Three Thousand Miles (35 page)

“Even
,
if I did
,
I am with Adrian and I love him. Please Michael don’t make this harder than it is.”

“You know how I feel about you. Alanna you cannot expect me to forget my feelings. I know that you feel the same way.”

“Michael please
don’t
do this. I care about you so much but I will always love Adrian. If you have any sense, you will forget me and please focus on Katharine. She is good for you and she can make you happy.”

“Alanna I don’t love Katharine and the truth is
that…
I never will. You are the only girl for me, please darling be with me.” My heart stops as I hear Michael’s words. I close my eyes for a second and when I open them, I am surprised to
see Adrian standing before me. I begin to panic, as I fear that he has heard my conversation with Michael.

“Baby, are you okay?” He asks softly. I cannot respond but thankfully, Michael can.

“Alanna was a little fearful a second ago. You know what she is like with airplanes. But you are all better now aren’t you
,
babe?” I nervously smile towards Adrian as Michael rises from the seat.

“She’s all yours brother.” Michael walks away and Adrian instantly sits next to me. He takes me by the hand and he places a soft kiss onto my cheek. I begin to relax a little as I become aware that he did not over hear my conversation with Michael.

“Are you feeling better now baby?” I sigh as I reply.

“Yes
,
I am fine now. I just wish that we were in London now.”

“Baby
,
it won’t be long now.” Adrian kisses me on
the
cheek again and then he pulls back. “There is something that I need to talk to you about.” My heart again begins to race but I compose myself.

“Okay, go ahead.”

  “Baby when we arrive in London things will have to be a certain way. The threat of the Marshalls is still very
much alive. I want
to protect you from them so there will be security around you at all times. You will have a bulletproof car to drive you everywhere you go. We will stay at my suite at The Dorchester and you will attend all my events with me. Our weekends will be spent at the country estate and your days will be filled with shopping and going out to lunch with Sophie. Anything you want is just a fingertip away and I hope that you will accept my conditions?” I take a deep breath as I take in his words. I smile at him, because I know that what Adrian says goes.

“It all sounds amazing to me. As long as I am with you then I will give into to any condition.”

We arrive in London and when we step off the airplane, the freezing air greets us. Adrian whisks me down the steps and into a black Range Rover. I sit patiently as I wait for Adrian to get in. I hear Sophie and Emma jump into the back seat and I instantly turn to face them.

“Look at that city
,
it is just so beautiful.” Emma lets out a loud giggle and Sophie is speechless.

“I cannot believe that I am here in London. I cannot thank Adrian enough for all that he has done.” Emma says in a very thankful voice. 

“He is an amazing guy and you are lucky to have him as a brother.”

“I know and I regret that we didn’t know each other until a few days ago. However, I am going to make up for lost time.” I smile at her.

Adrian jumps in
to
the car and he instantly speeds off. He glances over to me and he takes my hand in his. He lifts up my hand and he gently places a soft kiss onto my skin. We sit in silence as Adrian drives.

The city of London is mesmerizing as we speed through the glowing streets. I gaze out of the window and I am stunned by the view. A gentle smile comes to face as I bask in this moment. I quickly turn to Sophie who is also glaring out of the window.

“It is stunning
,
isn’t it?” She turns to me.

“London is the most beautiful city
that
I have ever seen.” Adrian laughs at us.

“What is
it
with Americans and London?” He says very sarcastically. I turn instantly to face him as we stop at a red light.

“Look out
of
the window and you will see.” I say equally as sarcastic as Adrian does. He smirks at me and he again speeds off into dark city.

We pull up at The Dorchester and Emma quickly lets out a gentle squeal.

“Are we staying here?” She asks in a desperate voice.

“Yes,” Adrian says as he parks the car by the front door. He quickly jumps out and in a matter of seconds; he is standing at my door. He opens the door and he gently takes my hand.

“Welcome my Princess.” I cannot contain my smile as I grip Adrian’s hand. I step out of the car and I immediately link into his arm. Adrian reaches over and opens the door for Emma. She steps out of the car and she cannot believe her eyes as she glares at her surroundings.  Sophie is equally as stunned as she trails behind us. Adrian escorts us into the reception and as soon as we enter, a few members of the hotel staff rushes over to us.

“Mr Black, welcome back
,
your suite is ready for you.” Adrian nods in approval as he reaches over and takes the hotel keys. He instantly ushers us into the elevator and I grip onto him even tighter. He slides his hand further down my waist and instead of batting him away, I give in to his touch. Adrian turns to face Emma and Sophie.

“Now girls
,
I hope
that
you don’t mind but I have booked you a separate suite?” Sophie and Emma quickly approve Adrian’s decision as they both flash him a smile. We step out the elevator and Adrian hands Emma the key to their suite.

“Now
,
if you need anything just ask, okay?”

“No problem
,
and Adrian
,
thanks again for this.” Sophie adds.

Adrian walks me along the grand hallway and into our suite. I gasp as we enter and Adrian notices my reaction.

“Baby
,
we are home.” He firmly pulls me towards him and kisses me very passionately. I can hardly breathe when he finally pulls away.

