Page 89

“It’s okay, dear.” She pats my knee. “He’s on his way over to inspect the note and speak with you.”
“How are you so calm?” I hug myself, feeling displaced, like I’m having an out-of-body experience.
“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. I’m no stranger to suspicious letters.”
Right. Gigi’s been through much worse through her career. Stalkers. Crazy fans. She’s also fine and lives with top-of-the-line security as a result. I remind myself of that and unwind a little.
“How did you get the note?” Gigi asks.
“I, uh…um, Katia brought it. It was in her mailbox.”
“Really?” Gigi nods, her demeanor as cool as a cucumber.
Amazing woman!
She picks up her phone, texts that information to Mr. Glenn, and sets her phone back on the table.
Inez returns with a tray of tea. She places it on the massive coffee table and pours two cups, setting them in front of me and Gigi.
“Yours has sweetener and a bit of honey,” she says to me.
I take the warm teacup. “Thank you.”
“Lemon?” she asks Gigi, before squeezing a slice into the other tea.
Gigi nods. “Thank you, Inez. Mr. Glenn should arrive shortly. Let him straight in. We’ll stay here.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything else.” Inez smiles and returns to the kitchen.
“Sip some tea. It will help calm your nerves,” Gigi instructs and drinks some of her own, as if she’s doing it to get me to mimic her again.
It works.
Warm sweetened tea slides down my throat in a soothing way. I sip some more and my shaking eases, finally. “I didn’t mean to get so upset.”
“It’s natural, my dear.”
“I just can’t believe she sent me a note. A girl in the Mafia who kidnapped Riley when he was in college.”
Gigi nods and lowers her teacup to the saucer on the table. “He told you everything then?”
“Yeah. Do you think he’s safe?”
“Riley is very resourceful and careful. He left to protect us. I offered for him to stay.”
“You did?”
“Mm-hm. I gather that’s why he didn’t want to say goodbye to me in person. He knew I’d talk him into staying. I called him after you told me he left, but his mind was set, and he needed to leave for his own peace of mind.”
“Were you ever worried about having him stay here?”
She shakes her head. “Like I said, dear. I’ve had my share of frights and close calls. I know we’re safe in the estate. Riley was just as safe as we are now.”
“Maybe it’s better he left since Marina knows he was here.”
Her auburn eyebrows draw together.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.