Page 328 of Valentino

“They’re meeting us inside at check-in.” He looks up. “This way.”

I follow the boys, we weave and dive through all the people until we get to a place near the business-class check-in. “We’ll wait here for the others to arrive.”

“I would love a coffee.” I sigh as I look around.

“Do you want me to go and get you one?” Luigi asks.

“Would you mind?” I wince.

“Not at all.” He glances over to Gino. “You want one?”

“No thanks.”

Everyone is chatting and lining up. “It’s so busy,” I murmur, distracted, I look out the doors and onto the street.

“Oh look, there’s Olivia and the children.” I point to them as they walk through the crowd, they have at least ten suitcases and their two guards are struggling with them all.

“They probably need help,” I tell him.

He waves, but they don’t see him and so he wanders over.

I look left, I look right.

And I run.

Straight through the front doors of the airport, out onto the street and around the corner, I dive into a bus just as the doors are closing, and duck down to hide.

My heart is thumping hard in my chest, my God.

Eventually, when we are a few miles from the airport, I get up and sit onto a seat.

My hands are shaking and I fumble around and take my gold locket off. I struggle with the catch but finally it opens and I take out the tiny phone SIM card.

Its twin, Valentino found three years ago.

But this one, stayed hidden.

I click my phone open, and fumble with nervous hands to take out my SIM card.

I snap the second one in.

I text.

Where are you?

I’m on my way.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

VALENTINO

The city below hums a low and thrumming rumble.

Sun dances over my skin as I blow out a thin stream of smoke. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a breakfast of cigars and scotch.

The pot of tomato sauce spilled across my father’s kitchen floor is on my mind.

I shouldn’t have left it there….