Page 90 of Deception

Cold sweat beads on my forehead, makes me shiver as I sit alone. Dread curdles in my stomach, souring my mouth.

A sound from the kitchen bolts me upright, wrapping the test and stuffing it in the elastic of my skirt at my waist. Skipping down the hall, I make it to the south wing door when Carla pops around the corner. “SignorinaIsabella! Did you need something?”

She’s not suspicious or accusing, but she looks over my shoulder down the hall.

“No, sorry. I just…” An excuse, any excuse, “I needed a pad. I ran out.”

“Don’t trouble yourself next time searching! Just ask and I’m happy to help.” She winks, patting my arm.

The kind gesture nearly breaks me.

Forcing the tears back, I smile, nodding. “Thank you, Carla, you have been so kind.”

“My dear, I only wish I could have spent more time here with you. I trustSignoreAlessandro was an adequate host while we were gone?”

“He was.”

“Well, I pray we see you here again soon. He needs a woman like you in his life.” She pulls me into a quick, tight hug. I bite my lip to keep from spilling my guts to her, a sob threatening to burst forth. “This is just farewell, not goodbye.”

“You’re too kind, Carla. Tell Ava it was wonderful meeting her, too. I wish you all the best.”

She’s back to her work with a flourish of her apron.

I slip the test into the waste bin and dash upstairs to my room. Hot tears spill out before I can shut the door and bury my face in my pillow.

Giving myself a few minutes to vent, I eventually pull myself up and wash my face.

“You can cry later. Now, you need to get out of here.”

The snow stopped falling completely last night. Not that the roads will be anything that my rental car could handle…

But I may have to risk it.

I was supposed to follow them down the mountain. They would use the plow to lead the way.

Forcing doubts from my head, I sneak back out of my room, heading straight for the landing. I need to make sure they are occupied before I gather up my gadgets and make a run for it. Listening closely at the door, I flinch as the phone rings again, loudly.

Aless’s angry growl answers.

“Fucking connection. Can you hear me? Good. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”

Pause.

“We’ll take a more direct route back. I don’t care. I need to be there now, put the elders’ fears to rest.”

Pause.

“Don’t you dare make a move until I get home, Ciro.”

I want to listen more, hear what they're saying, but this could be my only opportunity to gather my things. The camera in the office can wait until they’re asleep tonight.

That’s when I'll log on to his computer, get what I need and go.

Creeping back into the east wing, I quickly check Adriano’s room again, just in case he left anything new lying about.

Nothing of note. He’s careful. Clean.

Which only leaves me the stack of papers that I found before. He hasn’t said anything, so it likely means he hasn’t noticed them missing.

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