A Bodyguard For The Billionaire

I watched with a heavy, antsy heart and a look of apprehension clouded my face as the bullet hit the wrong target. Shit! I had killed the wrong person.

And it was no just ordinary person. It was the son of the infamous drug baron in the whole of Italy.

"What the hell, Guerriera?!" One of my men cursed. The fear in his voice was unmistakable.

"Let's go. Let's go!" I had to leave here before anyone saw. "Fuck it! Let's move!"

I forced my legs to move speedily to where our operation vehicle was parked and jumped into the passenger seat. My hands were trembling but I could not let my men see. I was the leader and I was meant to keep it calm and composed.

"How could you make such a mistake, Guerriera?!" The driver amongst us quickly pulled out of the driveway of the area where the operation had happened and zoomed off. Leaving dead bodies behind.

"You think I did this on purpose?!" I whirled on him angrily.

"You know what the boss would do to us if he finds out." Enzo from the back put in.

"This is fucked up! So fucked up!" Aldo punched the back of the driver seat where our driver - Matteo who we popularly call 'Speedy' due to his perfect efficiency in handling vehicles of any kind - occupied.

Viper - whose real name was unknown - sat quiet in the back seat. I looked at the rear mirror to meet his gaze. He stared back at me. Blank. He was usually the guy I was closest to amongst the rest.

We sort of had the same background story and we understood each other's life experiences. I wish he would say something. Anything. But he did not.

It could only mean he knew I had fucked up bad. I rested my head against the seat. How could I had made such mistake? When did I become such an amateur shooter?

I was the best shooter of the crew. My aim was always perfect, it did not matter where or how I was positioned, I always hit the target. The right one. With whatever weapon.

That was the reason my boss had chosen me to be the leader of the gang and I was the only woman. It was an all-male crew before I joined and there were doubts until they saw my capacity.

Even our boss was forced to notice me and subsequently make me the leader. He would be disappointed. So disappointed.

This was the son of his greatest enemy. And while they hated each other, they still tried not to get on anyone's terrain.

"We're here." Speedy announced.

There was supposed to be jubilation of some sort. It would have been a wonderful operation since we got what we had come for but that last shot had done me in.

"Let's go inside." I said rather deflated. I was trying not to let my fear surface.

"The boss will kill us, that's for sure." Enzo muttered loud enough for me to hear.

I passed Viper a quick glance but he still was not saying anything. He did not even come near me. He was disappointed in me.

I blew a breath, took one last breath and approached the house of Luigi Accardo popularly known as De'Bull, our boss. That man was the personification of brutality.

"Boss." I greeted, bowing my head as soon as I spotted him in the living room.

The others greeted him in likewise manner. He smiled but there was still the expression that read 'ruthlessness' in it.

"My American child. My Guerriera. You have once again made me proud." His chuckle twisted my guts more.

I was a full blooded American but had grown up in Italy. I was born and bred in Naples, the city my parents had come on a business trip.

My real name was Maya but the streets had given me Guerriera because of my fighting and shooting skills. Guerriera meant 'warrior'. People said I fought like one.

They even classified me as a demon too.

I gulped. But tonight I was not feeling like a demon. I was not feeling very evil or powerful at all.

"Here's the chip that you needed, boss." I handed him the a small bag that held the small, electronic object we had risked our heads for in one of the most dangerous organization for.

His eyes lit up. "Very wonderful, Guerriera"

Enzo nudged me. I gave him a look, he gestured with his eyes to the boss who was busy admiring the tiny chip. He wanted me to tell him.

Sooner or later, he would find out. And that was going to be worse. I knew it was the right thing to do. My heart beat faster. They said I did not have a heart, so what was pounding violently against my chest?

"Boss?"I called, my voice sounded uncertain.

"Yes?" The elderly man raised his head to look at me.

"Uhmm...there was an accident tonight." I began.

"What accident? You guys ran into another vehicle? Or into a tree? The vehicle is destroyed?" He waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, I'm in a happy mood. Go, I'll order a new one tomorrow. A better one."

"T-that's not it, master." I said.

A curious frown appeared on his forehead. "What is it?" His gaze moved around our faces.

"I..." I swallowed as nerves twisted tight. "I ki..."

"I killed Don Giovanni's son."

My surprised gaze shifted to who had spoken. Viper. Why was he taking the fall for me? Even the rest of the gang were shocked as well.

"What?!" The boss's hand came down on his face in a hard slap. "Are you mad?! What were you thinking?!" He kicked Viper, uttering profanities in Italian.

The latter fell to the floor on his knees. Guilt crept in, why would he do this? Our boss continued to rain down hits upon Viper who took it all quietly.

My conscience was unable to take it anymore, I ran forward to block the boss's next hit. But the blow landed on my nose, it hurt like hell.

"Get out of my way, Guerriera!" He commanded.

