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“I’m getting the impression she’s been ‘out of the picture’ for a while.” Marco glanced at me forconfirmation.
I nodded, hesitant to offer any details. I still didn’t know enough about this guy to be sure how far I could trust him. “She took a lot of trips out of the city,” I said. “The last time, she didn’t comehome.”
“And how long ago wasthat?”
“Do you really need me to tell you that, or do you alreadyknow?”
The serious expression I’d only glimpsed once before came back, a brief shadow across his handsome face. “I promise you, I’m not playing a game here. I want to understand what’s happened as much as you do. I’m hoping that between the two of us we can put together enough pieces to see the entirepicture.”
He sounded sincere. I didn’t sense any emotions in his stance other than concern and a little frustration, which I guessed was understandable. But he’d still toldmebarelyanything.
“Why don’t you—” Istarted.
Marco’s head twitched to the side as if he’d heard a sound. A second later, it reached my ears too: the faint rumble of a car engine. He strode to thedoor.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Your friend is only the first of the guests coming to see you today. You’re a populargirl.”
He winked at me and slipped out into thehall.
Chapter 4
Ren
“You knowthis situation is totally wacko, right?” Kylie said, leaning back in the settee. She popped a folded piece of toast into her mouth and chewed vigorously. I’d never figured out how she could eat to rival a linebacker and keep that wiryframe.
“Yeah, that had occurred to me a few hundred times.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’m so sorry I got you mixed up in it,Ky.”
She gave me a gentle kick to the knee. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m glad I’m here. I can help you get out if things turn even more wacko. And I am kind of curious to find out the big mystery about your momtoo.”
“If Marco actually does know anything about her.” It was starting to sound as if he hadn’t seen her in even longer than I had. But the way he’d talked to me—the way he’dlookedat me... There was something he knew, something big, that he hadn’t told meyet.
Was that why my body was responding to his presence so enthusiastically? I’d never had such an intense reaction to a guy before. Of course, I couldn’t say I’d ever met a guy half that gorgeousbefore...
As if reading my mind, Kylie arched her eyebrows. “I’ve got to say, you have amazing luck in mysterious sort-of kidnappers. That guy issmokin’.”
I had to laugh, even as my cheeks flushed. “Yeah, I noticed thattoo.”
“Ooh.” Kylie gave me another nudge with her foot. “Maybe Ren has ulterior motives for sticking around. I’m shocked. You never go gaga overguys.”
“I’ve never seen a guy like that,” Imuttered.
On the other side of the house, the front door thumped shut. I strained my ears to make out Marco’s voice or our new arrival’s, but I couldn’t hear either. What had he meant when he’d said people were coming to seeme? How did these other “guests” fit in with whatever secret he hadn’t spilledyet?
The uncertainty overwhelmed my hunger. I’d cleared half the plate anyway. I set it down on the coffee table. The growl of another car engine carried through the walls, stopping outside. I shifted on the seat. What were they talking about outthere?
My hand rose to my locket. It’d been my touchstone for comfort over the last seven years. All those years of waiting until I was allowed to openit.
I’d opened it... and before the end of the day, Marco’s assistant had shown up. I peered at the etched gold oval. That connection hadn’t occurred to me before. But how could my opening the locket have brought Marco, or anyone else, myway?
I clicked it open and looked at the symbol inside.What were you trying to tell me, Mom? Why did you make me wait to see this? I don’t understandanything.
“You opened it!” Kylie said, sitting up. Right. I hadn’t seen her since I first had. She leaned over, and I held it up for her toinspect.
“I don’t suppose that picture means anything to you,” Isaid.
“Nope. Shouldit?”
“I don’t know.” Just one question on my rapidly growinglist.
