Page 54 of Scarlet Angel

“Good way to play my words right back to me.”

“You know, you’re not what I expected.”

I chuckle. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

CHAPTER14

SCARLET

Catarina Gagliano

Luisa scheduled your return flight for tomorrow morning. She will email you the itinerary and boarding pass.

I read the message. That’s typical of my mother. She ignores that which displeases her and assumes that by insisting something happen, it will.

When she saw my bruises, broken bones, and stitches, she told me to be a good wife and refused to see the truth. She avoided me, as if putting me out of sight would eliminate the issue. And perhaps it did. Avoiding me eased her guilt. She could tell herself I was living a good life as the wife of the enforcer, and in her mind, it would be true.

I could respond and tell her I won’t be on the flight, but that might expedite plans to retrieve me.

I set the phone down and look outside the window to judge the weather. It’s overcast with a weighted melancholy I feel in my bones. My sundresses and skirts don’t work in this climate. I peruse the assortment of clothes Lina ordered for me at her brother’s request. He asked her to ensure I had a full wardrobe suitable for an English winter, and she delivered. Tags remain on many of the hanging and folded items. If I don’t use them, they can return them. At least, that’s my thought process. I locate a pair of denims and a thermal. It’s not particularly fashionable, and most definitely casual, but I’ll be warm, and there’s no need to dress for business.

I head to Nick’s office to locate him. He offered me his protection and his home, but it’s better if I leave. Tristan Voignier mentioned Interpol could protect me, and it’s better if I pursue that option rather than bring Massimo’s retrievers to Nick’s doorstep. Each attempted contact from my mother drives that point home.

An angry voice coming from the office halts my steps.

“You don’t believe that for one minute.”

A brief silence follows.

“Bullshit! I want to know everything. Every detail they discover at the crash site. You hear me? They’re going to spin it. I want the truth.”

I step to the doorway as Nikolai hurls a glass against the wall. Crystal shatters.

“Bad time?”

He startles, a reaction I didn’t expect. I took him to be a man who is never taken by surprise.

“Come on in,” he says, running his fingers through his hair and turning to the window.

“Did something happen?”

“I don’t know.” He’s thoughtful, eyes narrowed, his mind somewhere far from his study.

I stand there, torn between taking his time or exiting and leaving him be.

“Don’t just stand there. Enter. Sit. What do you need?”

“Was that about Willow’s wreck?”

He blinks, and the hard lines around his eyes soften.

“No. A plane crash. What did you need?”

“Ah, I…” I swipe my palms on my front and step forward. “I plan to ask Interpol to place me under their protection.”

That gets his attention.

“Why?” He looks like he needs a smoker’s pipe to hold. Something to do with his hands. Maybe it’s the stuffy room. “What makes you say that?"

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