Chapter 7 - The Flight to the Eternal City
That night, under cover of absolute darkness, a private Gulfstream G650 jet taxied onto the runway at a private airfield outside Dublin.
Evelyn sat in the plush leather interior of the luxury jet, wearing a tailored charcoal suit provided by Antonio’s stylists, her hair swept up into an elegant French twist.
Across from her sat Antonio, impeccably dressed in a custom three-piece navy suit, a dark silk tie, and a gleaming gold signet ring on his right pinky finger—the seal of the Vitelli family head.
As the jet climbed smoothly into the night sky toward Italy, the cabin quieted down.
Evelyn looked out the oval window at the sea of clouds illuminated by the moon below. It felt surreal—less than forty-eight hours ago, she had been pushing a beverage cart through business class on a commercial airliner. Now, she was flying across Europe on a private jet beside one of the most powerful crime lords in Europe.
Antonio stood up from his seat, carrying two crystal glasses filled with vintage Italian sparkling water, setting one down on the mahogany table beside her.
“A penny for your thoughts, Evelyn,” he said softly, sitting on the plush leather banquette across from her.
“I was just thinking about how fast a life can change,” Evelyn admitted with a soft, bittersweet laugh. “Three days ago, my biggest worry was whether my landlord would fix the clicking noise in my heating vent. Now, I’m flying into Rome to confront a corrupt senator.”
Antonio smiled warmly, his dark eyes filled with genuine affection. “You missed your true calling, Evelyn. You have more poise and courage than half the ministers in the Italian parliament.”
“I’m just a flight attendant, Antonio.”
“No,” Antonio said firmly, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his own. His palm was warm, strong, and steady. “You are the woman who looked death in the face at thirty-seven thousand feet and did not flinch. You are the woman who saw through a conspirator’s manifest in five minutes. You are extraordinary, Evelyn.”
Evelyn looked down at their joined hands, feeling a deep, electric warmth blossoming in her chest. She looked up into his dark eyes, seeing beyond the dangerous mob boss, beyond the wealth and power—seeing the man who held her with infinite tenderness in the quiet moments.
“Why didn't you let your men take the medication case on the plane, Antonio?” she asked softly. “When you were lying on that stretcher in Shannon... why did you look at me and tell me to keep it safe?”
Antonio looked at her, his expression softening into profound honesty.
“Because when I looked into your eyes while I was choking on that plane,” Antonio whispered, “I saw something I had not seen in twenty years.”
“What?”
“Absolute truth,” Antonio said gently. “In my world, everyone wants something from me—money, power, favors, or blood. But when you held that oxygen mask over my face, you didn't care who I was. You only cared about saving my life. In that moment, I trusted you more than my own blood.”
May you like
Evelyn felt tears prickling the backs of her eyes. She leaned forward, pressing her cheek gently against his shoulder.
Antonio wrapped his dark-suited arm around her, resting his chin against her hair as the private jet soared through the starlit sky toward Rome.
