“Jesus! You didn’t say you were bringing that!” I hiss.
“It’s just in case,” she says. “I’ve got it, okay? I’ve got us. We’ll be fine.”
Letting out a breath, I nod. When I glance at her in the rearview mirror, our eyes meet, and I feel that connection we’ve always had. The one that made us sisters by choice.
“You should duck down,” I tell her. “In case there are people out looking for you already. And one of my hoodies is back there. You can put it over your head when we get closer.”
“Closer to where? Where are we going?” she asks.
“Someplace safe,” I tell her cryptically.
The whole drive there, I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. With every passing second, my anxiety doubles. Right now, Juliana and I are on the run from Bellanti security, Bruno’s men, and the Russian mob. This could go wrong in so many ways.
But we’re not stopped, and no blacked-out SUV pulls up next to us with a machine gun poking out the window. I don’t think we’re being tailed, either. Every time I check my mirrors, the road behind us is clear.
Thinking about the gun Juliana brought, I realize how in fear of her life she really is. Something went south with Maxim Orloff. Why isn’t he the one hiding her and protecting her? I guess that’s a question for later.
Pulling onto the property of what was formerly known as the Abbott Winery, I drive us to the back yard of the soon-to-be bed-and-breakfast. There’s no sign of anyone around, just like Frankie said. The tension drains out of me, my shoulders sagging. We made it.
Juliana’s head pops up from the back seat. “Where are we? We’re still in Napa.”
I turn around. “This is the Abbott Winery. Or it was. The Bellantis own it now.”
Her eyes go wide. “Fuck, Candi. We have to go. Now! This is the last place I should be.”
“Which isexactlywhy nobody would ever think to look for you here,” I tell her. “Including the Bellantis themselves. This house is their new B&B that isn’t open yet, so it’ll just be us here. I’ll stay with you for the next few days, and we can get things figured out.”
She frowns. “What about your husband?”
“I doubt he’ll care that I’m gone,” I say bitterly.
I want to tell her about the baby so badly, but the timing isn’t right.
“Stay here while I get the door unlocked, okay? I need to make sure the key works.”
“Okay,” Juliana says.
I guess she’s done arguing about the venue. Which is good, because I don’t have an alternative.
The yard is populated by sprawling, old growth oak trees, which gives us an extra layer of privacy. Once I get the door open, I wave Juliana inside. Then I lock the door behind us, deadbolting it as well. It’s eerily quiet.
Juliana waits, clutching her purse to her chest, her lips pressed into a hard line. It’s so strange to see her not looking totally poised, in control, at the ready with a quip or a sarcastic remark. She’sscared. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like this before.
“This way,” I say calmly, though I definitely don’t feel calm.
Evidence of ongoing construction, plaster dust, and plastic sheeting line the hallway, but then we enter the side of the house that’s been completed. I show Juliana the kitchen, the upstairs bathroom, and the guest bedrooms. She walks back to the first bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed, runs her hands over her face, and then lies back on the mattress. She must be exhausted.
“Thank you, Candi. Thank you, thank you. I can finally breathe.”
She draws her hands from her face and lets her arms flop at her sides.
“You’re welcome.” Leaning against the doorway, I hesitate and then add, “Listen, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you. I only just found out about it after the fire, but—”
“Oh, please, do tell.”
All the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Juliana bolts upright at the male voice sounding from the hallway behind me. I spin just as she scrambles to her feet. From the corner of my eye, I see her fumbling in her bag for her gun.
But there’s already one drawn, and it’s aimed right at her.
