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Rachelle was locked up tighter than any of them. There was no amount of demanding, pleading, or sobbing that would get her to say a peep without her son’s okay.

She’d insisted on an afternoon out with the girls the next day, and I was kind of looking forward to it. I needed to get out of the house, and I was optimistic that enough drinks would loosen Tina’s tongue.

I knew Ben was somewhere in the house, and Luc would likely be back soon. But I pretended I was alone, humming to myself as I fixed my bottle of water for bed. I was walking back to the stairs when the growing stack of mail on the small table caught my eye.

More specifically, my name on the envelope at the top.

Snatching it up, my breath hissed from my lungs when I saw it where it was from. I ran up the stairs on shaky legs as my heart pounding an uneven tempo. Without thought, I closed myself into the room I’d shared with Theo.

I tore into the envelope, nearly losing grip of it in my trembling fingers. Theo’s neat and masculine handwriting was on the page, but there wasn’t as much of it as I’d been hoping for.

My gattina,

I’m sorry. I should have told you. Given you some warning. I know that now. I hope once we’re able to talk more fully, you’ll understand where I was coming from. Until then, please be patient. Stay at the house. Stay with me. Quit the café and spend your days by the pool. Or take a few classes, Rosa found some you may like. I know I’m not there to take care of you, but let me do what I can. Please?

I love you, Dahlia. No matter what you think, never doubt that.

Love,

Theo

I read the note again. And again. And again still, until the words blended together.

There was nothing.

No answers.

The little hint of light I’d let myself hope for disappeared with apoof, and I was left in total darkness.

He’d lied.

To me.

To the court.

I had no clue how much he lied about.

Everyone else around me seemed to know, though.

I was used to being alone. It’d been that way my whole life, for as long as I could remember. Even when I was surrounded by people, I was still alone.

But Theo had given me company. Love and affection. Afamily.

And now it was tainted with secrets and lies.

I had to get out.

My mind was racing, my chest tight as tears rolled down my cheeks. Betrayal churned my stomach.

I waited until anyone here would be asleep before sprinting into action. Throwing a few pieces of clothes into my big purse, I eased the bedroom door open. My steps were soft as I crept down the stairs. I reached for the keys on the side table, only to find them gone.

The keys were gone.

Not just mine.

Allof them.

I turned to check the kitchen, and let out a startled screech when I saw someone there.