Page 136 of Valentino

“What do…?”

Click.

She’s hung up on me.

One hundred and forty minutes is a long time to worry….

I’ve aged ten years tonight.

My phone beeps a text, Valentino.

Hi Anna,

On my way home.

I text back.

Is everything alright?

He replies.

Yeah, fine.

See you soon

My God.

I drop to the couch and put my head into my hands. “Thank God.”

Francesca and I have been panicking all night.

I text her.

Val is on his way home.

xx

I watch her reply, the dots bounce.

Giuliano is too.

He just got out.

What a night.

Call you tomorrow.

xx

I make a cup of tea and try to calm myself down and half an hour later I hear the door go.

“Anna,” he calls.

I walk around the corner and as soon as he sees my face, his falls. “It’s okay, babe.” He pulls me into a hug, and we stand in each other’s arms for a long time.

“It’s alright,” he tells me, he pulls back to look at my face before tucking my hair behind my ear. “It was just questioning about the stolen yacht, Anna. Routine.”

My eyes search his. “It doesn’t feel routine.”