Page 30 of Depths of Desire
“Maybe,” I say, but I don’t sound convinced.
“None of this solves the problem of what to do with you,” Pippa points out.
“I know. I was just thinking that. I’ve got a bag packed, but even if I get off the property, I don’t know where to go. Nico will look at the Nice airport first.”
“Then don’t go to the airport.”
“Okay. But since I did the unexpected last time by going on the freighter where Nico found me, what will he expect me to do this time? Something normal? Something unexpected? I don’t know.”
“Take a breath,” she says. “We’ll figure this out.”
She goes silent, and over the phone line, I hear her nails clicking on something.
“A yacht,” she says finally. “You need to hide on a yacht.”
I rub my forehead. “To what end? And whose yacht? If we use any of the Valdici yachts, they’ll all know right away, and if they know, chances are good, so will my father.”
Pippa ignores my outburst. “If we can get you to sail—no.” She pauses. “That’s too close.”
More tapping. “Sardinia. Or Malta. Let’s get you to one of those islands. You can fly out and disappear.”
I bite my lip. “Okay, but once again, whose yacht? How do we do it without being found? The family yachts are off limits.”
“Yeah, but you know who isn’t under their control?”
“Who?” I have no clue who she is talking about.
“Royce Dunbar.”
“Oh my God, Pippa” I say, laughing. “I called him for his jet, but we never used it.”
“I know,” she replies. “I can reach out to him about the yacht. You never know when you’re going to need a friend.”
My stomach knots. “Do you think he’d do it? I mean we never used the jet, and he went to a lot of trouble for us.”
“I think if I asked him—and told him it was for you? Hell yeah, he’d do it. But it might take a couple of days. I don’t know where his yacht is.”
“And how do I get out of here? I mean, I’ve got the bag packed. But with everything going on, security’s going to be tight.”
“I’m pretty sure we can get you out,” Pippa says. “We just need to come up with a plan they won’t suspect. Something they’ll approve of. Leave it with me.”
“You can’t tell Mia,” I say.
Pippa hesitates.
“Don’t tell Mia. Please don’t tell her.”
Pippa finally relents. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything unless I know she’s totally on our side. We’re going to figure this out. I promise.”
I want to believe her, I really do, but doubt creeps up my throat.
“Is this your phone? I got the number from when Mia called earlier,” she says.
“It’s the one Carson gave me. The butler. I’ll keep it, but I won’t necessarily have it on me all the time. I’m afraid Nico’s going to take it. I kind of feel like I’m being held prisoner here.”
“All right. I’ll get back to you when I can. Hang in there.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