"No boss. He's innocent. I don't know why he took the fall for me but I am responsible. I did it. I killed Don Giovanni's son, not Viper." My voice trembled badly by the time I was done.

The sound of the whip as it continued to slap against my back harshly was a brutal one. It's been two days since the truth was known.

I'd had neither food nor water - the boss's instructions - but Viper would manage to sneak into food to me.

"How could you be so careless?!" Another lash of the whip against my back.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry, b-boss." I did not cry. No matter how hard the whipping got, I resisted tears.

I took it in good fate. I had made a very grave mistake and just that morning, the news had gone round that the Don was looking for the killer of his son, so had Viper told me.

"Sorry? What will sorry do? Bring the boy back from the dead?!" He used the whip on me again.

I groaned in pain, shaking my head as though that would stop the pain. I was sure my back was all red and bruised badly by now.

"I-I'm s-sorry, boss." It was all I could say amidst blinding pain.

"You stupid American girl." He growled in anger.

The whipped kissed my back a few more times before he finally dropped it.

"Untie her." He ordered Enzo and Speedy. "Bring her to my office." He was breathless from flogging me.

"I'm sorry, Guerriera." The guys apologized as they both untied me.

I nodded, I could not really waste my speech when I was so weak and battered. With their help, I reached his office and entered. Viper was standing there with him.

Without looking up, he threw a passport across the desk to me. "You'll be leaving the country."

"W-why? I have no where to g-go, master." I had nowhere to go, I had lived here all my life.

"Your country of origin." He deadpanned.

He was still angry at me. I could understand that but sending me back to America where I knew no one was just too extreme.

"But I do not know anyone there." I tried to protest. My back hurt so much. In fact, every part of me was in pain. I had to hold on to the chair close to his desk for support.

"You will not remain here and you will not ask me any questions. I plan to tell Don Giovanni you killed his son." The man said without mincing words.

"What?!" He would sell me out to the wicked man?

"Yes. I can not let the others die for your mistake. I will tell him you killed him which is why I'm giving you this opportunity to flee the country because Don will not stop searching for you. Remember he hates your guts and has been looking for an excuse to kill you."

It was true. Don Giovanni and I also had our own differences that ran a while back. The man did not like me and he had once told me he would like to have my head on a platter.

I did not have any excuse to remain. Moreover, the boss was right, it would be selfish of me if I tried to remain here. The others would die with me.

"Okay, master." I picked the passport and the envelope that came with it. "But I have no means of survival."

"I'll send you some money as soon as you get there. But there is some cash in the envelope to last you until I send some money." He said. "Viper will drive you to where my private jet will be waiting for you."

I raised my head to meet Viper's gaze, but he averted his eyes.

"You can take her, Viper." He instructed him.

"I have to get my things ready and wear some clothes." I said, feeling despair and anger. All were aimed at myself.

If only I had been more careful. Stupid bullet! Or rather stupid me! I blinked my eyes. No, I would not cry.

"No need, your things have been packed and put in the car. Here's a shirt for you." My boss threw a black shirt at me.

I was in my spandex halter bra top which I was sure was now stained with blood. I caught the top and pulled it on. The guys looked genuinely sad to see me go.

Viper was the only one whose emotions were null on his face. He walked out of the office and I followed him. Taking one last look of the place as I walked out the place I had known almost all my life.

Emotions hit me hard but I could not hide it. The guys came to give me a hug but they were careful not to touch my back. I entered the car and he started the engine.

"Not going to say goodbye, are you?" I began as the car hit the road.

He merely looked at me and concentrated on the road. My eyes took in the scenery, my passport and envelope full of money clenched in my hands, tears flooded my eyes but unshed just yet.

I was going to miss Naples. Italy. What would I be doing with my life in America?

"We're here." He announced and I got down from the car.

We were at a wide parking spot. Big enough to occupy a private jet. Boss wanted this done in secrecy so no one would know of my escape. Or trace it back to him.

The pilot came to collect my bag from Viper and took it with him into the jet. I stopped to face him. "So this is it."

"You should not have said anything." Was his angry response.

"I could not allow you take the fall for me." I had suspected it was part of the reasons he had been a bit cold to me, even though he had brought me food.

"Better me than you." He argued.

"I'm sorry." I sighed moving close to him. "I do not want to leave but I have no choice. Boss has a point. Sooner or later, Giovanni will come for me and I don't want any of you to take the fall too."

"That's what we do! I'm not afraid to take the fall for you." For a moment, his expression betrayed his feelings.

"I'm sorry." It was useless at this point but it was all I had to say. "Goodbye, Viper."

I made to leave when he pulled me back and kissed me. I was shocked for only two seconds before I kissed him back.

"I have feelings for you, Guerriera" He confessed.

I was both happy and sad. "It's just my bad luck you have to say it now."

"I'll come looking for you, I promise." The determination in his eyes gave me hope because I liked him too but I had never acted on it.

