I take a seat at the bar and bark at the bartender, “Whiskey, neat.” As my phone buzzes, I stare at the screen in disbelief at the message from Jack.
She never checked in.
Fuck.I run my fingers through my hair, feeling like a complete fool, and the next one that comes through compounds my misery.
I left Harry and Tommy in the town to check the cameras in the stores. The only one of interest was in the local coffee shop where a nun entered the restroom, and a young woman came out.
I studythe grainy photograph that appears on my screen, noting the pretty summer dress and the face of an angel hiding behind huge dark sunglasses.
Why wear them inside a dark coffee shop? I immediately realize we’ve been played because I would stake my life on the fact that woman is Alice Zaferelli.
The photograph I was sent was taken years ago, and it appears that time has been extremely kind to her. She has filled out in all the right places, and her naturally wavy chestnut hair flows to her shoulders.
She is striking in many ways, and I experience a moment’s irritation that she is now out of my sight because that wasn’t the plan.
I make the plans, not her, and she has seriously pissed me off before we’ve even met. I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want a wife, and it appears that mine is already a problem before she is even wearing my ring.
If she ever wears your ring.
My inner voice taunts me at my lack of control over her, and as my fist curls around the glass of bourbon, I drain the glass and push away from the bar. Fuck and double fuck, this will be like searching for a diamond in a trash can.
It takesme a further twenty minutes to check out of the flight and as I step into the car waiting outside, Jack wastes no time in filling me in.
“There is footage of a yellow truck in the road behind the coffee shop. Take a look.”
He sends me the recording, and I watch with growing anger as the woman emerges from the exit and glances both ways before putting her head down and running to the truck. As she slides inside, she disappears from view and I suck in my breath.
We’ve been well and truly played and I don’t like it one fucking bit.
“The truck?”
My voice is calm, controlled even, but inside I am on fire and Jack answers in his usual efficient tone.
“Registered to a local business. Mulligan’s Landscaping for all your outdoor needs.”
I don’t appreciate the lighter tone to his voice and snap, “And?”
“We are following the lead. Harry and Tommy are checking it out now.”
I say nothing, but an angry pulse ticks in my jaw because I’m not stupid and it will be almost impossible to track that vehicle. The roads in Switzerland have very few cameras, and we don’t speak the freaking language.
However, I will not face the fact that she has got away. That doesn’t even cross my mind. All that does is the promise that when I find Alice Zaferelli, she will wish she had never left The Order of the Holy Mother of God, and that’s a promise.
CHAPTER 5
ALICE
I’m too excited to sleep, despite the fact that the sun is shining through the glass and making me burn. I’m trying to blame the sun, but really it’s the man beside me.
Stefan is one attractive guy, and I’m trying so hard not to fangirl over him. I’m aware my sisters look at him in the same way and yet of all of us I engineered a friendship with him that they don’t even know about.
It began when I was put in charge of the floral arrangements in the convent. Stefan worked in the gardens, and we struck up a conversation over the flower borders. I asked for his advice, mainly as an excuse to talk to him, and he was so knowledgeable and easy on the eye it became an absolute pleasure.
However, he kept his distance—his respectful distance because, of course, he only saw me as one of the nuns. I like to believe that he was attracted to me, but he never gave me any sign of that.
One week led to one month, and we soon began to talk about other things unrelated to horticulture. He told me he lived in the town with his family. Two parents and two sisters. He usedto joke that he needed to escape their incessant chattering, and when the job at the convent came up, he leaped at it.
I bonded with him over the perils of having two sisters, and it was only after a few months that I broached the subject of my mother.
