AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Romola
My eyes dart in all directions as we follow Rafaele through the glamorous crowd, politely shuffling past queens, devils, mermaids and jokers. I glance back at my father, his posture poised and alert.
We move to one of several groups of chairs arranged along the edges of the ballroom. Taking a seat and having a leisurely drink, we look as though we simply came to enjoy our evening amongst the rich and famous.
My heart races in anticipation. This is it; we’re doing this. I feel my father's hand squeeze my shoulder, steadying me as we wait for Rafaele to take the lead.
“Now, I may not know how to get into the study. But know this: It will be heavily guarded, as I said before. It will be smaller than the other rooms and harder to navigate and hide in. Finding a way in there is the top priority,” Rafaele says. Time is ticking."
"Then let's not waste any more time," my father says decisively, nodding at Rafaele, and we both stand up, leaving our glasses on a small side table.
Rafaele bows his head in acknowledgment. "Il gioco è nel tuo campo adesso." - The game is in your court now.
As Papà and I weave through the throng of guests, keeping to the borders of the hall, I feel a growing sense of nervousness. On the one hand, there’s excitement bubbling within me at the prospect of finding the marvelous diamond. My mind racing with images of what our lives could become once we've completed this perilous mission. A life free from debt, free from fear.
On the other hand, if Fiero discovers us, there might not be a life left to enjoy. I’m beginning to think this whole thing was a mistake, but it’s too late to back out now. Rafaele isn’t a man to be crossed after he’s had a carrot dangled in front of him.
"Stay close," Papà admonishes. My father grabs two drinks and hands me one, leaning his back against the wall, pretending to be resting. A group of six people pass by, and my father moans about how he’d like to hit the sack.
Someone in the group turns around. I can’t make out if it is a man or a woman. A fox with a wide grin and a salacious tone points to a corridor, adding, " There’s a cozy little library down that way.” The group bursts out giggling. Maybe teenagers? Did they think we were a couple? I shrug. I have no way of knowing what goes on in the minds of high-society teens.
Papà grabs my arm, leaning heavily into me, acting slightly intoxicated and adds a hiccup for good measure. I can’t stop smiling.
The library is occupied by two couples who spare us no attention.
“Wait, your earring’s falling off,” Papà stops and puts his finger through my hair and fiddles with my ear. I feel it - the audio-hearing device he slowly inserts into my ear.
“Now, we can communicate without interference or distractions.” I hear him clearly when he whispers, “it is best we carry out this plan alone, away from Rafaels’ men.”
“What’s the plan now?” I whisper.
“I’ll go and try to find the study. You stay out there, watch his men. If you think they’re grouping together, it’s a hint at trouble. Let me know so I can escape. When I’m inside, and I run into any trouble, I’ll tell you to distract the party, ok?” He gives me an intense look.
I nod. Papà squeezes my hand gently before releasing it. “Make sure no one sees you talking to yourself.” With a wink, he slips into the corridor, and when I look again, I see that he has vanished like a ghost.
"Be safe," I whisper, my stomach lurching. No turning back now.
My heart pounds as I exit the corridor and weave through the crowd, pretending to look for someone.
"Romola," my father's voice whispers into the small earbuds, "I'm making good progress. There's a locked door up ahead, and no guards are in sight. I'll need to pick it up quickly. It seems near enough that it might lead me on another route to the study."
"Be careful, Papà," I whisper behind my drink as if toasting someone across the room. As I stand among the swirling sea of dancers and spectators, I feel like a deer in the headlights, drawing attention. I begin to walk towards the female restroom.
I can’t afford to look suspicious. We must succeed in finding the heritage diamond – it is our only hope for escaping the clutches of the mafia – both of them.
"Almost there," my father murmurs, his voice laced with determination. "Just one more turn..."
“Hmhm,” I reply. It’s enough for him to know I’m listening.
“I’m in,” comes through the earpiece, and then “it’s clear.” I sigh. One down, how many more to go?
Just as I’m about to enter the washroom, I notice two of Fiero’s men exit the male washroom. I watch them quietly, tracking their move, and then, to my horror, realize they’re moving toward an abandoned door.
What if that’s the door Papà went through?
"Papà," I whisper urgently, "someone’s coming. Hide!"
"Got it," he replies, his voice barely a breath. All around me, laughter and music fill the air, yet they seem distant and hollow compared to the pounding of my pulse. I glance nervously at the nearby door, which the men open with a key, and enter before closing it again, praying that my father remains undetected.
