Page 22 of The Hidden Heir

"Of course." She sighs deeply and grabs a box of colored pins from a nearby chest of drawers. "If you could hold out your arms, I'll start marking the sections that need adjustment, then proceed with the notes."

"Sure," I say, then let her get on with her work.

Minutes pass, and I watch Evie as she adds colored pins along the lacy sleeves first. The more she adds, the tighter and more comfortable it fits. I appreciate how gentle and warm she is, despite my lack of enthusiasm. It's not her fault I'm getting married against my will. She shouldn't be the one to pay for my misery.

But she could help me. If I can get her to tell me a few things.

"Say, where does that 'Staff Only' door lead?" I ask.

Evie is about to get to work on my breast circumference when she pauses to follow my gaze. "Oh, the store has an entire back section connected to every room. The fitting room, the dressing rooms that are separate, the store, the offices and the storage rooms, the staff areas, and so on."

"So, a corridor."

"More or less, yes."

"Is there a back door leading out of the store, as well? Aside from the front entrance, that is?"

She tilts her head as she gazes at me. "Our storage access door, yes. We get our deliveries through there. Miss Peroni⁠—"

"That's cool, thanks," I cut her off and nod at the work she's been doing. "It's tight enough. Let's stop there."

"Of course," she replies. "And the bottom part? Shall we leave it just as flowy and long?"

I take a good look at myself in the mirror. To my dismay, I love what I'm seeing. Despite the fear and sadness in my eyes, I notice the twinkle of curiosity. The curling of my lips as I admire myself. The dress looks wonderful, and it will look even better once it's adjusted. I love the flow of soft satin all around me, the pearls' sheen catching my attention with every move.

"I think it's perfect," I tell Evie. "Just the way it is."

"To be perfectly candid, I think so, too."

"Oh," I gasp suddenly, wobbling on my feet for a second or two.

It's enough to worry Evie. "Are you okay, Miss Peroni?"

"Yes, just a little lightheaded. Mind if I get out of this dress and sit down for a moment?" I ask, already walking toward the love seat where I left my clothes.

"Of course. I'll go get you some water," Evie says.

"Maybe a little bite to eat? Something sweet? I think I'm dealing with a case of low blood sugar, that's all…"

"Sure, I'll be right back."

I give her a warm smile and a thankful nod. As soon as she's out the door and back in the store, however, I rush out of the dress and put my clothes back on—I move with lightning speed. Once my boots are laced up, I push straight through the STAFF ONLY door and stumble into a dimly lit hallway.

Looking both ways, I guess the exit would be somewhere to my right. Eddie and his men will likely catch up before I even reach the street, and I would never leave my son behind with the Petruccis. But I do need to take every opportunity available to test the security team's response time.

Someday, I'll have to take Michael and go. I know that. And I will be prepared.

This is merely a trial run.

I make my way through and past the back offices until I reach a large double door. There's a latch on, but it's easy to remove. All I need to do is push it wide open, and I'll reach the back alley.

As expected, I hear noises from the fitting room I left behind.

"This is it," I mutter and push open the door.

The sunlight blinds me for the longest second. My eyes need a moment to adjust to the sudden change, but when they do, the alley comes into focus with its grey brick walls and puddles of dirty water. There are tire marks along the pavement where a delivery truck recently came through.

And there's a black SUV waiting at the other end, on the street corner.