Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series)

by Ashley, Sarah Elizabeth

  “A busy little place,” I say casually.

  “Yeah, he’s a very good reputation, always has. You won’t find good Italian food anywhere else in the area as good as this – well, for the price anyway.” James checks the menu once again and places it down.

  “You know what you’re ordering for us?” I ask.

  “Sure, menu hasn’t changed much in the last fifteen years or so. It’s exactly the same as when my dad was here, his favourite’s still on the menu!” He looks down at the cover of the printed sheet, a little sad, maybe?

  “It must be difficult for you, you know, coming back here,” I say.

  “No, not really. I’ve so many good memories of the place. The bad ones are at the hospital, the day he was taken in after that thug mugged him and the day I… the day I had to tell the doctor…” He stops talking for a moment and sighs. “It’s not like we lived here, Gia and Roberto and me and my dad had our own homes, this was just a workplace.”

  “So where did you and your dad live?” I ask.

  “Not too far away. I sold the house when Dad died. I used some of the money for travelling and invested the rest. It’s still sat there, I’ve never touched my Dad’s money. I suppose I should have bought property really, wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now if I had, but then I was only eighteen and didn’t know any better.”

  I sit and watch him closely as he talks about himself, opening up just a little more. Everything with James has been in little chunks. He knows pretty much all there is to know about me, but I know surprisingly little about my lover.

  I’m pondering on if I should ask more when Roberto arrives to take our order.

  “James, are you ready to order, son?”

  “Yes, we’ll have Insalata Esotica to start, for both of us, then we’ll have the Tagliatelle Siciliana. Can you also bring some olives and ciabatta?”

  Roberto looks at James. He smiles. “Your father’s favourite… Of course, is that all?”

  “Yeah, thank you, Roberto.”

  The older gentleman walks away from our table with his chitty, which I note he puts on top of the pile of orders, a perk maybe of knowing the owner. Scrub that – of being the sort of adopted son of the owner.

  “What have you ordered for us, James?” I ask, because I have no idea and which of those dishes was his Dad’s favourite.

  He says as he takes a deep drink of his wine, “Wait and see!”

  I grab my handbag. “Shit,” I hiss as I delve into the depths of the all-consuming bag.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I forgot to call Anna. Do you mind if I slip out and give her a quick ring?” I hold my phone out.

  “No, not at all. The loos are through there if you want to go somewhere quieter.” He points to a white door with a stick lady affixed at eye level.

  I leave my bag, taking my phone into the ladies. Flicking through my recent call list, I quickly locate Anna’s number and tap the screen. The call connects but goes straight to her voicemail, so I leave a message for her.

  “Hi Anna, I meant to call you earlier but got distracted. Just wanted to let you know that I’m eating out tonight and will be staying at home, hope you got my text? Hope you and Katie are okay. Did you get that massage? Have whatever you want at the hotel, everyone should know you. If not, ask them to talk to Roger, he knows who you are. If you want me, call my mobile. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.” I cut the call, and use the loo while I’m here. When I wash my hands I notice that my bruised cheek is barely visible under my heavy makeup. He must be losing his touch, a Lewis bruise used to last at least a week!

  When I get back to James our starters have been brought to our table. James has waited for me.

  I look at the untouched plate in front of him. “You should have started.”

  “No, I waited for my guest.” He waits for me to sit.

  I look at him and frown. “I would like to think I’m a little more than a guest.”

  “Sorry, I wanted to wait for my girlfriend.” He smiles.

  Well, I didn’t expect that. “Girlfriend, aren’t I a bit old to be a girlfriend?”

  “I don’t think so. How old do you feel?” He smiles.

  “Oh, I don’t know… Now, at this very minute, maybe thirty.”

  “Well then, we’re more or less the same age, aren’t we…? So no, I don’t think you are too old. And by the way, you’ve never, ever felt older than me!” he says with a cheeky grin.

  I don’t know how to answer that, so I don’t!

  The salad is delicious – smoked chicken with avocado, tomato and pesto, though there is plenty of it and I wonder how I’ll be able to manage a main course as well. James has polished his off in no time at all and sits back nursing his Chianti.

