Page 29 of Vows of Silence

Shouldn’t we be asking why the password was changed?

“The password is her birthday, Frank,” Mum rolled her eyes. “Honestly, you know all of this. Leave the girl alone.”

So Mum didn’t know. Interesting.

Frank scoffed under his breath and shot her a nasty look.

“Isabelle, what did you hear?” he asked, spinning me around until I was facing him. I kept my eyes on the floor, staring at my bare feet, refusing to meet his eyes. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel them. I could feel my face burning from the sheer force of his glare.

“I didn’t hear anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I went in there because I heard noises and the door was open. I thought my father would be in there.”

I don’t know what compelled me to lie. Frank was here to protect me. That was his entire job. But instinct told me to keep this to myself.

I lifted my gaze and met his eyes with my own steady glare.

Frank watched me for a moment, sussing me out, gauging my reaction, and then nodded. Whatever he saw reflected in my eyes must have satisfied him enough, because he released my arm and continued walking.

“The Falcones had a meeting with Mr Carbone not too long ago. If you saw Silas in the house, he was meant to be here. He left with Mr Falcone when the meeting was finished.”

But…

Luca saw him. Hetoldme that he was still in the house.

“Okay,” I whispered.

Someone was lying to me. But for what purpose?

Clearly, we all knew that Silas was a dangerous man. If he were in this house, if he had outstayed his welcome, why was no one talking about it? Why was he being protected?

“Isabelle, honestly,” my mother tutted. “Your father had a business meeting, and you lost your mind over it?”

“But why did he have a business meeting with the Falcones, Mum? Why? What possible reason could areal estatemanager have to be having secret meetings in the middle of the night with psychotic gang members?”

She simply laughed in response. “Oh, your imagination! Everyone needs a home, Isabelle. Even the mob. They keep strange hours. We have to cater to the client, sweetheart, not the other way around!”

And with that, she walked away, still chuckling to herself and shaking her head.

Was she really that ignorant, or did she know more than she was letting on as well?

With a dozen questions spiralling in my mind, I allowed Frank to lead me back to my bedroom silently, knowing I wasn’t getting any answers tonight.

At my bedroom door, I turned to him to say goodnight, only to see his hand extended.

“You dropped this. I picked it up right as your mum slapped you. I would have stopped her if—”

“Thanks, Frank,” I interrupted, accepting the phone.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll do better next time. Adrien won’t be happy that you’ve been hurt.”

“I wasn’t hurt. She shocked me. Which was exactly what I needed,” I said, offering him a shaky smile.

He studied me a moment. “Hm.”

He turned to leave, and before I could stop myself, I called out to him.

“Frank?”

“Yes, Miss?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.