She shook her head, didn't look up.
"Nothing. Doesn't matter."
She walked toward the door. This time, I didn't stop her.
Her hand was on the doorknob when she paused. Back to me, I could only see it—thin shoulder blades, spine pulled straight, that wrinkled jacket hanging off her frame.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Ezio. Ezio Visconti."
She nodded, didn't turn around.
"Someone will come get you tomorrow," I said. "We're moving you to the manor. South-facing room. Windows."
Her hand stilled on the doorknob. Then she pushed the door open and walked out.
The door closed behind her.
I stood there, staring at that closed door for a long time. Her smell lingered in the room—soap, detergent, a hint of sweat. That smell mixed together took me back to that night, her curled up in my arms, asleep.
Fuck.
I walked back to my desk and pulled out the file, opened the first page. Her photo was there. ID photo. White background. Hair in a ponytail. Expression neutral. Same woman who'd just been standing in front of me with red eyes, biting her lip so hard she wouldn't let the tears fall.
Olivia Adrian.
I stared at that photo and remembered how she'd looked when she said it. That night, I just wanted to help you.
Just wanted to help me.
I closed the file and tossed it in the drawer. Hit the intercom.
"Carlo, get someone to drive her back. Tomorrow morning, pick her up. Move her to the manor, east wing, south-facing room."
"Yes, sir."
"And," I paused, "her sister. Get people on her. Keep Castro's men away."
"Understood."
I hung up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Manhattan's skyline was glinting in the afternoon sun, traffic crawling over the elevated highways. Everything was the same as always.
I closed my eyes.
That image came back.
Dim light, blonde hair moving, those green eyes, wet, burning as they looked at me.
Fuck.
Chapter Six
Olivia
Sophie sat on the only bed in my rental, knees tucked to her chin, eyes red like a rabbit's.
"I won't allow it." She said it again, voice choked. "Oli, you can't marry a guy like that."
