As we walk back up to the main house with Julian leading the way, he turns to walk backward for a moment and speaks to Raffi. "Do you really think I had something to do with Chops Lollo's disappearance?"
Raffi shrugs. "Far as I'm concerned, no one at Redwood is above suspicion right now."
"No one at all?" Julian asks, raising an eyebrow. He glances at me before laughing and turning back around. "Come on, then, Raffaello. Let Uncle Julian initiate you into a few secrets of Redwood."
CHAPTER 28
RAFFI
Julian has shownus no less than five secret passages—some more promising than others, since a few are more like hidden closets than hidden passageways—and none of them have anything of interest in them so far, but the next one…
The next one is in the room where Donnie Russo's being held.
I'm so hyperaware of Darian as he walks beside me that when his fingers brush mine for a brief second, it makes my heart flip over. I glance up to where Julian saunters ahead of us, but thankfully he's looking straight ahead.
"The east wing's been redecorated, I see," Julian drawls, pausing in front of a modern sculpture. He reaches out to run a finger along its curves. "Hideous."
"We're not here to critique the décor." I quicken my pace, casting a glance over my shoulder to where Darian hurries to catch up. Worry flickers in his eyes, and I know he's thinking about seeing Russo again. I hold out my hand to him and he takes it with a grateful smile.
"It's okay," I murmur to him, as we hurry along. We round the corner to go by Russo's room, and I nod to the two guards stationed outside. "No problems?"
They shake their heads. "Hasn't made a sound."
I'm not sure I trust Russo's sudden quiet.
"We need to get in," Julian says impatiently. "Open the door."
The guards look to me, I notice, for permission—not Julian. I move Darian behind me. "Wait there. You—" I click at one of the guards. "—stay next to Darian."
Darian opens his mouth to argue but closes it at my look. I turn to the remaining guard. "Okay. Open sesame."
The guard unlocks the door and Russo stumbles out at once. He's unshaven, eyes wild and darting. When they land on Darian, his lips curl into a sneer.
I lunge forward, grabbing Russo by the front of his shirt and slamming him up against the wall. "You say one word, and I'll rip out your tongue myself, parley or no parley."
When I release him, he sags against the wall, until one of the guards grabs his arm and drags him down to another room.
I turn back to Darian, taking in his pale face. I hate that he had to see me doing that, but I know guys like Russo. They won't back down in the face of anything less than actual violence.
"You alright?" I ask him softly.
Darian nods, blinking rapidly. He takes a deep breath and straightens his shoulders, composure sliding back into place like a well-worn mask. "Perfectly fine, Raf—Mr. DeLuca," he substitutes, glancing at the guard. "Thank you for your concern."
Julian sidles up next to me. "Shall we continue our tour, then?"
"After you," I say.
Julian turns to lead us into the room. Darian and I follow, closing the door behind us after I instruct the guard to keep it shut.
It's as sumptuous as every other room in Redwood Manor, the luxury almost boring after having worked here for the length of time I have. But it does have one feature that I've never seen in any of the other rooms: a huge antique mirror with an ornate silver frame, hung flat on the wall.
Julian stops in front of it. He reaches up, presses several metal flower centers on the frame, and the whole thing slides across with a quiet whoosh.
"Wow," Darian murmurs.
"This is rather a long one," Julian says. "And tight."
"Where does it go?"
