“You mentioned having a painting for me,” I blurted out, the need to leave overshadowing everything else.
A wide grin split Margot’s face. “Absolutely!” she chirped, already weaving her way down the hall. She stopped before a canvas that was covered in a blanket. She took it off slowly and carefully. “This one is yours,” she declared.
Mine?I wanted to laugh. “I’m sure my mother will love it,” I said with forced enthusiasm. I couldn’t mask the envy gnawing at me.
“Your mother?” she asked. “No, sweetheart. Make no mistake, this one is yours.”
My face turned red. I knew my mother hadn’t bought this for me. This was the one I really liked, and it also happened to be the most expensive.
“My mother bought this?” I pressed, skepticism lacing my tone. “I think there might be a mistake.”
Margot waved a hand in dismissal. “Oh, it was that handsome fellow who got it for you.”
“Lucas?” I questioned with a smile. He would never buy this for me. The very notion was ludicrous.
“No, no,” she said with another wave. “Nina’s brother. Max, I think his name was.”
The smile that had bloomed on my face evaporated as quickly as it appeared. My heart, which had been hammering erratically, plunged deep into my stomach. “Max?” I asked, feeling a cold sweat on my forehead. “MaxRomano?” I repeated, hoping I’d misheard her.
This had to be a cruel joke. A nightmare.Please.
“Yes,” she said, still smiling. She didn’t notice the horror on my face. She didn’t understand the meaning behind that name.
The name. It didn’t sound right. He wouldn’t do that to me. Max wouldn’t betray me like that.
But it all made sense. I couldn’t deny it.
“Are you okay, dear?” she asked as I tried to focus on my breathing.
“Sorry.” I excused myself.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even think.
“I think we’ll find another time to get that painting. Have a good one, Margot,” I heard Sean say as he held open the door for me. He knew how to remain calm and not draw attention, but I didn’t.
The thumping in my chest made me feel lightheaded. I felt a sharp pain. “Sean,” I said. It was all I could possibly come up with. “He—!” I cried. “Max?—!”
Sean didn’t interrupt but gave me a small, reassuring nod. The betrayal didn’t hit nearly as deeply for him as it did for me. “Take a deep breath. Slow and steady.” He placed a hand on my stomach, mimicking the slow rise and fall with his own breath.
Hesitantly, I copied him.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Too many things added up.
I’d been so oblivious to it.
So naïve.
Sostupid.
How could I not have seen it? How could he have done this to me? How could he have played with my feelings? Used me?Deceivedme?
Easy. He was a Romano. He’d found the sharpest knife he could, and he’d stabbed it in my back.
My father was right. The Romanos were awful. Liars, cheaters, and thieves. They didn’t care about us at all; they just wanted their power and their money. Max must’ve been after myfather. He’d used me to get close to my father, gaining my trust to learn all my family’s secrets.
