Chapter 15

"Yes, that's fine, Peter. Thank you for having everything set up for me. I'll see you in about two weeks."

Ryder puts the phone in his breast pocket and settles into his seat. We are on his private jet.

It's so beautiful! The entire cabin is cream and wood. All the pillows have lime green accents on them. I never cared for that color, but it matches perfectly in this space.

The smell of strawberries lingers all around me. It feels so peaceful being in here. Did I mention I am terrified of flying?

"Do you own this?" I ask, looking around.

"Yes. You like it?" Ryder asks, adjusting his gray suit and tie.

I nod. "So who were you just talking to?" I ask as he pulls his laptop out of his suitcase and places it on the table.

"Miss Nosy! I was talking to Peter Hudson." Ryder smiles, opening his laptop.

Wait! Did he really call me nosy?

"Nosy?! I am not nosy!" I pretend to act hurt.

Ryder ignores me and continues. "Peter is the president of Boeing. We talk every week. He's on vacation for the next two weeks, so he won't be able to fill me in on everything that will be taking place at the company."

I look at him, surprised. "You completely ignored me! I am not nosy. There's a difference between nosiness and just being curious. I am somewhat curious. That's all!" I look at the ceiling and ponder what I just said. Did I just sound stupid?

"Yeah?" He speaks with a gruff voice, not bothering to look at me. "And I go to church every Sunday."

I squint at him.

I am going to ask about that portrait in the library when I begin to yawn and stretch.

"Come on." Ryder stands and puts his hand out so that I can grab it. I place my hand in his and follow him to the back of the cabin, past the bathroom and kitchen set up. He opens the door and ushers me in.

It's a bedroom. Furnished to look exactly like the cabin. The bed frame is dark polished wood, the bedding is cream, and the pillows are lime green. There's a nightstand to the left with an alarm clock on it.

"Is your favorite color lime green?"

He shakes his head. "No. I don't mind it, though. The flight attendant is actually in charge of the interior decoration. It must be hers."

I guess it's nice that he's given her that power.

"Anywho, I know you are exhausted. Staying up all night with strange men and all."

I look at him and beam because I am actually exhausted. I turn, and he wraps his arms around me.

He clears his throat. "Sam."

"Yes?" I have my eyes closed and don't want this embrace to end. It's the first time in weeks where I feel like I can breathe, and everything is going to be okay.

Well, someone does want me dead. I shouldn't rejoice yet.

Ryder rakes his hand through my hair. I feel him hesitate and stop.

He clears his throat again. "Will you be my girlfriend? Well, after you get rid of the fiancé, of course. No pressure!"

I open my eyes and look up at him. He has so many expressions on his face—worry, happiness, nervousness, sadness. Yet fear is the most evident. I grab his face and stare into his eyes.

What am I searching for? An answer? It's obvious that he needs me but do I want the job? Wait! Am I falling for him?

That shouldn't be the only reason to say yes. Or is it?

He was hired to kill you, Sam!

"Yes. I will."

Ryder starts to run his hand through my hair again. He stops and kisses my forehead, cheek, chin, and hands. I giggle.

"Okay, lay down. We will arrive in about eight hours. I'll be out here doing some work."

I suddenly don't want Ryder to go. He feels that when he tries to let my hands go. He turns back to me and pulls me close to him, running his hand down my neck.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispers into my ear. He then kisses my ear and walks out.

I awake to the plane shaking. I jump up from the bed, holding onto the nightstand. Panic begins to rise within me.

The captain comes on the speaker:

"Sorry folks, just a little turbulence. We will arrive in Naples in about two hours. Please continue to enjoy your ride."

I have been asleep for six hours? Wow!

Once I find my balance, I decide to go and find Ryder. I open the door and find him where he was seated earlier, asleep.

The flight attendant sees me and walks towards me, smiling.

I didn't notice her when we first boarded.

She has blonde, short hair and is about my height and weight. She definitely looks like she works out!

"Hi! Would you like something to eat? Something to drink?" She asks cheerfully.

"Yes, please!" I smile back.

I sit across from Ryder and look out of the window. It's so beautiful. The sun is peeking through, just beyond the horizon. Dawn.

The horizon is bright orange. It almost seems like the sky is on fire. I have also forgotten there's a time difference.

The attendant places a plate of shrimp on the table in front of me. She then serves me some white wine.

Ryder starts to squirm.

"He does that when he sleeps. I never wake him. I hear you shouldn't." The attendant looks from me to him, worriedly.

