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Her shoulders slump, and she shifts from being on her knees to letting her feet dangle to the floor. Soon, topolina. It’ll all make sense soon enough.
I step out onto the balcony, taking one quick glance behind me to be sure she isn’t watching. Once the door is closed tight and I’m certain she can’t hear me, I put my focus on the call.
“Christian, mi senti parlare con te?” Christian, do you hear me talking to you?
“Sì. Puoi smetterla di urlare, padre,” I say, my tone laced in aggravation. Yes. You can stop yelling.
“È ora che tu torni. Abbiamo questioni di cui occuparci,” he demands. It’s time for you to return. We have matters to attend to.
“Sarò lì quando sarò—” I’ll be there when I’m—
He cuts me short. “Ora. Non lo dirò di nuovo.” Now. I won’t say it again.
I swallow a breath. “Bene. Sarò in Italia tra due giorni.” Fine. I’ll be in Italy in two days.
My father, the bastard, hangs up without another word. I take a moment before reentering the living room. Clutching the phone in my hand, I squeeze it until I hear the screen crack. I was supposed to have more time. I need more time. What needs to be done can’t be accomplished in a matter of hours. It will take days.
Shoving the device in my pocket, I grip the stone railing and look out at the city. I know how I’m going to do it because I’ve had it planned for so long, but I don’t like being rushed. It leaves room for mistakes, makes me sloppy, and this can’t come back to me. Not for the fact I fear the law, but because Siân can never know. She finally trusts me and isn’t ready for the truth.
The sound of the sliding door opening behind me alerts me before I feel her presence at my back. She hasn’t even touched me yet, but I know she’s there, so close I can sense and smell her. It’s funny how that works and just goes to show how much she belongs to me.
Her pheromones mix with the cool air, wrapping me like a calming blanket. “Is everything okay, Christian?” Her voice is low.
A sharp breath rips out of me as I slip the invisible mask I’ve been wearing for months—the one that represents the Christian she knows—back in place.
I face her and say, “Everything is fine.” I reach out to touch her, my entire body coming to life when she rests her cheek against my palm. “I need to handle some things for my father, but I won’t be long.”
Her eyebrows knit together, and her lips press into a hard line. Siân reaches for my wrist to read the time on my watch. “This time of night? Have you heard anything about Cynthia?” She wraps her arms around herself, her eyes pleading for answers I will never give her.
Inching closer, I squeeze her shoulders. “I won’t be long, I promise. And first thing in the morning, I’ll get in touch with my contacts again. Nothing has turned up yet, but no sign can be a good sign.”
The lie comes out way too easily, and unlike any other time in my life, I actually feel bad for lying to her. She’s so trusting, and while it’s something I love about her, I hate it just the same. It’s the reason two people she cares about could disrespect her right under her nose—in her house and everywhere else. If I saw it, I don’t know how she never did.
“How? Don’t they say if you don’t find a missing person during the first forty-eight hours, then you’ll never find them?”
“Baby. Relax. You’ll see Cynthia again. I swear that to you. I told you I will never let anyone hurt you. That goes for Cynthia too. I’ll find a way to reunite you. Okay?”
Siân drops her chin to her chest, her body melting into me when I pull her close.
“I need to get going, but I’ll come back to you.”
She stares up at me with doe eyes. “Promise?”
“With my life. Let’s get back inside. It’s a little chilly tonight.” I guide her into the living room, locking the balcony door behind us.
Once inside, I kiss her and turn on my heels for the exit, snatching my keys from the built-in bookshelf along the way.
“Christian. Can’t you do whatever it is you need to do in the morning? I don’t want to be alone.”
I give her a soft smile and wrap my fingers around the knob. “Don’t wait up.” That’s the only response I give her before stepping into the hall and locking her inside.
If I stick around and look at her, I’ll be convinced to stay, and that isn’t an option right now. My father just put a bigger damper on my plans, so shit needs to be handled tonight. The elevator feels like it’s a mile away and the ride down to the garage seems even longer.
