Page 62 of His UnBearable Touch

“Nothing.” Linda sighed. “Nothing.”

A chime sounded from Allegra’s phone.

“Okay then,” Allegra turned back to the table, “then I really need to get my makeup done and get changed.”

“Hey,” Linda moved closer and wrapped her hand around Allegra’s upper arm, “why don’t we go for a walk. You know, relax a little before the show.”

Allegra got up so her arm wouldn’t be bent at a weird angle. “Hey, no. I have things to do before the concert and-”

An alarm sounded and Allegra’s whole body tensed.

“That’s the fire alarm.”

“Let’s go.” Linda shifted her hold on Allegra’s arm. “I know a quick way to get out of here.”

Allegra nodded and tried to pull away. “I need my phone.”

“No, we’ll get out of here and you can use my phone, okay?”

The alarm only seemed to get louder and the sound in Allegra’s ears echoed like the sounds of sirens.

Sirens.

Police sirens.

Ambulance sirens.

Her skin went cold, her mind went numb, and when Linda pulled her toward the door, Allegra stumbled after her.

* * *

The phone rang as they were getting in the car. Salvatore put his phone on speaker. “What did you find out?”

“You knew, didn’t you?”

Valerio eyes were as black as night. “What?”

Uberto barked back through the phone. “Lance isn’t Lance. The fingerprints don’t match. They-”

Valerio nearly tore the door off of the car and pulled the driver out. “Get in!”

Salvatore followed but Natale stayed behind with the driver.

The car peeled out of the private garage and rocketed onto the street amidst honking horns and angry shouts.

Valerio yanked his phone from his suitcoat pocket and tossed it to his brother. “Call the guards, tell them to get Allegra out of there.”

Salvatore was already relaying the message.

* * *

People rushed by, excited voices, and Allegra stayed on her feet with Linda tugging at her arm. They avoided the elevator, stumbling down a few flights of stairs with Allegra trying to catch her breath.

“I need my phone, Linda.”

“We’re almost there.”

“I need my phone. I should call Valerio.”

---