him eager to have her in his presence, but he didn’t rush her. Enduring the agony of her recovering from the kidnapping gave him more patience. Bella sashayed out of the bathroom in the dress and modeled as he requested. “Yes, baby. You look gorgeous like I knew you would.” He pulled her in close to him and kissed her along her collarbone.

“Baby, I have another surprise for you. Have a seat right quick and let me show you. I’ve been working on thisdevelopment in my free time for the past year. The situation you’ve been dealing with inspired me to want to do more to help. Although I was working on the development before I met you, the purpose of the app was all from your inspiration.” Adonis pulled out his phone to show her the next surprise. “I’ve developed a mobile app for victims of domestic violence. It’s called SOS. Download it to your phone. As you can see the app looks like it’s a game. It’s incognito so the abuser won’t suspect it’s help. Anytime a victim is in a domestic violence situation he or she can push the button in the app, and it will alert the police. The app will keep a log of each abuse situation. Then when it’s time to build a case against the abuser the app log is evidence. What do you think? I hope you like it because you were the inspiration. Also, a famous investor wants to buy the app from me. I plan to give you half of the money from it.”

“I love it.” Tears fell from Bella’s eyes.

“Baby, I didn’t mean to upset you. Why are you crying?”

“This means everything to me. I can’t believe I inspired you to make an app to help other victims.” She then gave Adonis a kiss on the lips. It became more seductive, and he stopped her from going further.

“Um, come on baby. Allow me to show you a fun time in Paris. We can have a night cap. I brought you a new plane ticket, now you’re flying home with me. I’ve already packed our bags with the things I bought you on the shopping spree. Our r early flight home is in the morning.” Adonis shook his head to gather himself. He wanted to make love to Bella right now, but he didn’t because it would’ve been rushed. Plus, she was still in a vulnerable state of mind. He wanted their first time to be one she wouldn’t forget. He took her hand and led her outside.

“Are you okay?” Adonis inquired when they made it outside the hotel.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Bella giggled. “You don’t have to keep asking me. We have security around us. I’m ready to enjoy our night.”

“Good. I just want you to feel safe when you’re with me.” Adonis announced. Since he’s licensed to carry in the U.S. and in Paris. He kept a firm grip on his pistol secured inside his holster. He held Bella’s hand tight as she walked along the Paris streets. “Let’s grab a quick bite to eat before the Olympic celebration starts. I want to sit outside on the patio and dine with you. I know you love French cuisine.. I’ve heard that La Mère Michelle has some good Moules-Frites. The Mussels are cooked in white wine and herbs served with French fries.”

As they sat down to eat Adonis noticed that Bella’s nervousness persisted. He could see that she still couldn’t shake the anxiety her ex had instilled in her. . She was constantly looking over her shoulder as they ate. “Don’t worry about that man. He’s locked up baby. I just want you to relax. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” He grabbed her hand and caressed it to keep her calm.

“I feel like something is in the air. It’s dim and gloomy outside and it’s only six in the evening. I always have a good intuition about things and right now something isn’t right.”

“We can get a table inside the restaurant if that’ll make you more comfortable. I know when to listen to a woman’s discernment.” He summoned the server to get them a table inside the restaurant. “I ordered a bottle of champagne. Please sip some bubbly to take the edge off sweetie.” The server then poured her a glass of champagne. She sipped it slowly as he asked. Adonis could tell her mood lifted with the champagne-she was suddenly perky, chatting brightly as she ate her pasta. The small Italian restaurant had a violinist playing music as they ate dinner. The violinist played a sweet tune and Bella seemed to enjoy it. She swayed her head to the sound of each stroke of the violin while eating her pasta. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your food. Would you like dessert?”

“I’m full now. I don’t think that I can hold anything else down. Plus, I’m still watching my figure. The pasta was already way over my calorie limits.”

Adonis looked her up and down. “Your body is banging to me. I think you’re perfect. Eat a piece of cheesecake with me.” The server placed their cheesecake on the table, along with two small plates. Adonis looked at the plates. He didn’t need them. Instead, he began to spoon feed Bella small pieces of cheesecake. “Mm, it’s so good.” She replied as he fed her. She then returned the favor, and spoon fed him pieces of cheesecake until it was gone.

There was loud music sounding in the streets. It was a parade forming for the Olympic basketball team. “Come on baby, let’s go. We’re about to miss the celebration!” Adonis announced.

He left a couple of hundreds on the table to pay for dinner along with a tip. With a big smile on his face, Adonis grabbed Bella’s hand to join in on the celebration in the Paris streets. People were dancing in the streets as a band marched. Everyone was having a fun time, including Bella. The joy displayed on her face made Adonis happy. The USA Olympic basketball team’s coach stepped up to the parade podium to announce all the players. The crowd gathered around the podium to cheer them on. It was dark and hard to see all the players’ faces. Still, they cheered as each player’s name was called. People beganto push through the crowd to get closer to the team float. The bodyguards stood as close as possible to Bella and Adonis to keep them safe from the crowd.

The crowd moved along and as they moved it became overwhelming for Bella. “I’m ready to go now. This was fun but the crowd is too jam-packed for me.” Bella whispered in Adonis’ ear.

“Okay baby, I understand. We can start walking towards the car.” He grabbed her hand, and the bodyguards followed. A man in all black began to walk toward Adonis. The man reached in his pocket and took out a gun and started to shoot at Adonis. “Get down! Everybody, get down on the ground!” The bodyguards grabbed Bella and Adonis to shield them from the bullets. Shots continued to blast towards Adonis and Bella until police sirens were heard. Paris police sped down the street. The shooter took off running. No one was hit. Police swarmed the scene, stationed at every gate and along the field’s edge, their presence a wall between the crowd and the players. Sirens still echoed in the distance. But despite the overwhelming show of force, the gunman had slipped through-gone before anyone knew where to look.

“Are y’all okay? Did either of you get hit?” Torrin, the bodyguard, asked. Adonis looked over and saw that Bella was crying while praying. He began to stroke her hair and console her in his arms.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you out tonight after all you’ve been through. I just wanted to show you a fun time on our last night in Paris. We’re going back to the room now. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I believe someone was trying to kill us. God had a hedge of protection around us. I thank God he kept us safe,and we’re still alive.” She responded while motioning her hands up to the sky.

“Well, baby they’re going to need to try harder. I told you that I’d protect you when you’re with me. I stand on the promises I make to you.” He assured her, then kissed her softly. The driver took them back to the hotel in a heavily tinted car. No one could see inside the car even with x-ray vision.

Although, Adonis was assuring Kybella she was safe, he feared the killer was still looking for them. He texted his FBI friend to help to investigate the shooting through Legal Attaché offices in embassies for coordination with foreign security services. The killer was clothed in all black, but he could remember his height. The guy was very tall as he only looked about five feet and ten inches tall. If needed, he could easily pick him out in a line-up. Adonis waited patiently for the FBI agent to respond to his text message. Finally, the screen lit up. A single line appeared:I’ll get right on it.He released a heavy sigh of relief after reading the text. After thinking about the situation, Adonis sent another text to the agent.

Adonis: I think you should investigate to see if Brian Porter has any connection with the shooter. Mr. Porter is currently in Paris jail and he was a dangerous man.

Adonis was still uncertain; he had no idea who the shooter could be. A knot of unease tightened in his chest as he considered alerting the hotel staff. What if the killer was already at the hotel or somewhere near it, waiting for the right moment to strike? Or maybe he was on the run, desperate and terrified, trying to vanish from Paris before anyone caught up to him.

∞∞∞

Back in Dallas

---