  “You look lovely, I like the dress.” His random comment takes me off guard a little.

  “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself!” I smile.

  He nods towards my dress. “Is that one of your new ones?”

  “Hmmm… One I bought when I went shopping with Anna when we first moved here.” I look down at the terracotta silk, it is lovely. Despite the fortune I’m still careful, the habit of a lifetime, and yes, I am buying expensive clothes but only when I need them. I’m not buying for buying’s sake.

  I finish my starter and our plates are quickly cleared. I guess that our mains are ready and waiting for us as they soon arrive.

  Roberto places the pasta bowls in front of us. “Tagliatelle Siciliana. Would you like Parmesan?”

  A young girl dressed in black trousers and a black polo shirt approaches us with a block of cheese and a small grater.

  “Just a little.” The cheese is finely grated onto my pasta, James asks for a little more.

  “Buon appetito,” Roberto says as he disappears to the back of the bistro.

  The pasta again is exceptional, although I’m unable to finish my meal, I’m just too full.

  I watch James eat his food. It’s obvious that he’s really enjoying his time here, he looks comfortable, at home, but then I suppose it was, sort of, at one time in his life.

  “Tell me a little more about you, James?” I ask.

  “Like what?” He looks up and wipes his beautiful mouth with a soft napkin.

  “Well, you swept me off my feet, so I take it there are no other girls in your life?” I ask, conscious that I’ve already asked this but feeling the need to have him clarify this again.

  He smiles. “No, just you.”

  “Has there ever been anyone else?” I ask.

  He laughs, cocking his head to one side slightly. “Umm, one or two, but no-one like you.”

  I bet! I think to myself. No-one ever older than you!

  “Oh…” I’m stunned. “I’m sorry, James, but I’m a little lost for words. You’re gorgeous, such a catch, I don’t believe that you’ve not been bagged by some young, slender it girl, you know, someone more your age.”

  “Will you stop banging on about age, Alex, it doesn’t matter!” he says sharply.

  I don’t say anything else until he’s finished his food. I glance at my watch. It’s past nine and the diners are starting to thin.

  Roberto appears and clears our plates. “Did you enjoy?”

  “It was beautiful, Roberto, thank you.” I look up at the charming Italian gentleman.

  “Great, but then I didn’t expect any different, and Dad’s dish tastes exactly the same as it always did,” James adds.

  Roberto places his hand on James’s shoulder and smiles. It’s a knowing smile and a shared moment between the two of them. He takes our plates to the kitchen and returns, pulling a chair up. He’s another bottle of Chianti with him, which he places on the table.

  “Will you join me in a little drink?” he asks us both as he pours more wine into our glasses and his own. He holds his own glass up, we both follow his lead.

  “So, James, I haven’t seen you for a few months. What’s been happening, son?” Roberto asks James. They l
ook so comfortable in each other’s company, just like they really are father and son.

  James takes a long drink of his wine, he looks so relaxed. “Busy at work. I told Gia when I spoke to her a little while ago, about Maggie. I can’t believe it’s been nearly six months since I last saw you!”

  “Yes, time flies, but we know you’re busy. We were both so sorry to hear about Maggie, she was a special lady. Gia and I thought the world of her, you know that, don’t you? We always promised we’d look out for…” He stops talking abruptly. My mind races back to what he’s just said – who was he talking about?

  “Well,” James continues, “my new boss here is keeping me very busy.”

  Roberto looks at me. “You’re a lucky lady. You look at lot like her, you know,” he says. “You’re going to keep the hotel?”

  “I’m keeping everything, for the time being. I’ve moved into what was Maggie’s home, with my daughter, and I plan to keep everything, at least in the short term. I don’t think I’ll ever sell Reid’s, but the other businesses she was involved in, well – for the time being I’m holding on to them. It’s not like she had anything to do with them, so I’ll just sit tight, I think,” I explain.

