My mouth sets in a hard line when I see her interact with Gabriela, following them as they continue to speak in the kitchen. Elodie freezes as Gabriela speaks before she turns and rushes outside, then the feed goes dead.
I flick through several more cameras, finding the screens are black, and I quickly dial Emiliano to find out what the fuck has happened. When the call doesn’t connect, I try Enzo, and my pulse races when the same thing happens.
Over the crowd, I catch Davide’s eye and nod in the direction of the security bay at the entrance to the compound. He catches my meaning immediately and excuses himself from his frowning wife to do my bidding.
I turn toward the kitchen, intent on following Elodie outside, when Gabriela appears in my path. Her jaw is set as she mumbles a very clearly forced apology before attempting to slip past me, but I stop her when I grip her upper arm.
“What did you say to upset Elodie?” I hiss my demand from between my teeth.
Gabriela narrows her eyes as she meets my hardened stare, and her lips lift in a malicious smile. “I told her tonight was to be our engagement announcement.” She shrugs indifferently. “I think she was just alittleput out by the news?—”
I push away from her with a low expletive, and my strides eat the floor as I march outside.
Once I’ve crossed the pool decking, my eyes catch on a pair of red heels and my senses are instantly on high alert. I glance around as a boat chimes in the distance, and my stomach dips when I think of what might happen if she were to stray too close to the cliffside with only the light of the moon to guide her.
My feet strike out to walk toward the edge of the property where the land meets the sea, only for a shrill scream to fracture the stillness of the night and chill me to my core.
I pivot in the direction the sound came from, my eyes landing on my mother’s rose-covered labyrinth right as another scream pierces the air.
“Please stop?—”
Before my brain has even registered the owner of the voice, I’ve kicked off my shoes and I’m running toward her as my blood pounds in my ears.
Ti salvero,Stellina.
CHAPTER 23
ELODIE
My feet slipon the damp grass as I rush headlong into the labyrinth. My only hope is to make it to the center and in front of the security cameras surrounding the pavilion.
Maybe I can buy enough time for Sasquatch to see me on the feed…
I hike my dress higher, cursing the weight of the fabric even as I push my body to move faster.
“You can run all you like,Tesoro,” the voice behind me calls out, and I stumble forward, my palms hitting the grass as I barely manage to save myself from face-planting.
My foot catches on my dress, and the rose-ruffled hem tears with a loud rip.
I scramble away from the serrated fabric, glancing over my shoulder as my heart pounds frantically against my breastbone. He’s still not in my line of sight, and a spark of hope ignites at the thought that Imightjust make it.
I race on, pushing my body to the very limits until I crash into the circular space housing the white wooden pavilion. My eyes immediately scour the area for the cameras Iknoware here, having seen them on previous visits.
When I spot one, I wave frantically as I jump up and down, pinning everything on the idea thatsomeoneis watching.
My pursuer rushes into the space at my back, and I whirl about to face him, feeling more confident now that help is surely on the way. He regards me for a moment with a humorless expression before his lips tilt up in a sadistic smile.
“If you were planning on alerting security, you’ll be disappointed to know that the system was hacked just a little while ago…”
Nausea unfurls in my stomach as he trails off, stepping closer as he continues with twisted delight. “So, as was planned, no one knows you’re here,Tesoro. The party is in full swing. Rafael is otherwiseengaged… Get it?”
He snorts at his own joke. “Meaning there’sjustenough time for me to sample that pussy before I’ll be missed at my post.” He advances closer as I retreat until my bare back hits the pavilion wall. “And when one of my comrades finds your ravaged body, Salvatore will get the blame, and the stifling peace among the Five will be broken. Just like he wants.”
Then he lunges forward, and I land a solid right hook, connecting directly with his chin. Even through my fear, I feel a flicker of pride as he spits blood. Swearing loudly, he throws a punch that connects with my abdomen, sending me stumbling backward with a groan.
His smirk is dark, his teeth covered in blood as he comes closer, and his hands reach for me, only to grasp air when I sidestep him, just as Sasquatch has been teaching me, putting me on his left. I strike out my foot, neatly taking his legs out from underneath him, and a surge of elation fills me when he hits the grass with a thud.
I turn and rush toward the safety of the darkened labyrinth, but he snakes out a hand that fists the torn hem of my dress,sending me careening onto the dew-damp grass. As I fall, I cry out helplessly, knowing that I’ve lost the little advantage I had.
