What the hell is she doing over THERE?
Then I realized something odd the worker had said:
…THEY’RE all next door.
“Who’snext door?” I asked in confusion.
“All of them,” the woman said without looking back at me.
What the fuck?
Rather than stand around getting half-answers, I turned and headed for the street.
Ireallydid not want to go over to the café…
But it’s not like I could say ‘no.’
I could just imagine Adriano’s reaction:
You fought beside us on San Michele! You faced down the Turk and Mezzasalma! What the fuck is WRONG with you?!
But even though I’d done all those things, my heart was still hammering in my chest as I walked over to the café –
And heard the sound of feminine laughter.
I stopped at the door, peeked my head in –
And couldn’t believe what I saw.
Bianca, Lucia, and Mei-ling were all sitting at a table indoors –
Talking with Emilia.
She was sitting with them, drinking coffee and chatting like old friends.
She wasn’t wearing her customary apron and black pants, either, but a blouse and skirt that looked incredible on her.
What, were they hangingouttogether now?!
My heart soared when I saw her –
But my stomach twisted in knots, too.
I realized exactly what this was:
A SET-UP.
Bianca had gone and done something behind my back!
Or Lucia – she wasexactlythe type to do it –
“Hey,” a familiar voice said to my left.
I looked over to see Vincenzo at a table in the corner. He was sitting alone with an empty cup of coffee on a saucer.
“What the fuck is going on?” I whispered frantically.
He frowned, likeWhat the hell are you talking about? –
