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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Alessandro has theMorelli! I can’t remember receiving better news in my life. I search Rafe’s eyes to see if there is any chance he could be messing with me, but he doesn’t seem the sort of person to do that when someone’s life is at stake.
“He has the Morelli,” I echo. “That means I’m free. I get to live.”
Rafe looks me over and there seems a touch of wistfulness in his face, as if he might miss me.
“Yes, that would seem to be the case,” he says.
I release a big sigh of relief and follow him into an office, a room I haven’t been in before. Like the rest of the house, it’s impressive. This one is decorated with Chinese artifacts. A Terracotta warrior stands behind glass in one corner. Bamboo scrolls and swords line the walls.
“Alessandro is on his way with the Morelli right now,” Rafe continues.
I can hardly contain my excitement. I ask, “He talked to my brother then?”
Rafe’s expression darkens a shade. “You’ll get to ask him yourself.”
I don’t see how else Alessandro would have come up with the Morelli without checking in with Peter. On the other hand, it’s a little odd that Alessandro would have gotten through to my brother, whereas I couldn’t.
But that doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I’m going to get to walk out of here alive.
Standing behind a desk, Rafe looks me over from head to toe, taking in every detail. “You look nice.”
I blush like a teenage girl bumping into her crush. I tuck my hair behind an ear. “Whoever chose the clothes has nice taste.”
His eyes have a smolder I recognize all too well now.
From the threshold, Chung tells Rafe, “James says he’ll be pulling up with Alessandro in ten minutes.”
Rafe appears disappointed. I wonder if it’s because Alessandro’s imminent arrival means less time with me, but that’s me projecting my own feelings onto him because I’m a little sad to go. Which is C-R-A-Z-Y. I should be ecstatic that I’ll never see Rafe again.
“Have them wait,” Rafe instructs, then motions with a simple nod of his head for Chung to leave.
The doors close behind me, leaving me alone with Rafe. After looking at something on his computer screen, he turns his attention back to me. “So what made you feel like today was a special day?”
His question puzzles me, but I reply with the obvious anyway. “Alessandro found the Morelli.”
“Before I told you that. You said you were in a different mood, and that’s why you didn’t feel like wearing the shirt and sweatpants you asked for last night.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually get more clothes for me,” I reply as I watch him walk around his desk, reminding me of the way a panther moves toward its prey.
“You struck me as someone who prefers the casual comfort of t-shirts and sweats.”
“I am.”
“But today you chose something...sexier.”
