“No luck, Ms Morello?”
I turn my attention to the soft-faced doorman, halting my steps.
“Oh, um, no. He doesn’t seem to be home.”
“Ah. I didn’t start my shift until seven and I haven’t seen him in that time.”
So Zayn’s been out partying all night. Or he’s holed up in his penthouse having a shag-a-thon. Those are the only two options my malfunctioning brain can come up with right now.
“How do you know my name?” I ask, approaching his desk. The fact he used my maiden name doesn’t evade me, either.
“Mr Romero placed you on his approved visitors list. Didn’t think I would let just anyone up there, did you?” He winks at me, causing my heart to soften. He reminds me a bit of mynonnoback in Italy.
“I guess not.” I sigh, glancing down at his bronze name badge before I turn to leave. “Have a nice night, Bruce.”
I must look as dejected as I feel, because Bruce calls after me, “Have you tried his phone? I’ve never known Mr Romero not to answer his mobile.”
“No,” I smile sadly. “It’s okay. I’ll just catch him another time.”Some conversations aren’t for over the phoneI finish in my head, but Bruce gives me an understanding nod, as though I said it out loud.
“Night, Ms Morello.”
“Night, Bruce.”
The Uber pulls upoutside my apartment building less than ten minutes later and I have to run through the dark, whipping wind to get into the foyer. In my hurry to leave the gala, I forgot to uncloak my coat. There’s no one else around at this early hour as I step into the lift and ride it up to my floor, and by the time I’m walking down the hallway that leads to my apartment, the cold air has seeped through the fabric of my dress and into my very bones. I shiver into theeerily quiet that surrounds me, a little jittery that it’s the first night back in my apartment since Daniel’s visit. I fumble in my clutch for my keys.
When I push my front door open, I’m met with complete darkness. My heart lurches as an unsettling feeling glides a cold finger up my spine.
I always leave a light on.
In fact, I remember leaving my bedroom light on when I left so there would be ambience when I got home, knowing it would be late. I step slowly into the darkness and run my hand over the wall, searching for the light switch that I know is here somewhere.
As I reach further inside, my foot slips away from the door and it shuts with a heavy thud behind me, surrounding me with a still, dark quiet.
Panic whispers along my skin like a light breeze as I glide my hand around desperately.Where is that light switch?
A voice creeps from the shadows as my finger lands on the switch.
“Hello, Gianna.”
I leap back violently as light floods the hall. Daniel’s leaning against the wall opposite me with a cold smirk on his face, the sight alone causing undiluted terror to spread through my veins like ice.
“Daniel, what the fuck?”
With a hand on my racing heart, I attempt to get a hold of my breathing while Daniel watches me with unfathomable eyes.
“Good night?” he asks casually, as if him waiting for me in the darkness is the most normal thing in the world. He pushes off the wall and stalks toward me. I step back, but I hit the door behind me. “I’m upset I wasn’t invited to your little charity thing.”
He doesn’t sound upset. He sounds annoyed. Deja vu captures my breath in my throat.
“What are you doing here, Daniel?” I manage to push the words past the lump in my throat. “I agreed to our session next week.”
I try to act calm but the tremor in my voice gives away my panic. Daniel raises a knowing brow, and I’m sickened to think he’s enjoying my fear.
“Don’t act coy, Gia,” he says with a smile. “You’re my wife, remember? I know when you’re fucking lying to me.” His playful tone is at odds with his menacing words. My heart rate accelerates to a dangerous level.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He stops just out of reach, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Tony called. He was quite pissed off, actually.” He chuckles, cocking his head to the side, inspecting me with his cold eyes. “Gave me his whole ‘protective big brother speech’. Told me you spoke about the money, so I assumed our little gig was up.”
