“Something’s wrong.”So Guilia pays attention too.That’s no surprise.She’s razor sharp.Anyone stupid enough to take her at face value would deserve the consequences that followed.
Before I know it, my hand is firmly tucked into hers, and she is pulling me out of my chair, not that I’m offering any resistance.“Where are you going?”Isabella asks, just as confused and concerned as anyone else.
“Whatever it is…” Dante announces, already walking ahead of me, “… leave it to us.”
“You mean leave it to the men?”Guilia scoffs.She expresses withering disdain by rolling her eyes.“I’m only curious.”
I’m curious, too, and even more curious about the way Dante and Luca both left the table without saying a word to each other, dropping their napkins on their chairs and almost jogging out of the room.We follow them as far as the hall before Dante gives us a single, foreboding look over his shoulder.I’m not someone who likes to be told what to do, but it occurs to me now that this might be something Giulia doesn’t need to see or hear.
“Hang on a second.”Instead of letting her drag me down the hall, I spot a small, white envelope on the floor and can’t help but pick it up.I’m careful, though, handling it by the corners, even if I doubt there could be anything all that dangerous inside.It’s the kind of tiny card that comes with a flower arrangement.While Guilia watches, I carefully ease the card out far enough to read it.It’s plain, with no markings to tell where or who it came from.
Congratulations to the happy couple.
Remember: I’m always watching.
And underneath that, a single letter—a capitalA.
A strangled, surprised cry from inside Rocco’s study makes us both look toward the open door up ahead.Guilia lunges like she’s ready to run, but something stops her.
“I don’t think so, kid,” Cesco grunts, shaking his head, one hand wrapped around her arm.
“Let go,” she grunts.I watch as his grip tightens before he shakes his head.
He might be able to tell her what to do, but I’m free to walk down the hall with my heart in my throat.It can’t be Alessandro, but then who else could it be?What did he send?I’m not sure I want to know, but at the same time, I have to.I might end up regretting it, but I have to see.
“Did it come with a card?Do you know who sent it?”It’s Luca’s voice, and it’s filled with disbelief.How bad does it have to be for him to sound that way?I’m more nervous than ever, but force myself to take one step at a time until I’m in the doorway, holding up the card.
My voice shakes when I announce, “Here.It was on the floor.”
Luca snatches it away, tearing the card from the envelope.When his brows draw together, my heart forgets to beat.“That bastard.That sick son of a bitch.”He takes the card to Rocco and Dante, and the three of them pore over it while the guards gather around them to look over their shoulders.
Which means the long package on Rocco’s desk is clearly visible now.From where I’m standing, I see a bouquet of roses that died a long time ago, now withered and brittle.
It’s what nestled inside the bouquet that makes me cover my mouth with my hand, like that will do anything to hold back the bile racing up my throat once I realize what I’m looking at—a small glass jar filled with liquid and a pair of eyeballs.
Heads snapped up at the sound of my gagging.
“Get her out of here,” Rocco barks, and I’m reminded of the man he really is.He sounds like he would gladly tear somebody’s throat out right now.When I look his way before Dante takes a hold of me, it’s evident from the wild light in his eye that it’s me whose throat he would gladly tear to shreds.I’m the enemy now.
“Come on,” Dante growls at me before telling the others he’ll be right back.
I’m too dazed to think.It doesn’t even register that he’s taking me back to the house I still can’t think of as ours until we’re outside, and the humid night air hits my cheeks.Those eyes.Who did those eyes belong to?It’s the only thing I can think about while my husband unceremoniously drags me home, ordering more of the guards we pass up to the house in case they’re needed before he thinks twice and waves one of them back.“I want one of you to hang back and guard her.”
Her.I don’t even have a name.
“You saw what was delivered,” he mutters through his teeth once we reach the covered front porch, where he opens the door before almost shoving me inside.I would think he’s taking his anger out on me if I didn’t notice the way he then looks around outside the house one more time before closing the door like he’s shaken, paranoid.
“I wish I hadn’t,” I whisper.Eyeballs.Did Alessandro tear out somebody’s eyes?Not that there’s much I would put past him, but I can’t fathom it.
“Tell me the truth… what can we expect next?What is that maniac going to do?”Dante folds his arms, standing in the center of the living room and glaring at me like I’m the one responsible for any of this.Like I’ve ever been able to control anything the men in my family do.
“Like I have the first clue.I haven’t talked to him in forever.”I’m beyond confused, not to mention trembling as I drop onto the sofa with my hands clenched in my lap.
He snickers before asking, “Really?You expect me to believe that?Your own brother went radio silent on you?”
“Oh, because you and Luca are so close, and you can’t imagine siblings not touching base every day?”I retort.
I’ll give him one thing—he doesn’t bother pretending not to know what I mean.In fact, he flashes a wry grin.“I see your point.It’s only that I can’t understand why he would rear his ugly head after staying silent for so long.Why now?What’s he thinking?”
