Page 54 of His Two Hidden Masks

“And we stay here?”

“How fast can you run?”

“I’m a proper athlete,” he said.

“Okay, when that light goes to the left,” I said, “we run to the right.” I pulled Dylan by the hand, inching him closer to the exit. Our only way out was right past this guard.

The guard’s light flashed by us. He turned the corner and his beam grew dim as he focused on another room.

“Now,” I whispered.

Grabbing Dylan’s hand, we bolted across the hall. The sound of our footsteps gave us away, and I could hear the shuffle of the security guard when he realized he wasn’t alone.

“Stop!” he shouted. “Who’s there?”

The exit door was just down the stairs. We took the stone steps two at a time, dashed past the entryway where Leo had given us the keys. We were steps away when the front door opened from the outside. A flashlight shone in our face.

“Stop! Thief!” And just like that, we were cornered by the Venetian Carabinieri.

I dropped Dylan’s hand, and we raised our hands in the air.

10

Dylan leaned his head against the dingy wall of the Venice police station. Above him, posters reminded people to spay and neuter their animals, and to keep them out of hot cars in the summertime. The notices were dated and fraying.

I held my hand to my throbbing temple. It had been so stupid to get caught at the glass factory. Leo had told us one hour, but we’d lost track of the time. Being with Dylan, everything moved fast and slow at the same time.

Once our bodies touched, we were consumed by each other. All thoughts of consequence disappeared under the pressure of his mouth against mine, his body inside mine.

I massaged my temple a bit harder. I needed to focus on getting out of the police station and less on imagining his naked body hovering above me. In just a couple of days, I was sex-crazed.

At least, that is what part of me thought. Another part of me wondered if this is what I’d been missing all these years, sex so good it made me forget the time.

We should have been more careful, though, and I hoped Leo wouldn’t get into trouble. He had given us the key, after all,and I think we had finally convinced the security guards that we hadn’t stolen anything.

Just our luck, I didn’t know either of the security guards on the premises. They were new hires who commuted into Venice for the job. Carnival was the one time of year that knowing everyone in this town didn’t matter.

There were three million visitors on our streets, and for once, I was just a girl in the crowd. I hoped I could get to one of the police officers I did know tonight. There had to be a friendly face somewhere in this building. I needed to find a way out of here before my family got involved in this situation.

“They are being so slow,” I said.

Dylan reached over and patted my leg in a familiar way. “When do you suppose, these fellows are going to process us so we can get back into bed?” Dylan closed his eyes.

“Well, I need to sleep in my bed and you need to sleep in yours.”

“That is a terrible idea,” Dylan said.

“Aren’t you worried about getting arrested in Venice?” I asked.

“It’s not the worst thing that has ever happened to me.” He squinted, as if the fluorescent light pained him. “And may I remind you, it was worth it. Plus, these things have a way of working out. I can make some calls. Why don’t you let me fix this?”

“I am sure you can fix this for yourself,” I said, “but need I remind you, Mr. Street, I am not a billionaire or a famous musician?”

“Well, neither am I, anymore,” he said, eyebrows raised.

“So, I am not sure I want this on my record. You will have to excuse me for being worried.”

“Oh, I think you have more power in Venice than you realize, clever Bella,” Dylan said.

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