Then, with a final push, I shifted my hips over the ledge lip and rolled onto my back. I panted as I stared at the shadows that seemed to be growing overhead. The light from below was weakening. Probably due to water seeping into the battery casing. I needed to think about escape routes.
Once I left this room, I’d be blind. If I went higher along this path, I might find the castle, or slip over an edge like this one. One thing was certain, I didn’t know anything about that route. And, I was weaponless and vulnerable. Should there be guards at the entrance, given the rare chance I even made it that far, I was sunk.
Yet, if I went down the way I’d came, I ran the risk of running into more armed men and be caught again.
Lastly, if I stayed here, and Leandro wasn’t dead, he’d probably find a way to climb up like I did.
But I’d hear him doing that, wouldn’t I?
The light gave out completely, and I was out of options.
Very slowly, I felt the path by my feet. Using my boots to feel around for the cave wall now to my right, and for the ledge to my left, I slid down the path on my butt only moving a few inches at a time.
When I ran out of path and only walls and empty drop were my options, I sat up and slowly traced the walls to feel for an opening.
But I couldn’t find any.
Had I gotten turned around? Did I miss the opening?
Was I going to die here? That question scared me the worst. I hadn’t done the things I wanted to do with my life because I’d been so busy chasing the things I was supposed to. Or thought I was supposed to do. I hadn’t even been successful at that.
The darkness wasn’t friendly. A light drip of water kept me company as I weighed the volume of my life and came up lacking.
Also lacking was any sign of life.
Surely, I’d hear labored breath, or groans of pain from Leandro?
The silence accused me and found me guilty.
21
Mario
I scribbled my name on the dotted line and handed the pen to Ellie.
She glanced at Dianora before taking it. “Why are you doing this? I thought you loved…me.”
“I thought my wife loved me, too. But apparently someone made plans without me.”
“You can’t hold that against me. I was coerced.” She bent over the paper to sign her name.
“Lying bitch.” Dianora butted in.
Ellie snapped up straight. “What did you call me?”
“Sign the paper,” I prodded Ellie, hoping to remove her from this insanity. Maybe if she wasn’t a threat, then she’d be allowed to leave. And when that happened, I’d be able to do something horrifically dangerous. Hopefully, Ringo would protect Ellie over me.
I couldn’t count on that.
Nor did I factor the unstable element that was Ellie Jacobs.
“I know some Italian words. Mostly the naughty ones. So…bitch, is it? Please. You were the one screwing my ex. You know, the guy who I planned to marry, Johnny Porciello?”
Ringo groaned. “Can we please do without the telenovela?”
Don Conti’s eyes narrowed on Ellie.
“I got proof.” Ellie reached into her jacket.
