Page 83 of Empress of Savages

“Different places. If you want my advice, take up Ester’s offer. Join her in Italy. Keep your head down for a year or so.”

“This is all my fault.”

“It’s not. Not really.”

I’m thinking,Ye of little faith.When we get into that showroom, I am going to sit those men down and give them all a real, old-school talking-to.

The top level of the high-end mall is tiled with pink marble and capped with a curved glass roof. The views of the sound with the mountains beyond are breathtaking. The landscape here is a wonder of nature that takes my breath away.

Walking with Bruno, Alessio, and Carlo, all immaculately groomed and eye-popping in their exquisitely tailored suits, when the double doors to plush suite are swung open by the unformed attendants, I feel like I’m starring in a movie. But to look at us, you would have no way of knowing that I’m headed for my death scene.

I feel overwhelmed. Suddenly. I turn and run. We passed a sign just a few yards back. Holding my hand over my mouth, I can’t even wait to ask one of the smart assistants in the suite the way to a bathroom.

As I turn into the little side corridor, I heard a shuffle and bustle behind me but I don’t have time to even stop and turn. I stick out my hand to shove the door with the WOMEN sign. I burst in.

A store assistant is at one of the sinks. She looks up, startled. I just about manage to smile and wave a hand to tell her that it’s alright.

It’s only a moment this time. Not even especially uncomfortable. I’m thinking the concussion must have left me with this as an after-effect. It’s not life-threatening, but I could sure do without it.

As I’m cooling my face and dabbing cool water at my throat, I remember that I meant to ask the good doctor for a prescription when I saw him. Or if he would recommend dramamine or something else from over the counter.

Naturally, I forgot. Too many things on my mind at the time. As I’m straightening myself up, I give an apologetic smile and finger wave to the store assistant. She smiles back, sympathetic.

I’m about to say something when two women dash in. I step out of their way. One is really running for the cubicles. I step the other way, but she puts out a hand. It lands in the center of my chest.

Meantime, the other woman ducked to crouch behind me on all fours.

I topple back over her. The first woman grabs me by the hair. The woman beneath me turns and swings her arm. A sharp needle stabs, deep into the side of my neck. The shop assistant is blurring and fading in front of me.

Darkness closes in.

I come to in a chair. Not too hard. Not too soft. An office chair that swivels. For a moment, I just sit and spin. but that makes me feel sick again. Then I start to wonder where I am. I squint. The scene around me is blurred, like it was in the washroom. I’m not in a washroom, though.

A deep voice is saying something. I think he’s talking to me. Right now I don’t want to listen. It doesn’t matter, though. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate, even if I did. The noise is blurry. Just like my vision. I shake my head. But that makes me feel sick again.

Damn, I am starting to get really bored with that. But this time it passes. Well, I’m pretty glad about that. I don’t think I could get up now, even if I could see where to go.

I feel tired, but that man’s voice is still droning away. It comes closer and then farther away. I want to tell him to shut up. Nothing comes out, though.

I close my eyes.

Sleep comes on pretty fast. That’s nice.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Next time my eyes open, I’m achey all over. I can see okay, though. And I can hear what’s going on, too.

There’s the good doctor.

I tell him, “You’re everywhere.”

He says, “I had no choice.”

I say, “What?”

Two men drag him away.

Heavy feet pound the floor toward me. From behind. I turn the chair and to my complete lack of surprise, I’m greeted by a dark vision of the lumbering frame of Don Romano, lurching fast in my direction.

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