PART 2 – The Shadow in the Reflection
The first thirty minutes of the flight passed in a tense silence. My head was still resting against Luca Ferri's broad shoulder, and although it felt awkward at first, the warmth of his body slowly began to relax me. Vittoria breathed peacefully against my chest; her tiny heart beat in a slow, reassuring rhythm trying to calm the storm inside my own head. Luca barely moved. His arm lay stiffly along his side, as if he were afraid to make a wrong move and shatter the illusion. But when the flight attendants came around with the drink cart, I had to sit up straight.
"Thank you," I whispered, straightening my shoulder and brushing my hair out of my face. My neck felt stiff.
"Are you okay?" Luca asked softly. His voice sounded deep and soothing, with a slight rasp that betrayed he hadn't slept well in ages.
"I'm fine," I replied coolly, though I couldn't suppress a faint smile. "At least your shoulder is firmer than my ex-husband's."
Luca smiled faintly, but his eyes remained sharp and alert. He glanced quickly over his shoulder toward row fourteen. The man in the sunglasses appeared to be sleeping, or at least pretending to. However, his phone was prominently displayed on his tray table, with the camera pointed directly at our row.
"He's not giving up," Luca noted. His tone became colder, almost dangerous. "Marco Moretti. A freelance gossip journalist who makes it a sport to discredit captains of the national airline. They pay well for scandals. Especially when young women and children are involved. It all fits into a larger conspiracy to force management into a reorganization."
I looked at him, astonished by the harshness in his voice. "A conspiracy? Isn't that a bit exaggerated for a simple tabloid photographer?"
"You think so?" Luca turned slightly toward me, his blue eyes piercing. "My name is tied to a major safety investigation into the new automatic landing systems. Millions of euros are at stake. If they can damage me on a personal level, we lose our credibility on the board of directors. And you... you are right in the spotlight because you happen to be sitting next to me."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I didn't want to get caught up in anyone's political or corporate war at all. I just wanted to get to Rome, to my sister, to start over after Stefano had destroyed my life.
"Listen, Mr. Ferri," I said with a sharp undertone in my voice. "I have enough of my own mess to deal with. I'm not here to be your pawn in some dirty game."
Before he could answer, Vittoria began to stir awake. She rubbed her eyes and gave a soft squeak. Luca looked at the little girl, and for the first time I saw the stern, hard lines of his face soften. A warm, almost vulnerable look appeared in his eyes as Vittoria reached out her tiny hand and touched the shiny golden pilot's button on his collar.
"Hello little one," Luca whispered as softly as possible. "Glad you're awake. Your mother almost couldn't handle me anymore."
Vittoria laughed sweetly, oblivious to the tension slicing through the cabin. But when I looked out the window, I saw the weather turning. Dark, threatening thunderclouds gathered around the wing of the airplane, and somewhere deep in the distance, I heard a soft, eerie rumble that spelled trouble.
