The Don’s Soulmate

40. Ettore

Chapter 40

Ettore

Carlotta lies curled against me, her head nestled on my chest as my fingers trace lazy circles along her spine. The cabin is quiet, filled only with the sounds of our breathing and the crackling fireplace.

After two weeks in hiding, a deep familiarity has settled over us. The need to constantly watch over our shoulders has faded, replaced by the comfort of each other's arms. I don’t know how long this can last, but I pray it’s forever.

One morning, bored out of our minds, I take Carlotta for a walk through the woods, showing her the plants and birds. Another evening, we try our hand at woodcarving. One evening, Carlotta asks if she can learn to light the fire. I watch with pride as she stirs the dwindling embers, her green eyes reflecting the flickering flames. The cabin is quiet, save for the crackle of burning wood and our steady breaths. Today marks three weeks of us being holed up in here.

I like how our life is shaping up. In the morning, I go chop wood, while Carlotta makes breakfast. In the afternoons, we whip up lunch together before going to soak at the lake nearby. The evenings are spent making love, drinking wine, eating leftovers.

In a way, it seems like a hedonistic escape. But what choice do we have when the world is at our heels and this happens to be our only place of solace?

"Time seems to pass so quickly when I'm with you," Carlotta says softly, breaking the silence.

I reach over and pull her to me, wrapping my arm around her waist. "I know what you mean. It's hard to believe how much has changed since we first met."

She leans into me, resting her head on my chest, and I can't help but think of how perfectly she fits against me as if she were made just for me. But I worry. How soon before she gets sick of this life?

And whatever the hell can I do then? Perhaps it’s time to carve out some hours, to make a plan, to give her more and give her better.

One Sunday, I wake up later than usual. I was up all night, selling some crypto to go to an offshore account in the Bahamas. Now, if I find a way out of the country, we could be at a safe haven.

I walk into the kitchen and stand at the door, watching her dig into a simmering pot with the spoon. Her hair is up in a floral hair tie, and her feet are void of shoes. Her dress, all fluttery and sweet, makes her look like the prettiest woman in the world.

"Buongiorno tesoro,” - Good morning, sweetheart - I say, walking up behind her, putting my arms around her waist. She cranes her neck to kiss me on the cheek.

“Good morning,” she sings like a bird. “Here, taste this,” she passes the spoon to me. The sauce is absolute perfection.

“We’re lucky we have tomatoes growing in the garden,” she murmurs. “So fresh.”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumble, reluctantly pulling away since she’s shoving me off. When she’s busy, I know she hates being disturbed. She pours the sauce over a tray filled with eggs and vegetables, then pops it in the oven.

I watch her delicately pour two cups of coffee, and then she comes sits next to me. Finally! There’s nothing I like more than to have her complete, unwavering attention.

"Hey, love," Carlotta says, suddenly serious. "We're almost out of food. We can't stay cooped up in this cabin forever."

I furrow my brow, well aware of the danger that lurks outside. "I know, but going to a store is risky. If someone recognizes us, we'll have more than just hunger to worry about."

Carlotta looks at me, concern etched across her beautiful face. Her soft-spoken nature belies a fierce determination, and I can see her mind working to find a solution. She's been my rock through all of this, and I can't imagine facing the chaos without her by my side.

"Maybe we could go to a small shop somewhere close to here, where nobody knows us?" she suggests hesitantly.

It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than nothing. The danger of discovery is ever-present, but there's no denying the urgency of our situation. We can't survive on love alone.

"Alright," I agree reluctantly. "But we have to be careful. I’ll do some research and see what’s nearby, but for a couple of days, we need to manage with what we have. You see, I’m almost out of cash and we can’t use our credit cards or it can be traced to our location. I’ll have to see if I can get some cash from somewhere with crypto.”

As I mull over the risks of venturing out to a store, Carlotta's eyes suddenly light up with an idea. "Ettore, I have some gold jewelry I’m wearing,” she shows me her necklace, and a few rings she has on. “We could sell it off? And while you figure out all that stuff, why don't we go fishing? To that lake we go to? We can catch our own food while we figure things out."

Her suggestions catch me off guard, but I can't help but admire her resourcefulness. Selling the gold would be enough to last us another month or two. Fishing would at least buy us some time to plan our next move.

"Alright," I agree, my voice a mix of reluctance and admiration. "Let's give it a try."

