Focusing on the task at hand, I open the door to the flower room and slip inside. As I cast an eye over the various bouquets, an agonized wail cuts through the silence. I shudder violently.
A few seconds pass and then a door slams. Footsteps retreat along the corridor. Though it's risky to act, I can't shake the feeling that doing nothing would make me complicit in what's happening to that man. Getting involved is a terrible idea, but if I walk away I'll not be able to live with it.
Before I can talk sense into myself, I slip out into the corridor and go to the next door along. I enter the code and open it. A horrified gasp escapes me.
The young man from the club is lying on the floor. Up close, I realize he's only a kid, eighteen or nineteen perhaps. Blood oozes from his nose and the corner of his mouth. His hands are tied behind his back.
"Oh, my God," I whisper.
He looks up, his eyes issuing a plea for help I can't ignore. I rush forward and crouch beside him. His wrists are bound with a thin plastic tie I can't loosen.
Cursing under my breath, I hurry back to the other room and grab the secateurs Enrico uses for snipping flower stems. I cut the tie to release him and help him to his feet.
"Come with me," I say sharply.
I lead him along the corridor to the back door and key in the code to open it.
"Turn left at the end of the alleyway and run. Get as far from here as you can and don't ever come back."
He doesn't hesitate. Nodding his thanks, he bolts. I pull the door closed and lean back against it, heaving in deep breaths to try to slow my galloping heartbeat.
As the enormity of what I've done sinks in, my hands tremble. There are cameras everywhere in this place and Damiano's men are always watching. I have zero chance of getting away with helping this man to escape.
As I contemplate running, the door from the lower level of the club opens and Giorgio strolls toward me. He's one of the security guards who dragged the boy off the dance floor.
"What are you doing down here, Vee?" His tone is conversational but with an underlying menace.
"I, uh, I came to get flowers for Signore Farnese."
Folding his arms across his chest, he leans against the wall and nods toward the flower room.
"Go ahead."
I take a deep breath to try to calm myself, then go to choose a bouquet. An arrangement of red roses whose petals are edged with gold catches my eye, so I grab those.
"Pretty," Giorgio says as I emerge from the room. "Let's go deliver them."
"You're coming with me?"
"Yes, sweetheart. We'll give the old creep his flowers and then I'll take you to the boss."
My knees buckle and Giorgio puts a hand under my elbow to steady me.
"Let's not be dramatic, Vee. We don't want things to become unpleasant."
Giorgio and I have always been friendly with one another, but I know he's capable of inflicting violence if he has to. I glance up at him and he gives me an encouraging nod.
"Be a good girl. Damiano just wants to talk to you. No need to worry."
Though I don't believe that for a second, I nod. Only a minute passed between me letting the young man go and Giorgio finding me in the corridor. That's not a coincidence.
Giorgio walks a pace behind me like an executioner leading me to my doom as we head upstairs. Pounding music vibrates through me as I make my way to Gregorio's table. I present him with the flowers and accept his thanks.
Then Giorgio puts his hand on my lower back and walks me to the bar. He summons Elena, who's serving there tonight. As he talks to her, I glance at the stairs, wondering if I could make a run for it.
"Here." He hands me a bottle of Acqua Panna. "Take a sip."
The unexpectedly kind gesture brings a tear to my eye, but I blink it back. I do as Giorgio instructed and drink, allowing the refreshing water to slip down my throat. He takes the bottle from me and places it on the bar.