"Yeah, but he's fine. Thank you so much," I tell her. She smiles and walks back to her station. I reach over, close his laptop, and move it aside. I stand up and sit next to him, trying to wake him up.

"Ryder. Ryder, wake up."

He jumps up and looks at me with red, panic-filled eyes. I run my hand down his face.

I continue to stare at him as he smiles warmly at me.

Am I really prepared to change my life for him? Am I even sure he wants to do the same for me? More importantly, am I going to be okay knowing he kills for a living? That he's been hired to kill me.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"What time is it?" He reaches for his phone and looks at the time.

It's 5 am.

"Oh wow, I just fell asleep," he says, rubbing his eyes and grabbing a piece of shrimp, putting it in his mouth.

I get up and sit across from him again. "So, did you get your work done?" I ask, taking a shrimp and popping it into my mouth. So good!

The Flight attendant comes back with a glass of wine for Ryder and a bowl of fruit.

"Yes. It's done." He takes a sip of wine and bites into a strawberry. "So, is there any place you want to visit while we are in Italy?"

I look out of the window, trying to think. "Shouldn't I be hidden?"

Ryder must have forgotten. He ponders my words. "Yeah, I'm sorry. You're right!"

He grabs his phone and makes a call. I smile at him, but inside I feel somewhat hurt. To be with him and hide my identity is going to be hard. How is that even fair to me?

"Missy. Ryder. Can you please have a..." Ryder looks me up and down, "...blonde wig and bright pink lipstick in the car." He hangs up the phone. "There! Your disguise is taken care of."

I smile and sit back in the seat. I've never worn a wig before.

The captain came on the speaker again:

"Ladies and gentlemen. We will be arriving in Naples soon. Please sit and buckle in. Thank you for riding with us, Mr. Forñay and Ms. Bennington. Enjoy your stay!"

I look at Ryder, puzzled. "Ms. Bennington?"

He shifts in his chair, uncomfortably and laughs. "Would you have preferred Mrs. Forñay?"

I look at him as he gets up to use the bathroom. "The buckle-in sign is on."

He smiles. "Since when do I follow the rules?"

Location: Beverly Hills, California

"Thank you, Nathan. All we can do is keep praying. Yes, of course, I will tell her. Goodnight."

Tim Hallowell puts the phone down and sinks into his office chair. He covers his face with his hands, taking a shaky breath. There's a lump growing in his throat. Now isn't the time to lose control and cry. He has to check on his wife soon. The last thing she needs is to see him crying.

He turns, in his chair, and looks out of his window. It has been years since his only daughter, Samantha, left Hallo Mansion to study at a university and live her own life. Now it feels emptier than before since her kidnapping.

His wife, Rebecca, spends every waking second crying, and he's doing everything he can to be strong for her. Lord only knows what will happen if they both lose it.

Tim and Rebecca have tried every avenue.

Who would want to take their daughter? If it is about money, why haven't they been in contact with the kidnappers yet?

No one's bothered to call.

They are both prepared to give every single cent they have to get Sam back. They would rather lose this lifestyle happily than live a life without their reason for existence. Samantha.

"Hey, Mr. Hallowell."

Tim turns his chair around. Max is standing in the doorway with his head down and his hands in his pockets. Black circles underneath his eyes.

"Come in, Max. Sit down." Tim points weakly to a chair in front of his desk.

Max hesitantly walks in and sits. "Mrs. Hallowell?"

"Where she always is. In Sam's old room."

Tim appreciates Max for everything he has done so far. He's visiting every single day, making sure he and Rebecca have everything they need.

Of course, they have an endless supply of help, but he wants to make sure he sees, with his very own eyes, that they are well cared for.

It's what Sam would want.

Max, Rachel, and Rhonda are always passing out flyers. They also take turns stopping by Samantha's flower shop daily. Making sure the shop is running smoothly until she gets back.

They want to make sure the person they have recently promoted to supervisor is handling everything fine.

Tim and Rebecca can't ask for a better soon-to-be son-in-law. They adore him!

"There's another press conference tomorrow. I want to be there if you don't mind! This is so hard for you and your wife, but I'm just praying Sam sees it and knows how much you both care; I care. And to never lose hope." A tear slides down Max's face. He quickly wipes it away.

Max doesn't want Tim thinking he can't handle it. Which he can't. He needs to be brave for Sam.

He just wants to know where his fiancé is. Her parents need to know where she is. Their hearts are breaking.

"Maxwell, close the door," Tim says sitting back in his chair. "There's something we need to discuss."