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With a defeated sigh, Harris walked me back over to the crew. “There has obviously been a change of plans. You should interview Ms. Russo again. The discovery is hers.”

Instead of feeling vindicated by this turn of events, I wanted to cry. I’d lost a mentor and a childhood hero. And as for what I’d found, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to share that little statue with the world yet.

But as I showed them the site and began recounting my initial theory and discovery, I began to see the wonder in it all. I’d gone to that tomb for a reason. I was meant to find it, just like I’d been meant to find that little statue. She’d been waiting for me to tell her story.

I held her to me as photos were taken, so, so grateful that it had been me she’d chosen. “I won’t let you down,” I whispered.

More pictures were taken of Argos and me. And then of me and Professor Harris, who was clearly annoyed that he wasn’t the center of the show and kept reminding people that “the authenticity of the object” had yet to be proven.

As the day wore on, however, Professor Harris had retreated to the edge of the cove, sitting on a rock by himself. Part of me felt bad for him. He looked smaller as I approached, more wizened. When he looked up at me his mouth tightened.

I glanced down at my watch. The last ferry back to Rhodes would be leaving soon. We needed to get back. Levi had done enough for me; it was time for him to take care of his own problems.

“Professor Harris, it was an honor to work with you, and I owe so much to you, but I need to move on. I won’t be able to finish my dissertation with you.”

He rolled his eyes and waved me off. “Call Marcangeli then. He’ll be thrilled to help you.”

Chapter 33

Diana

We arrived back in Venice after nightfall, still euphoric but exhausted. Levi tossed me the keys to Francine and fell asleep slumped against the passenger window almost as soon as I got on the highway.

When I pulled up outside Levi’s place, I hesitated to wake him. Curled up in his seat, mouth slightly open, Levi was so innocent, and I was so filled with love for him, it nearly choked me. I was overcome by what he’d sacrificed for me and even more determined to make him see that all that business about being bad luck was nonsense.

I stroked his head and whispered his name. He blinked, drowsy eyes focusing on me and grabbed my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. “You coming in?”

Though I was tempted to say yes, I shook my head. “No, you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow and you need your sleep.”

He pouted. “I can think of something else I need more . . .”

I shook my head and climbed out of the car, opening his door and pulling him out. Or at least trying to pull him out. His dead weight made me fall onto his lap. As he buried his lips on my neck, I scolded him. “Levi, you said last night that you’d do anything for me.”

“No problem, we can take care of you all night,” he mumbled against my throat.

Somehow I found the strength to push away from him, and standing with hands on hips, I laid it out for him. “I want you to go in and talk to your commanding officer tomorrow. Have a real talk with him. Tell him what’s going on with you. Don’t throw everything away.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Don’t argue. Anyway, I desperately need a change of clothes and Sabrina will murder me if I don’t update her.”

“Fine.” He stretched, and the sight of the two inches of muscle peeking out from his shirt almost made me give in. “You take Francine and text me as soon as you get in.”

With a kiss to his forehead, I left him standing on the sidewalk, watching him get smaller in the rearview mirror. And, as promised, texted him after I parked the car: Made it home safely. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eight sharp. Now, go to sleep!

I’d made it halfway to the door, a goofy, lovestruck grin on my face, when it opened.

“There you are! I was getting ready to call the police! Where the hell have you been?” Sabrina said in an angry whisper, shutting the door behind her. “Okay, now, brace yourself. You’ve got a surprise in there.”

I didn’t even have time to guess what that surprise might be because the door flew open and there she stood, a blinding solar goddess and the very last person I wanted to see right now.

***

The ground could have split under my feet and swallowed me whole and I would have been less surprised than I was to see my cousin in the flesh.

“Wh-what are you doing here, Ash?” I stuttered as she wrapped her arms around me, wrapping me in a cloud of vanilla lotion, cashmere sweater, and silky hair.

“You weren’t answering your phone!” She squeezed me so hard I forgot how to breathe. “All those messages I sent you! Deedee, I’m having a meltdown.”