We gather some basic fishing gear from the cabin and make our way down to the lake, the sun casting warm rays upon our backs. The water is crystal clear, reflecting the sky like a flawless mirror. When we settle on to the shore, I marvel at how perfect this moment is.

"Have you been fishing often?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yes. Often with my brother when we were kids," I reply, memories of simpler times flooding back. "But it's been years."

"Then let me show you how it's done," she says playfully, casting her line with a fluid motion. Her confidence is infectious, making me forget my troubles for just a moment.

As we sit side by side, our lines dancing in the water, I find myself entranced by her laughter and the way her eyes crease when she smiles. She hooks a fish, squealing with delight as she reels it in.

"Look, Ettore! I caught one!" she exclaims, holding up her prize triumphantly.

"Beginner's luck," I tease, secretly impressed by her skill.

"Maybe so, but it looks like I'm going to be feeding both of us tonight," she retorts, flashing me a mischievous grin.

"Darling, don't be too sure about that," I say, feeling the tug on my line as a fish takes the bait. With a surge of determination, I reel it in, the fish putting up a valiant fight. When it finally emerges from the water, Carlotta applauds and cheers for me, her excitement genuine and contagious.

"See? I told you I still got it," I boast, unable to hide a grin.

"Alright, Ettore, you win this round," she concedes, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

By the time the sun begins to dip below the horizon, we pack up our gear and make our way back to the cabin, our catch in tow. Today was the most perfect day I’ve had in years. The shared experience of fishing together has lightened our spirits, that’s for sure.

But, like with all things beautiful, they must come to an end. While Carlotta is busy looking around, I keep my eyes straight ahead, and what I see jolts me on my steps.

"Carlotta," I say, my voice low and I grip her hand to hold her in place, "do you see that?"

She follows my gaze, her eyes narrowing as they settle on a group of men near the edge of the property. They're trying to blend in with the trees, but their dark suits and deliberate movements betray them. I peer closer, and see some movement inside the cottage through the windows we left open.

"Who are they?" she whispers, fear creeping into her voice.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath. "They're my father's men. They must have tracked my call when I contacted him. I’m guessing they’re here to bring me back."

We crouch down behind some bushes, assessing the situation. My heart races, and I can tell Carlotta is just as scared as I am. Her hand finds mine, and the warmth of her touch brings me a small measure of comfort amidst the chaos.

"Looks like we're outnumbered, Ettore," she says, her voice trembling slightly.

"Stay close to me," I instruct, my mind racing as I plan our escape. "We need to get to the car without being seen."

We move carefully through the woods, and I feel immense guilt for dragging Carlotta into this mess. She's caught in the crossfire all because of me, when I forced her to run away.

But we never really had a choice, did we?

"Remember what I told you about soulmates, Ettore?" she says, her voice barely audible. "I chose this path because I wanted to be with you. Don't blame yourself."

She can read my thoughts , and it's touching to see her loyalty even now. However, now isn't the time for tender moments—we need to make it out of here alive.

"Alright, on my signal, we make a break for the car," I say, eyeing the men who are still searching for us. "Ready?"

Carlotta nods, determination flooding her features. We take a deep breath, preparing ourselves for the sprint that could mean the difference between life and death.

"Go!"

The moment my feet hit the ground, it felt as if all the energy in the universe surged through me. I sprint towards the car, which is dangerously close to where the men are, Carlotta's hand firmly grasped in mine. The wind rushes past us, its howling echoing our own desperate breaths. Our hearts beat wildly, like ancient war drums announcing the approach of a relentless enemy.

"Almost there," I shout, and Carlotta nods, her eyes wide with fear.

We reach the car in a matter of seconds, but it feels like an eternity. The door handle is cold beneath my fingers as I yank it open, practically shoving Carlotta inside before sliding into the driver's seat.

From behind, I hear men screaming at each other, warning that we’re escaping. I hear doors shut; engines roar - none of them ours.

I throw the car into reverse, tires screeching as we speed away from the cabin.

"Here they come!" Carlotta warns, looking back at the cars now chasing us.

"Put your seatbelt on." My voice is dark and commanding, and adrenaline courses through my veins. I slam my foot on the gas, and the car lunges forward with a growl, tearing down the winding road. The men are relentless, their pursuit fueled by my father's orders and determination not to fail him.

"Turn left here, Ettore!" Carlotta points out, her voice shaking but calm enough for me to understand her. I trust her instincts and take the sharp turn, pushing the car to its limits.