“Come with me,” he says as he takes me along the hallway and into the bedroom. He walks over to the closet and he instructs me to follow him. I do as he says and he opens the closet and switches on the light. He gently pushes me into the room and I smile when I see what he is trying to show me. The closet is filled with new clothes and handbags of every kind. Boxes of shoes are piled high and the sight of the closet reminds me of the closet at the safe house in
New York. The clothes are same but what remains different is that
the
last time I was in a closet like this I was with Michael. My face again
feels hot as I think of him
. I quickly try to put him out of my mind and I turn towards Adrian.

“Thanks for this. I really appreciate you buying me all this new stuff. I am the luckiest girl in the world.” Adrian grips me again with force and he pulls me very close to him. He cups my face as he whispers.

“Baby
,
I am the luckiest bloke in the world to be with you.”

Adrian excuses himself as I inform him that I need a few moments to change for bed. I rummage through the piles of new clothes in the closet and I finally find a suitable pair of silk pyjamas. I tie my hair up into a high ponytail as I splash some cold water onto my face. I quickly brush my teeth and I switch off the light. I make my way over to the bed and slowly climb under the covers. I sigh as my head hits the pillow and I begin to fall into a deep sleep.

I walk into a bright room and my eyes cannot fully adjust. I try to focus and as I do, I see a figure striding towards me. I cannot make out who it is all I can see is
a
black suit.

“Excuse me Alanna, please come with me.” I hear the man say in a smooth British accent. I look down at my feet and I am surprised as they are already moving in same direction as the man. He walks me into another room that is not as bright as the last one. He turns his back on me and all I can see is his dark hair. He towers above me as I glare up at him. I watch as he makes his way over to a table in the middle of the room. He lifts a glass and he turns towards me. I see his face and I melt in his eyes. He walks over to me and he hands me the glass of champagne. I slowly sip the beverage as he stares at me. I let go of the glass and it smashes hard against the floor. He smiles at my gesture and he moves c
loser to me. I reach out to him
and I pull him close. He leans down to me and he pushes my hair from my face. I close my eyes at his touch and I melt irrevocably. I feel his lips on mine and my cravings are satisfied. I gently pull away from him and I place my finger onto his lip. His mouth opens to say.

“I told you it was me that you wanted.” I smile at him and I kiss him again.

“Michael I love you.”

I wake with a jolt and I lunge out of the bed. I hold my head in my hands and I cannot believe that I dreamt of Michael
-
again. I am so angry with myself for dreaming of him and I wish that my vivid dreams of him would perish. I hate that he has a hold over me and I cannot stand the feeling I have every time
that
I wake from a dream about Michael. Guilt takes over my body and I find it hard to look at Adrian. I fear that he will see right through me and leave in an instant. I try my hardest to forget the dream as I make my out the room and into the kitchen. I open the fridge and I take out a bottle of Evian. I take a brief sip of the water and then I start for Adrian’s room. His door is slightly open and there is a soft glow from his room.

“Alanna,” I hear him say as I approach his door. I push it open further and I gasp when I see Adrian. He is lying on his bed, shirtless and with laptop placed onto his lap. He sees me and he quickly closes the computer.

“Baby why aren’t you asleep?” I walk further into his room and I stand by his bedside.

“I was sleeping but I had a bad dream.” I confess. Adrian reaches forward and he pulls me onto the bed next to him. He huddles me close into his bare chest and I feel safe in his arms.

Nineteen

I wake the next morning to find that I slept the entire night
in
Adrian’s room. I look around but he is nowhere in sight. I get out the massive bed and I walk out into the hallway. I fix my hair as I see Adrian sitting at the elegant dining table. He is talking on his phone as he sips a small cup of tea. I walk over to him and I take a seat opposite. Breakfast is laid out onto the table and I begin to eat as Adrian continues to talk on his phone. I pour myself a coffee as I watch his facial expressions. His deep green eyes are serious as he listens to his colleague. He gently rolls his eyes as he replies. His dark eyebrows are raised and he is gently biting his lip as he runs his fingers through his tousled hair. I stare at him and I really believe that my eyes could literally fall from their sockets at the sight of him. He ends his call and he places his phone onto the table.

“Good morning baby,” he says as he flashes me a wide smile.

“Morning Adrian,” I say in a quiet voice.

“Now I must dash to work,” he says as he rises from his seat. He walks over to me and kneels at my feet.

“Baby
,
I want you to have fun today. Go shopping with the girls and buy anything you want. The car is downstairs waiting and the security guards will be here any second.” I gently exhale at his words and I hate that I need security but I know better than to challenge Adrian on this matter. Just as I begin to respond there is, a firm knock at the door.

“This will be them now,” he says as he makes his way over to the door.” He opens it and in walk to two huge bodyguards. They are dressed in black and both of them have shaved heads. I glare at them and I feel instantly intimated by their size. Adrian walks over to me and he takes me gently from the seat.

“This is Mitch and Steven they will look after you baby.” I flash the two huge men a shy smile and they respond by giving me a professional nod.

“Now baby
,
I really must go. I will check in with you later and before I forget we are having dinner tonight with Mr Jenkins and his wife.” I widen my eyes at his words and I quickly think of Michael. I try to compose my dread as I respond to Adrian.

“Okay Adrian,” is all that I manage to say. He kisses me and then he makes his way out the room. I am left alone with two massive bodyguards and a looming fear of tonight’s dinner with Mr Jenkins and his wife. I smile at the men as I excuse myself. I rush into my room and I quickly begin to take a shower. I get dressed and then I make my back into the lounge area.