Page 139 of Devoted

He wentto bed an hour ago, so it’s safe to start my plan. I want to know who called. I need to find Eva before it’s too late.

The last thing he would ever expect from me is to actually fight him.

I tiptoe out of my room, keeping all the lights off, and stand outside his door. Pressing my ear against the smooth wood, I listen for any movement.

As soon as I know he’s asleep, I carefully sneak in. My heart is almost coming out of my chest.

You can do this, Rosa–for Eva and Luca.

It’s dark, so I use the wall as a guide, heading for where his nightstand should be. I creep towards it until my foot connects with the wooden table.

I hold my breath and lightly brush my hands over the top, hunting for anything that resembles a phone. My fingers touch the glass of a screen, and I flick the silent button on the side before removing the cable, bringing it to my chest before I pull so the light from the screen doesn’t disturb him.

Once safely back in my room, I punch in the code I think I saw him use in Italy: One One One Four Five Nine.

Nope.

One One One Seven Five Nine.

It unlocks, and I gasp.

Now, with shaky hands, I pull up his call log.

Luca’s name is there, so is Frankie’s. The last two calls are from ‘M’. Who the hell is M?

The time of the calls are eight thirty pm and then nine thirty pm. The first time would be it.

I scroll over to his messages, clicking straight on the ones from ‘M’.

D

Keep her tied up. I have R where I want her. Our plan is still on.

M

Good work, D. Not long now. They will suffer, don’t worry.

I can barely see. I don’t understand. I never did anything to Dante. He is the one who should be suffering.

I pull up my phone and enter M’s contact details. I can’t risk waking Dante. Before I swipe up the apps, I go to his map app.

There is one recent search, an address only a block away. I take a screenshot with my phone and then lock his.

He hasn’t moved this whole time. I plug it back in, switch it back on loud, and leave.

My head is spinning.

I need Luca. I can’t do this on my own. Maybe if I explaineverything, he and Frankie can fix this and find Eva.

No. That means starting a war, risking everyone.

It might just save my sister.

I leap from the bed, grabbing my overnight bag, and start throwing in the contents of my wardrobe. Rifling through the drawer, I look for my passport and my secret phone.

The door flies open. I turn and Dante stands cross-armed, watching me.

My phone clatters to the floor.

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