Page 14 of And Back

I reach the grand staircase and descend slowly, each step measured and cautious. The silence is almost suffocating. My breath catches as I hear a distant sound—footsteps? I freeze, listening intently. But then it stops, leaving me in a cocoon of stillness once more.

I continue towards the front door, clutching my sketchbook tightly against my chest as if it could somehow shield me from the chaos outside these walls. The thought of seeing Valerie again fills me with a mix of relief and anxiety. She’s my mentor, my inspiration, and right now, she’s my only hope.

The foyer is vast and echoing, even in its silence. I reach for the door handle just as I hear a car engine hum to life outside—Valerie’s signal. Taking a deep breath, I open the door slightly and peer out. There she is, her car parked discreetly at the edge of the driveway.

I slip out quietly trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. A guard steps out from the shadows, blocking my path.

“Where are you going, miss?” he asks, his tone skeptical.

“I’m going on an errand with Valerie,” I say, trying to sound confident. “She needs my help with some urgent sketches.”

“Does the boss know about this?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I swallow hard, maintaining eye contact. “Would I leave without telling him? Of course he’s aware,” I say firmly.

The guard hesitates, glancing towards the house. “I should call and confirm.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” I interject quickly. “He’s resting, and you know how he gets when he’s disturbed. Do you really want to wake him up for this?”

The guard’s eyes flicker with uncertainty. He glances towards Valerie’s car, where she’s waiting patiently. “That’s Valerie in the car?” he asks, trying to catch a glimpse through the window.

“Yes, it is,” I reply, pointing towards the car. “She’s waiting for me. We’re already running late.”

He sighs, stepping aside reluctantly. “Alright, you can go ahead, miss.”

I nod quickly, thanking him before hurrying to the car. As soon as I slide into the passenger seat, Valerie turns to me with wide, concerned eyes.

“Zoe,” she says softly, “are you okay?”

“I will be,” I reply, though my voice trembles slightly. “We need to go.”

“Where are we going?” Valerie asks, glancing at me.

“Just drive for now,” I say, my mind racing. “We need to put some distance between us and the house.”

She nods and starts driving away from the estate. The tension in my chest eases slightly as we put distance between us and the mansion.

After a few moments of silence, I finally say, “Thank you for coming.”

“Of course,” Valerie replies firmly. “But Zoe, what’s going on?”

“I need your help to get to Dante's place,” I begin slowly, choosing my words carefully.

“Dante…. Why? Is there something going on?”

“Virgilio and Dante are at each other's throats. And this rivalry is tearing them apart. It’s dangerous for everyone involved.”

“What do you mean?” Valerie asks, her brow furrowing. “Why is it so dangerous?”

I take a deep breath. “It’s in your best interest not to know... But it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt—or worse. They’re both so stubborn and arrogant, and it's putting everyone around them in danger.”

Valerie’s eyes flicker with skepticism as she glances at me, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. The silence stretches between us, thick and uneasy.

“Zoe,” she begins cautiously, “I understand your concern, but what exactly are you planning to do? You can't just walk into a situation like this.”

“I know it's dangerous, Valerie. But I can't just sit back and watch them tear each other apart. Virgilio and Dante have suffered enough. They need to see that this feud is only causing more pain.”

Valerie’s lips press into a thin line. “And how do you plan to do that? You think you can just talk them out of their fight?”

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