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“Shit.”
I looked back toward the house, but I’d run too deep into the woods to see any more than the decorative chimney tops. I forced myself to stand, leaning all my weight on my right leg. Holding on to nearby trees, I hobbled toward the house. It wasn’t more than five minutes, though, before I realized I’d never get back there on my own, not with my ankle quickly doubling in size.
Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I unwrapped the earbuds and stuck one in my ear. I then scrolled down to where Salvatore had entered Marco’s number and dialed.
He answered quickly, sounding like my call surprised him. “Lucia?”
“You know how you said to try and not get lost when I’m running?
He chuckled, audibly relaxing. “Are you lost?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m not lost, and I didn’t even have any music blaring, but—”
“What?” he cut me off, his tone anxious. “What is it?”
“I caught my foot on a tree root and fell. I’m trying to get back to the house on my own, but my ankle’s swelling and hurts pretty badly.”
“Get your weight off it, and elevate it if you can. I’m coming. Just pulling into the gates now. Do you know which trail you took?”
“I headed east, same as the morning you ran into me, but I’ve already passed the spot where we stopped last time.”
“Okay, I’m on my way. Just keep talking to me, so I can hear you.”
I heard the sound of stones beneath the car’s tires. He really had just gotten back.
“Where did you go?” I asked, since he said to keep talking.
“To see my brother.”
Could I tell him my suspicions? But he continued talking as he walked—the front door opening, him saying something to Marco, sliding the glass doors open before the sounds of his footsteps crunching on the forest floor reached my ears as he hurried to me.
“My father, Roman, and he were in a meeting. Some days, I question my trust in Roman.”
“You do? Trust him, I mean?”
“Out of the three, yes. Sergio did too. But I know if push came to shove, he’d take care of himself first.”
“Was it Dominic who took Jacob? Did he admit it?”
“Yeah.”
“I can hear you! I mean, not just on the phone.”
“Hot-pink running shorts?” he asked.
I glanced down and smiled. “I guess it’s a good thing.”
“It’d be hard to miss you in those,” he said, hanging up as he came into view. He wore his usual uniform: dark T-shirt and jeans. And he made my mouth water.
Salvatore scanned me from head to toe and knelt down by my hurt foot, making me flinch as he lightly touched my swollen ankle.
“Ouch. Hey, your hands!” His knuckles were raw and bruised.
He looked at them as if seeing them for the first time and smiled proudly. “You should see Dominic’s face.”
“You beat him up?”
He nodded, his attention back on my ankle. “I’m going to lift you up and carry you back. Just let me make a call.”
He dialed, and I realized he’d called Rainey as soon as he said her name.
“Can you get Dr. Mooney out here for me? Lucia’s hurt her ankle. I don’t think it’s broken, but I’d like him to have a look anyway.”
“I don’t need a doctor, I just need some ice,” I said, but he pretty much ignored me.
“Thanks, Rainey.” He hung up and turned to me. “Let’s not take any chances.”
He lifted me up in his arms, and I blinked back tears with the movement.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“This is getting to be a habit.”
“You carrying me into the house?”
He nodded, navigating his way carefully through the forest so as not to hit branches with my hurt ankle.
“Can I ask you a question, Lucia?”
“Sure.”
“How did I not see Dominic when I came to get you last night?”
How did he know?
“It was dark, but I’m pretty sure I would have seen him,” he continued.
“I wasn’t sure it was him. I overheard them from upstairs, but I never saw who it was.”
“So I’m right, he was there.”
“You mean you didn’t know?” I looked at him, confused.
“Not one hundred percent.”
“Why did you ask it that way, then?” He’d tricked me.
“Wouldn’t you have tried to protect your sister rather than tell me the truth?”
We neared the house, and I saw Rainey waiting by the doors, a large bag of ice in hand.
“Answer my question, Lucia.”
I looked into his deep-blue eyes, seeing not darkness, not rage or hate. I saw instead goodness, as much as one could be good in our world. “Probably,” I answered honestly.
He nodded. “Thank you.”
“Doctor will be here in twenty minutes. He said to keep it iced and elevated,” Rainey said as we entered the house.
Salvatore laid me on the couch and rested my hurt ankle in his lap as he sat beside me.
Rainey smiled and handed me a cup of her homemade lemonade and two Advil.