  “That’s probably the best idea.” Roberto offers his advice. In truth, I really don’t know what to do, most of the other businesses that Maggie was involved in were property investment-based, so it makes sense to just hold on and retain the income from them. There’s also a stack of cash in the bank, so no need to release any capital just yet, the house in Chelsea is paid for, it would be foolish of me to do anything drastic.

  “So where are you from, Alex?” Roberto asks.

  “From Staffordshire, lived there all of my life.” Although I now know that isn’t quite true.

  “So a big move for you, and then you found this rogue.” He looks at James and smiles.

  “Well, I don’t know about ‘rogue’. He’s done a sterling job of keeping Reid’s going, I won’t be letting him go any time soon, that’s for sure. I honestly couldn’t have done anything without him.” I speak from the heart because that’s the truth. “James has been so accommodating, so open and honest, and I think the fact that we get along so well helps.”

  “It’s been a very, very difficult time, Roberto,” James adds. “Alex’s been through the mill, really and truly.”

  “I’m really sorry to hear that,” Roberto says quietly. “But you two look quite cosy here, is there anything I should know? You’re acting like a couple!”

  I flush and look at James and nod. Hell, I don’t care if Roberto knows we’re together.

  “Well, I suppose we are,” James says. “Have been for… what is it, Alex? Four or five weeks? I’m sort of staying at Alex’s house when I’m not at the hotel.”

  “Oh,” the older man says, I think a little surprised. “Well, I wish you both well. It’s about time James had a good woman to keep him in order.”

  “I don’t know about a good woman,” I laugh, “and James is doing all the looking after at the moment, he’s been brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I think I would have… Well, he’s saved me several times.”

  Roberto puts his wine down and moves his hand on top of mine, giving it a little squeeze. He smiles at me. “It’ll all sort itself out,” he reassures me.

  James gives me a possessive look and looks down at my hand. It’s clear he doesn’t like the fact that I’m touching another man. I smile sweetly at James and then at Roberto, such a lovely man, the looks from James continue, I defiantly smile at him again. I like have all of this positive attention!

  “Well, it is my belief, and call me old fashioned if you want, but I believe that a man should be there to look after his lady, to protect her and to honour her. You know, the old vows… well, I believe they should be stuck to. But don’t tell Gia I said so, she never obeys me anyway!” he all but preaches.

  We all laugh. The wine is flowing freely, the company is good and for a little while I feel alive, truly alive.

  “Where is Gia?” James asks.

  “She’s at home, night off. We’re getting on a bit now so we try to take a few nights off each week. We’d both much rather work in the day and stay at home in the evenings. We gave David— you remember David?” James nods. “Well, we gave him the position of Manager, he runs the place for us.”

  “That’s good, Roberto, I’m pleased you still have the bistro. Dad… Dad would be pleased too, I’m sure.” James looks so sad again as he recalls his father.

  Roberto puts a hand on James’s shoulder. “I know he would be, son, and very proud of you too, as we are.” The conversation stops. The laughter stops on that sombre note and we sit, drinking our Chianti, all reflecting, I think, on our own personal worries and triumphs. The quiet’s disturbed by my mobile, which has again found its way to my apparently bottomless handbag. I rummage around and retrieve it just as it rings off. Checking the screen, I see that it was Anna trying to call.

  “Anna.” I wave my phone at James. “I’ll call her back,” I tell the gents as I wander towards the back of the bistro.

  The call connects after a couple of rings. “Hi Anna, sorry, phone was at the bottom of my bag.”

  She’s crying and muttering something incomprehensible. “Anna, calm down and say again?” She repeats the jumble of words but I can’t make head nor tail of what she is saying. I wave to James and mouth “something’s wrong”. He excuses himself from Roberto and takes the phone from me; he speaks with Anna.

  “Anna, it’s James, what’s wrong? Calm down, Anna, and say it again. I can’t hear you properly, speak slowly, Anna… Okay, we’re on our way.”

  He clears the call and gives my phone back to me. “We need to go, Alex, she’s had a text from Lewis, pretty nasty, I think. Roberto, I can’t drive, too much to drink. We need to go back to Reid’s quickly, is there anyone here that can drive us?”

