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Chapter 99
The helicopter took us to Hong Kong International Airport without incident.
When we reached the private jet in Hangar 32, no gunmen were waiting for us.
We boarded the plane safely with virtually nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Though we were more than an hour late, the crew said nothing.
The stewardess checked our passports. I had mine in my back pocket, and Mei-ling had also brought hers.
The British pilot asked if we still wanted to go to Tuscany. I’d had to supply a destination when I’d booked the flight with the private broker.
“I think we’re going to a private airfield outside Florence, but let me confirm that.”
I borrowed Mei-ling’s cell phone and called Niccolo.
“Are you alright?” he asked frantically the second he answered.
“More than alright – I’m on the plane as we speak.”
“Good,” he said, his voice overwhelmed with relief. “You’re not hurt?”
“Not a scratch.”
“Excellent! Now – WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU GET 250 MILLION DOLLARS?!”
So he had checked the crypto account like I’d told him.
“Don’t get excited. We have to give most of it back.”
“What?! Why?!”
“I’ll tell you when I get there. Right now, the pilot’s asking where we’re going. Should I tell him home, or – ”
“No, go to Venice. I didn’t get to tell you when you called before, but that’s where we are. Dario wanted to be with Massimo.”
“Alright, I’ll text you our ETA after I talk to the pilot. By the way, I’ll be bringing someone with me.”
“Who?” Niccolo asked. I could hear the burning curiosity in his voice.
“You’ll see. Ciao.”
“Roberto – ” he said indignantly.
I hung up and turned to the pilot. “We’re going to Venice.”
“That’ll be close to 14 hours. We should get to Marco Polo International around…” The pilot did a few calculations in his head. “…roughly 8 PM local time.”
“Excellent.”
“You should get to your seats – we’ll be taking off in just a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
I texted Niccolo ETA Venice 8 PM, then handed Mei-ling her phone as we strapped into seats facing each other.
“Do you really have to give back the money?” she asked wistfully.
“I have no interest in looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”
“Then I would think you’re in the wrong line of business,” she teased me.
I grinned. “Let me amend that: I have no interest in looking over my shoulder for Han the rest of my life.”
“But it’s 200 million dollars.”
“A deal’s a deal.”
“Hmph,” she pouted playfully as the jet roared down the runway.
We both stared at each other the entire time, waiting in fear for an explosion –
And only breathed easily when we reached cruising altitude.
“We didn’t get blown up,” Mei-ling said, almost like it was a shock.
“Not yet, anyway,” I joked.
Once the stewardess told us we could move about freely, I got out of my seat, went over to a sofa along the cabin wall, and motioned to Mei-ling. “Come here.”
She got out of her seat and sat facing me, her legs curled up under her body.
I kissed her, and she kissed me back.
“Thank you,” I whispered when I pulled away. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled sadly. “I suppose we’ll be going our separate ways when we get to Venice.”
“Or… we could get married.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
She stared at me, shocked speechless.
“Is that you thinking about it?” I asked playfully.
“Let me get this straight: you want me… who betrayed you to your worst enemies…”
“You made up for it,” I said with a smile.
“To marry you… who nearly blew me up.”
“But I didn’t,” I pointed out comically.
“…why?!”
“Well, I would have had to blow myself up, too.”
She pushed against my shoulder in playful indignation. “You know what I mean!”
I became serious as I stared deep into her eyes.
“I love you. I didn’t know what that truly meant until I met you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved… and the only woman I ever want to love, from now until I die.”
Tears welled up in Mei-ling’s eyes.
“I just need to know one thing,” I said quietly. “My family is part of the Cosa Nostra. I can’t abandon them… which means I’m part of the Cosa Nostra, at least for the foreseeable future.
“I know you had your issues with your father and then with Lau – but I promise you, my family is different. I’m different. But… I’ll still be involved in a life you never wanted. Is that something you can live with?”
She smiled sadly. “With anyone else… no. With you… I’m willing to try.”
“Then marry me. I don’t have a ring for you yet… but marry me.”
She opened her mouth to answer –
And then gave me an impish smile.
“No.”
I suppressed a grin of my own. “Marry me.”
“No.”
I pulled her forcefully to me and looked deep into her eyes from just a few inches away. “Marry me.”
She broke into the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
“…yes.”
We both laughed and kissed passionately…
As our plane soared home to Italy.