AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We exit the vehicle, and Sergio walks up to the door with a key in hand. Jezebel and I wait behind him, and I can’t help noticing how his suit hugs every curve of his broad shoulders. I haven’t asked what he does for a living, but my guess is he probably needs to work out a lot.
I feel his sister’s gaze on me, and my cheeks heat in embarrassment. She probably caught me checking out her brother, and I avert my gaze quickly. When we step into the entrance foyer, I take note of how minimalist the furnishings are. From here, it’s an open-plan space where the living room and dining area are visible. It’s stunning, almost more of a show house than a lived-in home. The walls are white, and I wonder how they keep it clean.
A phone rings shrilly, and Jezebel pulls her cell from her purse. “I have to take this,” she tells me. “My brother can show you to the guest room.”
“Thank you.” I smile, turning my attention on Sergio once we’re left alone.
His fingertips land on the base of my spine as heat courses through me. He guides me through the vast rooms and up the winding glass staircase leading to the second floor.
There is so much light in this house I’m enamored by it immediately. When we reach a white door, Sergio pushes it open and allows me to enter first. Inside, there’s a large king-sized bed along with a vanity against the opposite wall.
A walk-in closet hides behind doors I notice are ajar, and there’s an attached bathroom. It’s like a five-star hotel rather than a home.
“Everything you’ll need is in here,” Sergio tells me. He stalks into the bathroom, opening cabinets, showing me the toiletries and hairdryer. Everything is new, immaculate, shiny, and I wonder how this is even real.
“This is incredible. Thank you so much,” I tell him.
Sergio nods, offers me a smile, and then he’s back in the bedroom with me trailing behind him. “There are clothes in the closet that may fit you. It was a wardrobe I’d bought for someone close to me, but it never worked between us,” he tells me sadly, his voice lowering to a pained whisper, and I find myself nearing him, just to offer comfort.
“I’m so sorry.”
He glances my way. “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t meant to be.” Sergio shakes his head, then makes his way to the door, leaving me behind. “Take your time. Dinner will be ready at seven.” And then he’s gone, and I realize I didn’t ask where I’m meant to go for dinner.
Sighing, I go to the bedroom door and flick the lock. Once I’m sure nobody can enter, I strip off and pad naked into the bathroom, turning on the taps. I watch the steam billow around me before stepping into the large, tiled space.
My muscles ache, my feet are burning from walking, but it’s my chest that aches when I think about how lost I am right now. There’s no way getting to New Orleans from here today, as I had planned. It’s a good eight-hour drive, and there’s no way I can ask Sergio to take me there when he has work. He’s already doing so much for me. I’ll have to wait it out until they’re ready to leave San Antonio.
Picking up the bottle of body wash, I squeeze some out onto the palm of my hand and proceed in lathering myself up, wetting my hair in the process, needing to wash the dirt from me.
Father Eugene must’ve figured out I’m gone, and they’ve probably contacted my father. I wonder what he’ll do when he realizes his daughter is gone.
Once I’ve rinsed myself, I turn off the taps and step out onto the small mat and grab a towel. Everything is new, soft, and I wrap myself in the fluffy material. With a glance in the mirror, I smile, seeing the girl I once was. Long, golden hair, large, azure eyes, and pouty, pink lips — at least, that’s what Lance used to call them. He always told me they were his kryptonite.
I still wonder why he never came for me. And even though I’m thankful to be free, there’s that niggling in my gut which returns and reminds me to be wary. As much as I wanted to escape, everything came too quickly. The gate open, the guard not taking notice, and even Sergio and his sister driving up as I reached the road.
Shaking off the dark thoughts, I towel myself off, taking in my reflection once more. I look human again. My hair is clean. The dark circles under my eyes are still there though, and I know I’ll need to get some rest.
Upon entering the bedroom, I find an envelope on the bed, which causes me to frown. Someone must’ve been in the bedroom, but how? That doesn’t make sense. When I check the door, it’s locked.
Reaching for the envelope, I open it, pulling out the card with an elegant scrawl on the front.
Giuliana,
Tonight, dinner will be served in the dining area. Join me. There’s a dress in the closet.
Sergio
The gesture is sweet, and I can’t refuse since he’s giving me a place to stay. Perhaps I can figure out how he came to be on that particular road. I realize this is what I missed, being cared for, being noticed. When I was younger, before the convent, it was always Lance who would glance my way, press a kiss to my lips when no one was looking, but that ended the moment my father sent me away.
The day I left, I saw Lance as the car pulled out of the estate, him chuckling with Seth and Percivale. He looked happy. I was leaving, and he was moving on. I wanted to go to him
, but I turned away and looked ahead of me. Even at eighteen, I knew I had no choice but to let him go.
Now, as my twenty-first birthday approaches, I realize I’m still besotted with Lance Knight. One of the most dangerous men in the country. Maybe Sergio and Jezebel are a sign for me to finally release my heart from loving a man who didn’t even bother trying to find me.
The Cavalieri has friends in dark places, and I know if he truly wanted to find me, he would’ve. But then again, if he believes I chose the convent over him, I don’t blame him for giving up. Sadly, I can’t blame him for anything. The man who should get all the blame is my father.
I may have to wait until I reach New Orleans for a chance to find Lance, to tell him goodbye and move on with my life. That’s what I need — closure. Two years is a long time to wait for a man who has been the center of my world for most of my life.
