Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
I drove for over an hour before I found a pay phone. There, I called one of my family's contacts that got me a helicopter in exchange for one of my diamond rings. 
                          
"Pleasure as always" Pietro Jeremiah inspected my diamond while I climbed into the helicopter. 
                          
I took a deep breath before sliding the ear muffs over my head then starting the engine. Less then two hours later, I had arrived in Paris. I knew I had to work quickly, after all my family could already be there ready to ambush me. 
                          
I drove my limo to three different addresses, which I stole from the Larrunzario's. One was: 15 Rue Dupleix Paris, Paris, which leads me to the Le Marquis Eiffel - my father's hotel. I walked through the front doors which lead me to the front desk in the lobby. I was greeted by a thin young blond woman, with fair skin and pearl earrings. 
                          
"Salut" she greeted with a genuine smile. 
                          
"Salut je cherche Daniel Ashton," I told her "J'ai des raisons de croire qu'il est un client dans set hôtel"
                          
Uncle Nate says I'm gifted. I'm the only girl he knows who can speak so many languages. I guess that I picked up a lot growing up on the road. 
                          
"Oui oui" she nodded "Mr Ashton Est sortie a casino"
                          
"Merci" I half smiled as twisting my body around and began to exit the hotel. 
                          
So my father is at a casino? Daniel Ashton is in trouble so he goes gambling. Typical. 
                          
I began my journey to the Casino. I have been gambling in underground casinos since I was fifteen. Everyone who has ever seen me gamble has a name for me — they call me their Ace because no one seems to be able to read my poker face.
                          
The cold breeze brushed against my arms whilst I walked down the streets of Paris, sending goosebumps across my body. I felt tired and emotionally drained by that point - thanks to the games my family were playing. 
                          
Before I knew it, I was grabbed from behind and pulled to an alleyway. My arms pinned under my attackers and my legs dragging across the concrete. I swing my legs behind his, making him trip over me. We both fell back, my body on top of his.
                          
"Taylor" he gasped. 
                          
I jumped up, pressing my foot against his throat as he laid defenceless. 
                          
"Who are you? What do you want" I pushed my eyebrows together. 
                          
"Taylor" he repeats.
                          
I look at him carefully before sighing, removing my foot from his throat. 
                          
Gabriello Larrunzario. 
                          
His dark hair messy and his brown eyes filled with fear. His chocolate brown hair was getting caught in the wind, and as a result, grew messy.
                          
We had only met the day before in his family's mansion, where he saved my life. 
                          
I had broken in, snuck through his Nonno's office, searching for my fathers location. Gabriello knew how to be invisible. That's how I didn't see him standing right across me while I searched his grandfathers desk. When he cleared his throat, that's when I knew I was fucked. 
                          
"Taylorina Ashton" he smiled.
                          
"Gabriello Larrunzario" my voice diminished. 
                          
We had never met before that day. We only knew of each other from our families studying one another. 
                          
"You breaking in here...would you say that's brave or reckless?" Gabe cocked one of his brows. 
                          
"I'm just looking for my father" I admitted. 
                          
"And you think he's here?" He took a step towards me, making my heart beat faster. 
                          
"You guys are tracking him too" 
                          
Suddenly a pair footsteps were growing louder from down the hall. 
                          
"Don't make a sound" Gabe firmed his gaze, before stepping outside the office for a second while he spoke to whoever was on the other side of that door. 
                          
My thoughts raced. His grandfather is going to kill me. Not before making an example of me first. How will he do it? I don't doubt that he'll torture me first. Maybe he'll film it? Show my family. Make them suffer. It'll my own fault. Uncle Nate warned us to steer clear from their mob family. 
                          
To my surprise, Gabe returned alone. He closed the door behind him before approaching me quickly. 
                          
"Everything you're looking for is in the top draw of his desk, when you get it, you leave the same way you came in and don't look back" 
                          
"You're letting me go?" My eyes widened in surprise. "You're not going to hand me over to your family?" 
                          
Gabe sighed. "Don't come back here" 
                          
I nodded before he left the room. 
                          
I grabbed his hand, helping him up.
                          
"What are doing here?" I asked. 
                          
"Listen carefully, we don't have much time...They knew you were coming...they're waiting for you at the casino" Gabriello explained quickly. "They've got eyes on you as we speak...you were ambushed" he inhaled deeply. 
                          
That's when I began to be consumed by all things Gabe. 
                          
What was he doing? Saving me? For a second time? Why? What's his motive? 
                          
That angered me. Why was he always saving me? That first time when I broke into his family's mansion and now in Paris. 
                          
Before I could even say a word to Gabriello, a bullet came flying through the air and hit his chest, pushing him to fall to the floor. I jump but before I could do anything, I feel a needle being inserted into the left side of my neck. There's not much one can do at that point. Even the greatest can't fix that situation. I quickly collapse on to the cold hard ground.