And as the mansion shrinks behind me, my heart shatters with every inch of road we put between us.
Lorenzo will wake to a note. He’ll find me.
20
Lorenzo
The first momentI have a free second, I head to the boathouse to see if she’s there.
It still smells like her.
Roses and something else I can’t name.
The blanket we lay on is folded neatly in the corner. Like it never happened.
I hate it.
Because it did, and I never want to forget that it did. I need to see her.Now.I move faster, cutting through the trees toward the estate.
Branches slap against my arms, but I don’t care. I’d happily take a beating if it brings me to her.
Man, I sound like a pussy.
I’m definitely not the kid who came here only a month ago. If my friends saw me now, they’d ask what the fuck happened to me?
Only a month ago, I stabbed someone and was sent away. Now . . .
Yeah. Fuck. I changed a lot. All because ofher.
She makes me want to be a better man.
The halls are quiet as I head to her room. I spot my mother in the staff corridor and jog toward her.
“Have you seen Victoria?” I step into her space before she can pretend she didn’t hear me. After the scolding last night, I’m sure she would go the opposite direction if she thought she could keep me from Victoria.
She looks up from a basket of folded towels, her face smoothed into something neutral. Too neutral. She doesn’t answer.
But she knows something . . . Her eyes flick to the left before she drops her gaze again.
“I need to talk to her,” I say, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “It’s important.”
She presses her lips together, tightening them into a thin, resigned line.
“What the fuck, Mom. Speak.”
Her eyes go wide at the tone in my voice. “Don’t talk to me that way.”
My stomach twists. Something is wrong. And I can’t wait for tell me what. So I don’t. I take the service stairs two at a time, my heart pounding like a warning bell. I don’t care if I’m caught. I don’t care if I’m fired. I just have to get to her.
Her hallway is deserted, but the door is slightly open.
“Victoria?” My voice cracks. I push the door. Nobody answers.
I step inside, and my whole world rips open. Her vanity is cleared. Jewelry gone. Hell, her closet is even empty. The only thing left behind is the pile of pebbles on the dresser.
“No.” My voice comes out raw. “Where—”
“She’s gone.”
