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Alessandra says, “Maybe we shouldn’t have shown her this.”
“No, it’s fine.” I try to smile, but my bottom lip trembles.
“She should know everything sooner rather than later,” says Chiara, and they nod.
“Did you?” I ask.
They burst into laughter, shaking their heads. “I mean, I almost got them both killed because I wanted out.”
Aurora sighs. “Chiara, that was not your fault.”
“You might be all for forgetting, but I won’t. I underestimated the danger. And it was the biggest lesson of my life.”
“What?” I ask.
“I need wine for this,” she replies. We step inside the bar. Hundreds of bottles line the wall, catering to every taste. The lights are dimmed. Plush cushions and velvet dark burgundy tapestry create an intimate atmosphere. Aurora puts on some music. Alessandra and I hop on the high chairs.
Chiara continues as she pours drinks on the smooth bar surface. “I was falling in love with Cato and he represented everything I hated, but love doesn’t operate on morality. I was terrified, so I tried to escape. Thank God Aurora had a tracking chip in her.”
“You have a chip?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“We all do,” Alessandra shrugs.
“You’ll get one too,” Aurora says softly.
“No. That’s intrusive.”
“Not in our world. And you’re part of our world,” Chiara replies. I look at my hands, at the engagement and wedding band confirming her words.
She takes a sip and we end up dancing and playing pool and darts. Among them, I feel like I am more than among friends.
“What about the east side of the bunker?” I ask.
“That one is for escaping. It’s an underground road, leading straight to the highway,” Alessandra says. “We can go see it whenever you want.”
“I kind of like it here.”
A small smile grazes Aurora’s lips. “Yeah, it grows on you.”
“Do you sleep here too?”
“Once a month, after we play laser tag, but it’s also a good place to enjoy the silence. Here, it feels like life is on standby,” Chiara adds.
An alarm blares and I shriek. Amusement colors Aurora’s voice. “Ah, really?”
“We’ve been here for three hours. What did you expect?” Chiara says, glancing at her metallic watch shining with tiny diamonds.
They exchange a secretive look and Alessandra replies, “Let’s send our men a message.”
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“That’s the sound of our husbands making their big entrance.”
Alessandra’s eyes gleam with a challenge. “Then let’s greet them properly.”
Chiara gets in my face, placing her palms on my shoulders. “They want to test you. Now, you can do what they expect—panic—or come with us, and we can teach them a lesson.”
I am rooted on the spot while they wait for me to answer. I nod, wanting to prove them wrong. I am stronger than I appear.
