“Hmm.” I glance up to meet Val’s worried gaze.
She takes a seat beside me on the sofa and sets the tablet onto the table, turning it off. “You aren’t even here.”
“Can’t you just pick these things out?” I ask her. “I trust your selections.”
“You trust it so much you’ve let me plan your entire wedding.” She frowns. “Don’t you care about any of it?”
I lean back against the cushion and blow out a breath as I stare up at the ceiling. I don’t know how to answer that without giving too much away.
“I remember how happy you were when we were planning your wedding to Angelo,” she says softly. “You were determined to make it perfect. Now it seems like you don’t care about anything.”
“I was naïve to expect happiness in a marriage.” I sigh. “You know that as well as I do.”
Val sits with that sentiment for a minute before she glances in the direction of our father’s office. We both know he’s in there, and because his door is almost always cracked, he could be listening. Fortunately for us, Val and I were the only ones who bothered to learn ASL when our mother lost her hearing. We’ve always used it when we need to communicate silently, and as it turns out, she’s on the same page.
There are other options.She signs.If you really don’t want this, we can use the Aegis network to help you escape.
For the briefest of moments, I allow myself to consider that fantasy before I shake my head. I won’t chance exposing my friends, and my situation isn’t nearly as dire as the other women we’ve helped.
It’s too much of a risk,I reply.If I slight the Vitale family, there will be a bounty on my head before I can blink twice, and you know it would come straight from Papà.
So we make it look like something happened to you, she answers.You could go overboard on the way to the island. Or a rival family takes you.
I can’t help but laugh at the last suggestion, considering I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what happened with my stalker.
What’s so funny?Val asks.
I consider dodging the question, but it will only hurt her more if I hide this from her, too. I’ve done enough of that already. And besides that, I need confirmation that I’m not losing my mind.
What you said about a rival family taking me, I sign back.I’m not sure who, but someone already did.
The color drains from her face as she waits for me to elaborate, but she only appears more unsettled as I go on to explain everything that happened. And by everything, I do mean everything. Once I start, I can’t seem to stop. I tell her about my dreams, the masked stalker, the texts, the gifts, and what happened at work. All of it. And when I finish, we sit in silence for a good long minute as she processes.
Oh my god, Val mouths the words.Why didn’t you tell somebody?
I don’t know, I confess.I didn’t feel like I was in any real danger after it happened.Honestly, Val, I think there’s something wrong with me because God help me, I’d rather be back on that roof with him than planning this wedding.
Do you think it’s someone you know?Her eyes widen as she considers it.
I hesitate, and she pokes me in the shoulder.You have to tell me.
It’s impossible.I shake my head.I know it can’t be him, but…it felt like him.
Angelo?
I force a nod.I know it sounds crazy.
Does it, though?She questions.Or is that just who you wanted him to be?
I don’t answer that because, honestly, that’s a possibility.
Val chews on her nail for a moment, glancing in the direction of our father’s office again.
What about Tony or building security?she asks.Weren’t they there?
Tony never mentioned it, but I could tell he was on edge. He was here the next day as usual, but he seemed disoriented, like maybe he’d been drugged or something. And as for Eugene, the only thing he said was that he was sorry he missed me leaving that night. He told me he was on a smoke break, but he was gone for way too long for that to be true.
Her brows scrunch together, and I’m sure she’s questioning my sanity, too. Logically, she should. I have no proof that anything even happened.