  Roberto looks at us both, concerned. “Big problem?” he asks.

  “Potentially, we need to get back sharpish.”

  “I’ll call Benito for you, he’s only a few streets away.” Roberto moves towards a telephone at the rear of the bistro.

  Benito? James spoke to someone called Benito a few days ago. “Who’s Benito?” I ask James.

  “Benito’s a relative of Roberto, distant. His dad was a very good friend of my father too.”

  That doesn’t tell me a lot at all.

  “What does he do?” I push for information.

  “He’s involved in security.”

  “Oh.” I’m really still none the wiser!

  By the time we’ve got ourselves organised, Benito has arrived and has walked into the bistro. He’s huge. I thought James had a fine physique but this guy, he’s massive. He has dark hair, piercing dark grey eyes and slightly tanned skin. He’s wearing a fine pale grey suit and a plain white shirt, open at the neck, no tie. Menacingly, he’s also wearing black leather gloves, the only thing missing to make him look truly threatening is the sunglasses.

  “James, good to see you mate.” He de-gloves one hand and shakes James’s firmly. There’s mutual back slapping, I guess they haven’t seen each other in a while. “You must be Alexandra?” Benito takes my hand and raises it to his lips, gently kissing the back of my knuckles. This rewards him with a stare from James. “Sorry, mate,” Benito says humbly

  I look at the huge Italian guy and give him my little smile, then I look at James, “We need to get back to the girls.”

  “We do, we need to go!” James announces firmly, guiding me towards the door.

  “You want me to tag along?” Roberto asks.

  “No, you stay here. No need, I’ll call if I need any help,” James says. “I’ll call you tomorrow to settle the bill.”

  “You do, son, and I’ll be deeply offended,” Roberto says as we leave. “You’ll come back to get that later?” He points towards the Audi. James answers with a thumbs up.

  Benito opens the door to his Mercedes and I climb in the back.
James sits in the front and we’re soon heading off to Reid’s.

  After a very fast drive through London we pull up outside the hotel. The doorman greets us. “Mrs Drake, James.” He tips his hat as we enter the hotel. Sam is working, he waves and smiles.

  “Hi Sam, where’s Anna?” James ask.

  “Haven’t seen the girls at all. Must be in their room.” The Concierge tips his hat as I pass.

  “No worries. Come on, Alex, Benito.” We walk quickly across the foyer, which is busy with people. There’s a private party in one of the function rooms and pounding music is filtering throughout the ground floor of the hotel. The lifts are clear and we’re soon on our way to the first floor. We walk three abreast along the corridor, James and Benito either side of me, and stop at Anna and Katie’s room. James knocks. We hear soft footsteps the other side of the door and from the fumbling it’s clear that either Anna or Katie is looking through the spy hole. The door opens and Anna lets us in.

  I can see from her face that she’s been crying; mascara is running down her cheeks and her eyes are puffy. “I… I’ve had a text, a text from Dad,” she sobs.

  “I will not have him, the bloody bastard upsetting my daughter, I will not have it!” I curse as I march towards Anna, James right behind me. “Why can’t the police just haul him back in again, I won’t have it James.” I snap as I sit besid Anna, my arm around her shoulder. I pull her towards me, “Oh Anna. We’ll sort it my darling, we will.” She turns her head to my shoulder, I feel her crying quietly, little hunches of her shoulders

  James looks at me and then Anna, “Where’s your phone, Anna?” .

  “It’s here,” Katie says. She’s sat on her bed, the TV is on. “I’ve tried to calm her down, tell her that nobody can hurt us, or you, but she won’t have it. I’m so sorry.”

  “Katie, it’s not your fault,” I say as I leave Anna for a moment and walk over to her, giving her a reassuring hug. “You couldn’t have done anything.”

  “Fuck!” I hear James say. “Benito, mate, have a look at this.” James shows Benito the phone.

  “The bastard. The fucking bastard needs horse-whipping! No, scrub that, he needs—” He’s interrupted by James, who’s tapped his arm and signalled to Anna and Katie.