Page 4 of Phantom Mine

“Of course not, but you will once I tell you about it,” I say, fingering strands of her hair. “It’sCarnivalenight atFirenzetonight. You know I’ve wanted to go to that club since before we even got here — what better night than aCarnivaletheme?”

“That does sound fun,” she admits. “But I’m too depressed. My mood is gray like the sky.”

“I can’t hear you over the sound of the music I’m imagining in my head,” I answer, shaking my hips to an imaginary song and making her head bounce in the process. “Oh look, I see really hot guys who want to dance with us too!”

She laughs and swats at me.

“What would we even wear?” she argues. “Sounds like a pretty intense theme.”

“You think I didn’t come prepared for this conversation?” I ask. I motion for her to sit up and then go into my bedroom, coming back out with two Venetian masks and dresses.

One of the masks is butterfly themed, with dozens of monarchs affixed to and flying off the sides. The other is peacock themed, with colorful feathers coming off the top. They each have matching dresses that I spentweeksperfecting with costumers.

Based on the way Adriana is eyeing the butterfly dress, I think I just made a winning argument.

“Oh, wow,” she whispers.

I’m not going to take no for an answer, even if Adriana is more of a homebody than I am. I love to party. I love to dance and meet new people and have a few drinks and just havefun.

“Come on, Adri. We’re young, dumb, and temporarily responsibility-free. This is what life is supposed to be all about right now.” I waltz around the living room holding the peacockdress up to my body. “Imagine dancing in these,” I say with a giggle, adding, “Pretty please? It’s been way too long since I flirted with anyone. That’sactuallydepressing. And what better place to get back in the game than London? You know I love an accent.”

She jumps to her feet and walks over to me, a twinkle back in her eye.

I grin.

I know my sister, I know I just won the battle.

“Fine. But dibs on the butterfly dress then.”

I hand it to her. “It’s always been yours, plant queen.”

She squeals excitedly and runs to the bathroom. “I’m glad I didn’t straighten my hair for nothing!”

I watch her go with a smile on my face, happy I got my way.

If I’d known then how the night would end, I would have changed everything.

If I’d known even one tenth of what would happen, I’d have taken her hand and run into the rain. We’d have danced and laughed and gotten dirty and probably ended up with a monster cold.

But we’d have come back inside and prepped thearepas, and put on the kettle. We’d have made popcorn and turned on the TV and cried watching Rachel show up at Ross’s apartment.

If I’d known, I would never have forced her to go somewhere she’d end up being murdered.

Chapter One

Valentina

A year and a half later

If you want something said, ask a man.

If you want something done, ask a woman.

I’m not sure who I’m quoting, but I do know two things. One, it was definitely a woman who said it.

Two, she was right.

My sports bag digs into my stiff shoulder as I look up atFirenze. I haven’t been back to the club since the night Adriana was kidnapped and killed. If I saw any other way, I wouldn’t be here now, but I’ve officially run out of patience waiting for Thiago to make a miracle happen.

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