Sold to the Capo-Chapter 86: A NEW PLACE

ADRIANA’S POV

The flight was tiring to say in the least and I struggled to come to terms that I was leaving Italy.

I had already left as a matter of fact. Soaring high now above the grounds that I walked on for months.

God.

I placed my head in my hands, wondering when to expect when I arrived at whatever place Vincenzo had said.

I still had no clue as to where I was headed to and it seemed the only people in the plane was just me, the pilot and a woman who had come to check on me a couple of times to make sure i was fine.

My mind went back to the people who had chased us and I wondered...how did they know I was leaving? Unless .... I wasn’t the target but Vincenzo who was supposed to leave at the time alone. He was the target.

Was his father now out to kill him?

Maybe it wasn’t his father but the Bratva because his father would want to teach him a lesson, no doubt but not go as far as killing him... right?

Master LaRosa was unpredictable and I knew that Vincenzo was likely to experience first-hand again his father’s fury.

I shifted uncomfortably in the plush seat, my fingers drumming against the armrest. The attendant, a petite woman with kind eyes, approached me again, her heels clicking softly on the carpeted floor.

"Mrs LaRosa, would you like something to eat or drink?" she asked, her tone polite and professional.

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

"Okay, Mrs LaRosa, if there’s anything you need..." She trailed off with a smile.

Mrs LaRosa... I used to hate that name a while back but now when she said it, I felt something stir within me... longing? It had only been a few hours since I last saw him, I would see him again in a few... weeks? Months? Never?

The thought had my heart clenching painfully and tears brimming to my eyes.

Vincenzo, Valentina, Henry... all of them ... I missed them already. I don’t think I have ever missed such a large amount of people this way to the point that it hurts. Not even my father.

"I’m fine" I assured the woman for the umpteenth time, clearly knowing that her instructions was to make sure I was comfortable through the ride.

She nodded, retreating toward the front of the cabin. I appreciated her attempts at comfort, but nothing could soothe the pain twisting in my stomach.

The sound of his voice as we drove through the streets made me frown a bit as I remembered the car again. It was waiting right out for us, not too far from the mansion.

Was he safe now? Did he get back to the mansion? Did he go for the shipment? I would never know until I got to wherever we were going and I was able to meet Salvatore.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the seat, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me like a second skin no matter how hard I tried to shut my brain off from these thoughts.

The plane hit a pocket of turbulence, and I jolted upright, clutching the armrests. My heart raced as I looked out the window, the endless expanse of clouds offering little to no comfort.

"You’re fine," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my breathing. "It’s just turbulence."

I glanced around the cabin again, noting the emptiness. The attendant was out of sight, and the pilot’s voice occasionally came over the intercom with time updates about our flight but I still found myself missing the honeyed voice from Vincenzo that seemed to warm me anytime I remembered it.

For the first time in months, I felt truly alone.

Hours later, the plane began its descent. The attendant reappeared to help me secure my seatbelt, her voice soft but brisk as she explained the landing procedure. I tried to ask her where we were, but she only smiled and said, "You’ll find out soon, Mrs LaRosa. I’m not allowed to divulge that."

As the plane touched down, my stomach flipped. I pressed my face against the window, peering out into the darkness. The runway lights illuminated a small private airfield, and beyond it, I could make out faint outlines of palm trees swaying in the wind. The air was humid, even from inside the plane, and I realized we were somewhere far from the crisp, cool climate of Italy.

The engines finally powered down, and the attendant motioned for me to follow her. My legs felt shaky as I stepped out of the cabin, descending the stairs onto the tarmac. The warm air enveloped me immediately, carrying the faint scent of salt and something floral.

I had never been here before. This type of atmosphere was not the type to be easily forgotten.

A black car waited a few feet away, its engine humming quietly. As I approached, the driver stepped out and opened the door for me. I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to be cautious as I remembered the day I had trusted a vehicle and ended up being kidnapped, but then a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.

"Salvatore?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but the relief in it was palpable.

The man grinned, his sharp features softening slightly. "Welcome here, Adriana."

He stepped forward and wrapped me in a quick hug, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone who always looked like he could break bones with ease and I realized that he could see the distress on my face which was why he was being this nice now, seeing as I needed a bit of comfort.

"You’ve had quite the journey," he said as he pulled back, his eyes scanning me for any sign of injury. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, my voice catching in my throat. "I think so. But... where are we?"

Salvatore chuckled, motioning for me to get into the car. "All will be explained soon. For now, let’s get you settled, you look like you ran 400 miles"

I climbed into the backseat, and he slid in beside me, staying silent as he watched me settle. The car pulled away from the airstrip, and I watched as the landscape unfolded around us.

I tried to focus on the passing scenery but i still kept wondering where we were.

Finally, I couldn’t hold back any longer. "Where are we?"

Salvatore glanced at me, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You’re in Costa Rica."

My eyebrows shot up. Costa Rica? Of all the places I had expected Vincenzo to send me, this wasn’t even on the list.

"Why here?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion.

"It’s safe," Salvatore replied simply. "Far from prying eyes, and perfect for keeping you hidden while things settle down back home. This is where the Haven is. No one would really look here. Master LaRosa wouldn’t really suspect me of knowing anything about Vincenzo’s schemes or even being a part of it"

"Why’s that?" I found myself asking.

Salvatore was usually with Vincenzo back in Sicily so why would Master LaRosa not suspect him? The thought of it made me send a glance at Salvatore, feeling that something was off.

"Vincenzo likes to go solo and I barely talk to him. Trust me when I said I was surprised when he asked for my help after the haven was attacked" He said, his face back to the stoic expression I was used to looking at.

"Oh..."

I processed his words in silence, staring out the window at the unfamiliar terrain. The car wound through narrow streets lined with colorful buildings and lush greenery. Despite my confusion, I couldn’t deny the beauty of the place.

I had been a lot of places when I was running around from my father’s debts before I settled on New Jersey where I had stayed until I had gone to Sicily.

The few months I had spent in Sicily felt more useful than the years spent in New Jersey. I had made friends...actual friends...learnt new things...discovered my self and I had found...Vincenzo. After everything, I had found him and he made me feel seen.

We drove for what felt like hours, the landscape shifting from bustling streets to quieter, more secluded areas. The road narrowed, and the car bumped along a gravel path that seemed to lead into a more deserted place.

Fear gripped me and I felt at unease as I wasn’t a fan of paths like this but I knew that Salvatore wouldn’t hurt me.

Salvatore finally broke the silence. "We’re almost there."

"Almost where?" I asked, the unease creeping back into my voice.

"The Haven. Vincenzo said he had briefed you" Salvatore frowned.

Oh. That.

"Yeah, he did" I croaked, looking back out the window again.

And as the car took a turn again, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Vincenzo’s promise to come back for me was the only thing that would keep me sane in this strange, beautiful place.