"I hope you will."

I moved away from his embrace before I would find it too difficult to leave the place I had come to love as my own and the guy I had always liked.

Reality truly set in when the jet lifted into the air. Only then did I cry my heart out.

ALAN

"What do you want me to get for you?" I smiled at my girls as they happily went through the list of things I was to get them.

We were on a video call and I had my car parked few blocks away from a very plush toy store, one of the best in the state.

"Get me the biggest teddy bear, daddy." Ruby, my youngest twin requested.

"I'll need a make up kit." Emerald, the oldest twin by five minutes put in.

I chuckled. "You're eight, princess. What do you need a make up kit for?"

"I want to be a model, daddy. It's for practicing." She said it in that 'duh' tone that made it sound as though I was the slow learner.

"No make up kit just yet but I'll get you something nice too." I stepped out of the vehicle, making my way towards the toy store.

"You're such a spoilsport, daddy." Emerald pouted.

I didn't worry myself about her pouting, it would not last.

"I'm sorry you think so, baby. I'll call you as soon as I get into the toy store so you can choose whatever you girls want, okay?"

"Alright, daddy." Ruby heartily replied, followed by Emerald's own sulky response.

I was few steps away from entering The Wonderland when I heard the crash and screams of people.

Someone even nudged me out of the way as people started running in scattered directions. I was trying to make sense of what had happened...or was happening.

My gaze roamed the environment to see a biker clad in all black lying still on the ground. His bike was also in a bad condition.

Already calling 911, I moved forward to help the stranger when a hand pulled me back by my arm. "I would not do that if I were you."

I turned to the voice but saw just a hooded figure, nothing else. But I could tell the voice was female. "Who are..."

"Watch out!"

I found myself pushed to the ground as more chaos surrounded us. A gunshot was heard. The screams and helter skelter increased.

A hand caught a sharp object so deftly and quickly I had thought I was imagining it. And what shocked me more was the weapon had been aimed in my direction.

I tried to see the face of the person atop me but it all happened so quickly. She was up and running...I raised myself from the ground..no, she was not running.

She was chasing after someone. Shocked and curious, I ran after them. This had seemed like an attempt on my life or maybe I was dreaming it.

I followed them till they turned a corner. This strange lady whose hoodie was still covering her face beat the crap out of two guys while I could just stand and watch in awe.

By the time she was done, the men were groaning and grunting on the floor. She saw me then and took off.

I went after her. "Wait! I owe you my life. I...whoa!"

I halted in my tracks as she threw a small knife at me, it missed me and hit the ground between my legs.

I had a feeling she had deliberately missed her mark, she had probably wanted me to stop following her. Without a glance back, she scaled a wall and that was it.

She was gone.

Without really meaning to, I picked up the knife she'd thrown at me and walked out of there, not bothering with the emergency call anymore.

Totally forgetting the gifts I had promised my girls, I got into my car, threw the knife on the passenger seat and zoomed off.

A call came in. It took me a full minute before realizing my phone was ringing. I saw the caller ID. It was my fiancee.

I picked the call, willing myself back to the present. "Hey, babe."

"Hey. Are you on your way back?" That soft, rich tone always put my mind at ease if and when I was tensed or worked up.

It did ease off the tension in me but not totally. This was a different circumstance. "Yes. Where are you?" Maybe I needed to be around her.

"I'm home, why?"

"Can you go to the house and wait for me? I really need to have you beside me right now." I sighed.

"Is something wrong?" Concern had seeped into her voice.

"Why? I can't have my wife-to-be around me anymore?"

She heaved a sigh of her own. "You know that's not what I mean. Your voice, it sounds like you've been through a lot. Business didn't go well in Belarus?"

"On the contrary but something else happened today." That hoodie came to mind and I tried to shake it off. "I don't know. It all seem like a dream."

"Now you have me worried. What happened?" Concern had morphed to worry.

This was one of the reasons why I loved Nora. She was always so caring and paid attention to every little detail of my life.

"When will you get to the house?" I asked instead.

Whatever that had happened today was not a phone call conversation. I needed to see her and tell her in person and she understood this because she didn't push the issue anymore

"I'm getting dressed already. I'll be sleeping over, is that fine?"

"You know it's always fine with me. It's what I want but you are yet to agree."

She chuckled. "I'm not moving in until we are married. I told you that, babe."

"Yeah, I know you did. I'll be home in ten minutes."

"Please don't make me wait for you in the house with your girls. You know they don't like me, especially Emerald."

I scoffed. "Why won't they? Of course they like you. They just have to get used to seeing another woman with their dad ever since their mom died."

"Whatever babe. Just come home quickly. I'll be waiting for you in your room."

Her tone had taken on a sultry direction, it made me smile a bit. "I'll be there."

I hung up and unconsciously, I forgot about my beloved fiancee and her hot body as that black hoodie flashed through my mind again.