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“I opened the door and the guard, Pinto, was talking to Sister Maria Gloria. He lifted the teapot lid that was on her cart, and she scolded him to hurry up so the water wouldn’t get cold.”
“Who the hell is Sister Maria Gloria?” Antonio asks, as if exasperated that there’s something he doesn’t know.
“She takes care of the bride’s parlor and brings refreshments on the day of the wedding.”
“Refreshments?” Antonio asks suspiciously.
“She’s been doing it forever,” Lydia replies, dismissing him. “She brought me tea and biscuits when I married your father. She must be eighty years old.”
“Eighty-two next month,” Cristiano clarifies, seeming to placate Antonio a bit. While he didn’t know anything about the elderly nun, Cristiano knew plenty.
Alvarez rushes into the room. “All clear,” he says before saying a few quiet words to Cristiano.
“One minute,” Cristiano says quietly, sending Antonio a look that I don’t understand. He leaves the room and returns without his jacket.
“It’s safe to leave, but cover your mouth and your eyes. It’s smoky out there, and we don’t know what kind of chemicals might be in the air.”
I lift the outer skirt of my dress, trying to cover my face the best I can.
Antonio gives his jacket to his mother. “Take my shirt,” he says, tugging at the buttons.
“This is fine. Better,” I assure him. “Maybe you can use your shirt.” But he doesn’t.
Antonio wraps an arm around his mother, steadying her, and he reaches for me with his free hand, holding my fingers tight as we leave the chapel.
Outside the chapel there’s still smoke, and even with them partially protected, it’s enough to make my eyes sting.
When we approach what was once the bridal parlor, I freeze. It’s hollowed out, like something in a war zone. No one inside that room could have survived. My stomach twists and the tears begin to flow. I can’t move.
There’s a man on the floor nearby, a suit jacket covering his face. I’m sure it’s a guard.Maybe Pinto.
“We need to keep walking,” Antonio chides, tugging on my hand.
“Were they still inside?” I ask Cristiano over my shoulder.
“We don’t have many answers yet,” he replies quietly.
We go through a door and onto a side portico, where an older man and a younger couple are waiting. The area is surrounded by guards.
The man lunges for Lydia as soon as he sees her, and they embrace.Edward.
“I want you on Edward’s plane,” Antonio tells his mother in a voice that leaves no room for negotiation, “along with Samantha and Will, as soon as possible. A doctor will meet you there to examine you before takeoff.”
“Our things are at the house,” she says defiantly.
“Not a concern right now. We’ll collect everything and ship it to London. You need to go home and stay put until you hear from me.”
Sirens are getting closer.
A man I believe is Will steps in. “I brought plenty of security with us,” he tells Antonio. “You need all your people here.”
“I don’t think it’s me you need to be worried about,” Lydia says to her son, while she squeezes my hand.
“I’ll decide who I need to worry about,” he replies, pointedly.
Lydia bristles, but Antonio is not going to indulge her. She’s going to have to do exactly as he says.
He turns to Edward. “Do not let her out of your sight until you hear from me.”