"Carlotta," I say between gritted teeth, "I need you to keep an eye on them. Tell me if they're gaining on us."

"Alright." She glances back, her green eyes narrowing with focus. "They're still behind us, but we have some distance."

"Good." I weave the car through the twisting, narrow roads, branches and leaves whipping past the windows.

"Take a right here," Carlotta instructs. "It's an old road, but it should lead us back to the main highway."

"Got it." I yank the wheel, and the car veers onto the path, gravel crunching beneath the tires. The men continue their pursuit, relentlessly as wolves on a hunt.

"Keep going, Ettore!" Carlotta's voice is urgent. We're losing them!"

The tires screech as I slam on the gas, and we shoot down the narrow road, with trees blurring at our sides.

“They’re gaining again,” she screams. My hands grip the wheel tightly, knuckles white from the pressure. Carlotta clings to her seat belt for dear life, her breaths coming in short, rapid gasps.

"Turn left up ahead!" she shouts over the roar of the engine. "It's even narrower, but it might help us lose them.”

I follow her instructions, making a sharp turn that sends gravel flying. The car's suspension groans in protest, but I don't have time to worry about that now. Our lives are at stake, and every second counts.

"Are they still behind us?" I ask, my voice tense and focused.

"Y-yes," Carlotta stammers, glancing back. "But they're further away now."

"Good." My foot presses harder on the pedal, willing the car to go faster.

We fly around another bend, and I narrowly avoid a crash with an oncoming truck. The driver honks angrily, but I can't afford to care about his rage. I've got people hunting me down like a wild animal.

"Keep going straight," Carlotta says, her voice trembling. "There's a bridge up ahead. If we make it there first, we might have a chance."

"Understood." I feel my heart thudding against my ribcage, adrenaline pumping through my veins like liquid fire. It's moments like these when I feel most alive – when the line between life and death is razor-thin and every decision could be my last.

As the bridge comes into sight, I push the car to its limits, the engine protesting in response. The pursuing vehicles are mere specks in the rearview mirror now, but I know better than to let my guard down.

"Almost there," I whisper, more to myself than to Carlotta.

We race onto the bridge, and I swerve suddenly, slamming on the brakes and sending dust and debris into the air. The men's vehicles skid to a stop, momentarily blinded by the cloud of dust.

"Go! Go!" Carlotta urges, her eyes wide with fear and determination.

I floor it once more, speeding off as the dust settles behind us. We've bought ourselves precious time. I take a few more turns before we realize that we’ve lost them.

I pull into a deserted alley, hidden from the main road, and cut the engine. We sit there for a moment, chest heaving, as we try to process the close call we just escaped from.

"Are you alright?" I ask Carlotta, my voice shaky.

She nods, her green eyes wide and glassy. "Yes, I think so," she murmurs, her slender fingers gripping my arm tightly. "What about you?"

"I'm fine," I assure her, though my body trembles with the aftershocks of our narrow escape. "We can't go back to the cabin. They'll be waiting for us."

Carlotta's expression hardens, and she swallows audibly. "Then what do we do? Where do we go?"

I run a hand through my hair, trying to think of a plan. "We need to find a place to lay low, somewhere inconspicuous. A small hotel in the middle of nowhere, perhaps. I have enough money for a week, then we sell your jewelry and I see what we can do for cash."

"Will that be enough to keep us safe?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Nothing's guaranteed," I admit, my anger simmering beneath the surface. "But it's our best shot right now. We need to stay one step ahead of them."

"Okay." Her resolve seems to strengthen with each passing second. "Let's do it. Move to a hotel."

I start the car again, and we make our way through winding roads, searching for the sanctuary we so desperately need. As night falls, we find a motel nestled deep in the countryside that fits the bill. It's run-down and far from luxurious, but it offers us the anonymity we crave.

We check in under false names, nervous they might have seen our images on TV. But, the receptionist seems to be a teenager more interested in joints than news, and for that, I’m grateful. As soon as the door clicks shut behind us, I pull Carlotta into my arms, breathing her in as if she's my lifeline.

"Whatever happens," I whisper into her hair, "I'll keep you safe. I swear it."

She clings to me, her body trembling with the remnants of the day. And for the first time in my life, I truly understand what it means to love someone so deeply that you'd do anything – anything at all – to protect them from harm.