Holding my breath, I look inside.
At the bottom of the box is a single black raven feather.
I pull it out.
Attached to the base of the feather is a piece of paper with one word typed on it.
Bishop.
Bruno’s words flash through my mind.
The bishop watches from within.
Chapter nineteen
“Are you sure nobody is going to see us?” Dominic adjusts his sunglasses as we step out onto my front porch.
I look out at the five mansions on the cul-de-sac. “Yes. Gigi is out with that dumbass Elio again. Lucia is in her house, but she doesn’t care. Matteo is working. Nonna is at the Italian club playing bocce. Mama is going to lunch with my cousin Franco at the French restaurant across town. Jimmy at the gate told me he saw her drive out fifteen minutes ago.”
“Franco didn’t ask you why you wanted him to do that?”
“No. He knows better than to ask questions, and he owes me a favor.” I tap my foot and glance at my phone.
“Is Jimmy going to tell her about our plan?”
“Jimmy’s loyalty is to me. He isn’t going to say anything.” I look at my phone again. I’m waiting for AJ’s text. He’s going to turn off the cameras briefly. That gives us twenty seconds to run across the cul-de-sac and get into Mama’s house. Her key is clenched tightly in my hand.
My phone pings and AJ’s text appears.
All set!
“It’s go time. Hurry!”I grab Dominic’s arm and we dash across the street to the front door. I jam the key into the lock and we’re in the house in less than fifteen seconds.
Slamming the door shut, I look around at my childhood home. There are so many memories in this house. Both happy and sad.
“Where do we start?” Dominic takes off his sunglasses and puts them in his suit pocket.
Panic fills me. Our time here is limited and this place is huge. “The last time I remember seeing that chess set, it was on the coffee table in the living room. I don’t remember how long ago that was. I don’t come over here often. I make everyone come to my place.”
“Why?”
“Because coming here reminds me of my father and how he isn’t here anymore.”
Dominic is quiet.
Glancing into the living room, I see that a basket of flowers is on the small circular table by the window and not the chess set.
“Could your mom have packed it away in the attic or the basement? You did say she put a lot of your father’s things in boxes.”
I shake my head. “No. She would never pack it away. It was Dad’s favorite, and for many years after he died we still played. It has to be here somewhere. Let’s spread out, I’ll look in Dad’s study, you look in the den.” I pause in the doorway. “You remember your way around here right?”
He grins. “Like the back of my hand. You brought me over here enough times that I have the place memorized.”
I roll my eyes and head to Dad’s study. My chest tightens as I open the door and step inside. I haven’t been here in forever and the place has been frozen in time. The desk is gone but I pull open the cabinets, dig through the drawers, and push asidefigurines and old photo frames. I even check the mantle on the fireplace and the secret compartments.
There is nothing.
A lump forms in my throat as the memories flood through my mind.
