Page 115 of Gin & Trouble

Leo released me. “Two men. I didn’t want to draw too much attention.”

My mouth went dry. “Do you think Tommaso knows we’re here?”

“No. I haven’t seen anyone I recognize on the island, but better safe than sorry. The fewer people who can identify you two the better,” Leo said. “We just have to make it to the boat in the cart.”

“I realize there are no roads, but won’t pulling a cart to the dock seem suspicious?” Dante sounded as skeptical as I felt.

“Marco and I have been collecting wreckage all day. I’ve already started the rumor that someone may have found your—” He glanced at me as if second guessing what he was about to say. “That they foundpersonaleffects.”

“You told people Tino found our bodies?” My mouth fell open. “Won’t that put them in more danger?”

Leo said, “I didn’t mention any names.”

“How do we get from the cart to the boat?” Dante seemed to grow more nervous by the second, which did nothing to calm my rising anxiety.

“I broughtprovisions.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Dante had taken the words out of my mouth.

Leo made a swirling motion. “We wrap you up intarps. You just have to be still while someone carries you.”

“You mean play dead?” Dante’s voice rose.

“Honestly, I think I’d prefer playing dead all the way to the safe house rather than setting foot on another yacht.” The idea of being on the water sent a chill down my spine.

We’d come so close to dying. Had he not found the bomb when he did… My brain powered down, unwilling to consider the what-ifs.

“We aren’t going to the safe house. We’re going to Comiso.” Leo softened his voice. “It’s going to be okay.”

I nodded but was far from convinced.

Dante took my hand. “Hey. I promised you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, remember?”

Nodding, I murmured, “Let’s get this over with.”

“Do you have everything?” Leo glanced around the room.

“All we have is what we’re wearing. Oh, and our antibiotics.” I grabbed them from the night stand and stuffed the bottle into my pocket.

Leo’s expression waffled between concerned and curious. He had to have a million questions, but they’d wait until things settled.

“I hate to ask, but do you have any cash on you? I need to give Tino something for his trouble,” Dante said.

Leo handed him all of the cash in his wallet. “It’s not much.”

Dante shoved the money into his pocket. “I intend to do something for them once this is over, but if people are looking for us, it’s best they keep their normal routines.”

“We should say goodbye.” An overwhelming sense of sadness engulfed me. Despite the circumstances of our arrival, I’d felt safe in the tiny house. The world outside the front door was far more chaotic.

Dante spoke to Tino in the local dialect and handed him the Euros.

Tino shook his head and tried to hand the money back, but he eventually put it in his wallet.

Maria gave me a hug, kissed both cheeks, and filled the empty backpack with food without meeting my gaze once. Not that I could blame her. After what she’d walked in on, I half expected her to douse us with holy water and pray the rosary.

I knelt in front of Casio and kissed his scarlet cheeks. “Thank you for helping me.”

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