Page 83 of The Villain
“My father isn’t going to let anything happen to me, Allegra. You’re the one who’s in danger. I’ll find out what more I can.”
Someone tries the door, but when they find it locked, they knock.
“I have to go. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful, okay? And don’t switch off your phone. At least I can see where you are if you don’t switch it off.”
“I won’t. Just a second,” I call out. “Please you be careful too.”
I disconnect the call, silence the phone and shove it deep into my backpack before opening the bedroom door.
Elenora is standing inside holding a garment bag high in one hand and a tote in the other and two women follow dragging small cases on wheels. She comes toward me.
“There you are. Everything is ready. You didn’t try the shoes, so I brought several.” She pushes her way into the bedroom and honestly, I’m happy for the distraction, although I’m curious about her involvement as far as Jet’s visit.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
“They will prepare your hair and makeup,” she says, pointing to the two ladies who follow her in and closethe door behind them. “The dress is exquisite. We need to make you exquisite.”
I glance at the clock. It’s a little after five. I guess they have two hours to work their magic. Two hours for me to try to unravel the webs each player is weaving.
23
CASSIAN
When I step off the elevator on my floor, I find Elenora followed by two women talking loudly as they leave the penthouse. When Elenora sees me, she smiles, comes to greet me with her usual kiss on each cheek.
“She is ready for you!” she announces. “And she is bellissima!” She kisses the tips of her fingers and gestures in the air before turning to the women and snapping at them to hurry up.
I watch, entertained, as they pile into the elevator a cloud of perfume in their wake.
A soldier sneezes and I pat him on the shoulder. “Any trouble?” I ask.
“All good,” he says. I walk into the penthouse. The main room is empty. Allegra must still be in the bedroom. I make my way in, glancing at my watch. It’s already seven o’clock. No time for a shower.
Allegra walks out of the bathroom justas I step into the bedroom and we both stop, she with a gasp, her hand moving to cover her heart because I’ve startled her.
Me, well, me in awe.
Because Elenora’s bellissima did not prepare me for this.
Allegra is pretty. I know that already. Her makeup the few times she’s worn it is understated, a little eyeliner, mascara, a swipe of lip gloss, although all I’ve seen her apply is Burt’s Bees so I’m not sure that counts. And I like her that way, without a doubt. I like her natural. But this? How she looks right now with her heavy, smokey eyeliner, the deep red lips, her hair piled high on her head in a messy Helena Bonham-Carter style and that choker around her neck, well, she’s something else. Something more than pretty that’s for sure.
“I was right,” I mumble.
She clears her throat and a blush I’m starting to like very much creeps up her chest over her neck to her face. She’s almost as red as the dress now.
“Right?” she asks, glancing at her backpack then back at me.
“Red is your color.” I make a twirling gesture with my finger.
“I asked for the black,” she says, humoring me with a spin. “But the zipper magically broke. Or so Elenora said.”
I chuckle. “That’s Elenora for you.” I walk toward her, notice her bare feet peeking out from beneath the floor length gown. Her toenails are polished red and when I take her hands in mine, I notice her fingernails are painted a pretty nude shade with a streak ofred at the tips. I lift the hand with the missing finger to my mouth and kiss the back of it before kissing the place where her pinkie should be.
She looks surprised and pulls her hand free to cover it with the other.
“Don’t hide it from me,” I say, taking it back.
