As her words hit me full force, the floor falls out from under me. My ears are ringing, my adrenaline rushing. No. This can’t be happening.
“Is that’s what’s going to happen next?” I babble anxiously. “Are they coming for us?”
Isshecoming for us?
She makes a noncommittal sound, and I don’t know what the hell she means by it. The back of my neck prickles. I need to talk to Armani. Now.
“Juliana—”
“You owe me, Candi. If it wasn’t for that goddamn fire, I’d be picking out floral arrangements right now. You need to find me a place to hide before the mob decides I’m worth more to them dead.”
“Orloff wouldn’t let that happen.”
A bitter laugh slices through the phone. “You have no idea what he’s capable of. Do you think he actually cares about me? He’susingme. They’re all using me; the same way Armani is using you.”
Letting out a breath, I try not to be offended. She’s not wrong. Not at all.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I told you. Find me a place I can hide out for a few days.” Her voice drops even lower, and then her words get muffled, as if she’s moved into a closet to talk to me. “If I get caught trying to sneak out, I’ll tell Orloff that my uncle was getting restless, and I was worried about my safety. He already knows I don’t trust my uncle’s security guards.”
“Is Orloff there with you now?”
“No, but his men are here, and I don’t trust them, either. I don’t trust anyone right now but you. That’s why you have to come get me,” she whispers.
“Okay. I think I know somewhere you can stay,” I whisper back. “Where should I pick you up? I can probably sneak out tonight, but—”
“No. Tomorrow. Write this down.”
She gives me detailed instructions and then hangs up without saying goodbye.
I stare at the phone in my hand, paralyzed by panic. What if this plan doesn’t work? What if I get caught? What if something happens to Juliana before I can get to her?
What if the Brunos’ allies are about to murder the entire Bellanti family?
No. I can’t let that happen. Iwon’tlet it happen.
Because if they’re coming for the Bellantis, that means they’re coming formy baby.
Surely there must be some way to talk this out, to negotiate a compromise or a deal that everybody can live with, without anyone getting hurt.
And if I have to be the sacrificial lamb and throw myself in the middle of things, then so be it. I can be the peacekeeper. Hell, I did it my entire life growing up.
But first, I’m going to rescue my best friend from the mafia.
20
CANDI
I spendanother night in the guest room down the hall from Armani, even though I want more than anything to face him and find out if he’s ready to apologize. Not that I expect him to suddenly do a complete one-eighty, but I at least want to give him the chance to look me in the eye and say he’s sorry. Unfortunately, I have to stay away from him.
I don’t trust myself around my husband right now.
If he gets one look at me, he’ll know I’m up to something. In which case, I’ll be interrogated until I break down. I can’t let him get suspicious about what I have planned. It would make it impossible for me to slip away.
I’m so anxious, I’m not sure how I manage to get to sleep…but I do.
The second my alarm goes off the next morning, I quickly shower and dress, then bolt down a poached egg and toast—skipping breakfast might raise alarms and get reported to Armani—before heading to the big garage where the vehicles are kept. Normally, I’d call Donovan and have him bring my car around, but I don’t want to have to lie to him.
