Page 42 of Empress of Savages

He gives me time to look around, so I explore the closets and rifle a few drawers. Nothing seems familiar to me, though. When I shrug, he leads me back downstairs.

A woman is entering through the front doorway. A woman with the face and eyes of an ice queen. She obviously knows me. I can’t tell for certain whether the icicles around my heart are from recognizing her or if they’re just a simple reaction to the chill in her stare.

The Mastermind quickens his step and embraces her. As he does, he seems to drop a couple of years. His eyes look younger.

The Warrior waits his turn for a hug. She’s polite, but warm.

The Emperor nods to her and says, “Ester.”

She returns his nod. Then she looks in my face.

“Darling,” she says, “You do look pale.”She asks the men, “Has she been eating alright? Have you been feeding her properly?”

Her eyes slip to the Mastermind. “Upstairs? Nothing?”

His mouth thins. “If there was anything, I didn’t see it.”

She asks me, “You don’t see anything here at all that you recognize? Nobody and nothing?”

I shake my head.

To the Mastermind she says, “She didn’t even want to change into her own clothes?” His lips press together as his head turns, once.

She steps toward me and her voice softens into a lull of compassion. “You poor thing. I hope you’re not trapped in there too long.” Then to the men, “Take her to the old house.”

Even though I have no idea what she’s talking about, my stomach drops through the floor as she says the words.

“If that doesn’t rouse her, nothing will.”

My knee shakes.

“Meanwhile,” the Mastermind says, “while we try that. And while we try everything else–” he steps toward her.

“Oh, no.” She raises her hand, palm out. Firm. Then points a finger. “Absolutely not. After today, I’m heading straight back to Italy. I’ve done my time in the trenches, thank you very much.”

“What about your contacts?” the Warrior implores her. “Chicago, for instance.”

“Seriously? You want me to go begging?” Her eyes narrow and her lips thin. “I know exactly how many favors I have left that I can call, and I may well need every one of them for my own skin. No. I’ve done what I can, but this is not my mess.”

The Emperor draws breath to speak but her eyes cut to him. His chest falls. Almost as quietly as a breath, she asks him, “Have I made myself clear?”

When she takes my hand, I’m completely surprised and disarmed by her warmth and tenderness. “You, my darling, you can come to me. Now, tomorrow, any time. Whether you know me or not.La mia casa è la tua casa.”

She shoots back a look across the three men. “But I won’t stay in the States. Not after tonight.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Back in the car, the tension almost twangs. Too nervous to stay quiet, I keep up a stream of babbling chatter. Most likely I sound like a total idiot but I could not care less.

Maybe this old house will unlock my memory, but I feel like I’m being driven to my execution. “There’s no chance we could stop a while and let me get out for a run?”

From close beside me, the Warrior says, “Even if one of us came with you, there’s too much risk of you being seen.”

“Seen by who? What are you all keeping me hidden from?” and then, “Or what are you keeping me locked away for?” Nobody speaks.

“I mean, if this is all part of some twisted sex game, I’d have to point out there’s not very much sex going on.”

The warrior shifts in his seat. From the front, the Emperor fixes my eye in the mirror. I don’t care. Frustration of every kind is driving me frantic. I want to shake the whole world like a snow-globe.

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