Page 31 of His Sweet Torment
“No, look, Pad, Enver wanted…god, how do I say this? They’ll think you’re dead – hopefully, they’ll charge Ingles with your murder, and this can all go away. But your mother…Enver wanted her to have something. Something to help protect her, you know? I assume you had a will?”
Padme couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable. “So, it’s like he bought me from her?”
“I can see how that might be a concern, or what some people think, but no. Don’t think of it as compensation, thinking of it as a necessity.”
Padme was silent then, and soon they were being boarded on their next flight. Padme almost swooned at the soft bed she was given, and Lisa chuckled as she handed over the Ambien and a glass of water. “Sleep, girl. I have a feeling this will all be over soon.”
Padme fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
When she woke, she looked out of the window and saw land. “Hey, you, I thought I heard you get up.” Lisa poked her head around the seat. “We’re nearly landed.”
“How long have I been out?”
“Almost a day.” Lisa grinned when she saw Padme’s surprise. “Hey, you didn’t miss anything. Except for maybe a really lame in-flight movie.”
Padme rubbed her eyes. “Where are we? What’s next?”
Lisa smiled. “The last leg.”
“Really?” Padme was shocked and delighted, and Lisa laughed. “Really. We have the all-clear. Enver’s private plane is waiting for you at Hong Kong. It’ll take you to where he is.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
Lisa shook her head. “No, I’ll do a bit more traveling with your decoy, really make sure we’re home and clear.”
Padme wanted to cry she was so happy. “I can’t believe we did it. Every step I was waiting for Ingles’ men to catch up on us.”
Lisa nodded somberly. “You weren’t the only one. What I think we forget in this melee, is that he is onlyoneman. He’s the last of the Ingles – if he’s toppled, their whole house of cards falls down and there are plenty of underworld families ready to see that day, believe me. His blind vengeance will mean his demise, Pad, I promise you that. It’s my job to make sure he doesn’t take you and Enver with him.”
Padme regarded her friend with worried eyes. “You will take care of yourself, too, right?”
“You know I will.”
Relieve, Padme grinned. “Because if I end up marrying Enver, I’m going to need a matron of honor.”
“Just don’t expect me to wear a dress.”
“Peach meringue. Eighties’ style.”
“I have a loaded weapon, Kaur.”
They both laughed, and Padme grabbed Lisa in a bear hug. The other woman squeezed her hard. “I’m happy for you, Pad. You both deserve all the happiness.”
Padme’s heart was beating almost out of her chest as the car approached the small house at the far end of the island. After all the shenanigans getting here, in a few short moments, she would finally,finallysee him.
Her legs shook as she got out of the car and then, the door of the house flew open, and there was Enver, all beauty and love, and he was running to her, taking her in his arms. The moment his lips met hers, Padme felt the pain of the last few months fall away. Her cheeks were wet with tears.
“Enver, oh god,Enver.” His arms were tight around her, he gazed deep into her eyes. Time and distance had not made him any less glorious than she remembered. His bright green eyes were soft with love, his dark hair wild about his head, a dark beard on his gorgeous face.
“Il mia amore, il mia amore…” He kissed her again and again until she was breathless and laughing with joy. He swept her up in his arms and carried her inside the house. Padme saw that the silent driver had already brought their cases in and disappeared. She couldn’t stop looking at Enver’s face, touching him, not believing he was real.
Enver strode straight to the bedroom, and she giggled as he laid her on the bed and covered her body with his. “No staff?”
Enver grinned. “Just us,cara mia.God, I’ve missed you.”
She smoothed his curls away from his face. “I love you, Enver Toscano. Promise me we’ll never be apart again.”
“I promise you that, with all my heart.” His hands were at the buttons of her dress, and she smiled as he bent his head to kiss her mouth, her throat, pulling down the lacy cup of her bra to take her nipple into his mouth. “And you should also know, my darling Padme, that I’m not letting you up from this bed for at least the next twenty-four hours.”
