Page 50 of Lily

“The FBI will care as soon as I hit send on that last communication.”

Chapter Seventeen

An hour later, Roselia sat at the kitchen table again. Her leg wouldn’t stop bouncing up and down. She was dressed now. Fully dressed like she hadn’t been in nine days. Jeans, T-shirt, bra, panties, shoes, socks, and sweatshirt.

She was watching the computer screen while Stefano rushed around packing their things. Her job was to let him know when the messages changed.

Suddenly, it happened. Everything blinked blank, and new messages started appearing. “Stefano,” she called out, “it’s happening.”

She was scared out of her mind, and she still didn’t fully understand what was happening, but she understood the important part. If Stefano didn’t go to the FBI, Santo would strike again and ruin more lives.

In her rational mind, she couldn’t let that happen. As much as she wanted to ignore reality and run off to France with Stefano, she realized that wasn’t an option. She also understood why he’d taken her and hidden her for over a week. He’d been hoping to ignore reality, too. She couldn’t really blame him.

Guilt had been slowly eating at him all week. He’d found her, and now, he’d expected to be torn away from her. It hurt. Every part of her hurt. She’d been crying for over an hour, fear making her body shake uncontrollably.

Stefano ran into the kitchen, set a hand on her shoulder, and leaned over to read the incoming messages.

Stefano, this is Diane

Please come in

Bring Lily

Do the right thing

You’re an amazing agent

Tell your story

Roselia looked at Stefano. “What does it mean?”

He sighed. “It means Diane remembers me. I thought she would. She was in the same unit as me with the FBI. Apparently, she’s now the boss.”

“You were in the FBI?”

He nodded.

“What happened to you?”

“I was killed.”

Roselia stared at him.

For the first time all morning, he gave her a wan smile as he sat in the chair next to her. “Well, maybe not so much, but that’s what the FBI and the rest of the world believed.”

Her head was spinning. She had so many questions. She couldn’t process anymore right now.

Stefano pulled the computer closer, cleared the boxes, and typed into the empty slots.

Coming in

Be there in an hour

I have Lily

She is safe

Her name is

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