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17

GLORIA

“ G loria, call me back. Now.” Dom’s message is insistent.

So were his last five and getting worse.

With any luck, my path through the city was erratic enough to keep him guessing for a while. Because it’s all I have, along with a half-decent disguise and a paper trail of credit card purchases that will lead him in the wrong direction.

It’s a half-assed plan.

It’s all I could manage on short notice. Because I have to leave.

I have to check on my sister and make sure she’s safe. And then I need to get her somewhere he can’t find her. Then I can come back here and accept the consequences of my actions.

I only wish I could have told Adriano. He deserves better than all of this. Than me. We both do.

But I’m desperate. Out of options.

I sat on the bed, staring at his back for nearly half an hour, the early morning blue shadowing everything in our room. He stirred once, mumbling my name in his sleep.

It almost broke me.

Every day this week I have almost told him.

Almost said the words.

But each and every time I choked on fear. On my own foolishness.

I let this happen. Shoved a wall up where we had found an opening, a way in. Because Anna is all that matters. And coming here was a mistake.

So, I slipped out before the sun was totally up, taking the back staircase out and down. The first step was to set a false trail of everyday expenses, appearances.

Dad went to the golf course, right on schedule.

I checked in at the office, telling my secretary to hold my calls. That I’d be in meetings all morning. That I was going to take care of some wedding stuff.

Exactly what they’d expect ten days from my nuptials. The busy bride. The career woman.

I’m glowing right?

I’m on cloud fucking nine.

More like going down in flames.

If I get caught, I have no idea what Dom will do to me. Fortunately, he won’t think of checking the safe, not on a Friday. No one will.

I made sure that I am the only one who makes the drops at the office now.

Trailing Adriano here and there has given me a lot of good information and strategies. Cues on how the men following me, my guards, my driver, work.

Watching my father work and asking all the right questions over the past several weeks has given me as good a picture of the whole as I’m likely to get. It’s now or never.

The closer we get to the wedding, the more scrutiny I’ll be under.

The afternoon is bright and sunny as I head to the airport.

I wish I felt anything but terror.

People, crowds.

As much as the rabble helps me feel somewhat safer, lost in the fray. Just some brunette in clothes I would never wear, another traveler.

Why do I feel like there are eyes on me at every turn?

Why am I jumping at shadows?

Because I am so out of my depth. I’ve never tried anything like this.

I dig deep, putting on my Gloria Vipera wherewithal one last time and head to the ticket counter.

“I have a reservation. My boss’s secretary called it in.”

“Name?” The desk clerk asks in the line next to me.

“Adrian Colombo.”

My head nearly snaps to the side at the familiar voice. The familiar presence standing only a few feet away from me.

“Ma’am?” A woman at the ticket counter in my line asks, for the second or third time, I realize.

“Um. yes. Sorry,” I mumble, keeping my voice down. Stepping up to the counter, my hands quiver as I fumble with my purse.

“Are you alright?”

I nod, not wanting to give myself away, smiling tightly at the attendant.

“Where are you headed today, miss?”

I lock up, my mind going blank. Paris. Say Paris. That’s where I need to go.

But an inkling of a feeling stops me short.

Waiting for something.

Where the hell is Adriano going?

And without so much as a text. No message to fill me in.

“There you go, Mr. Colombo, looks like you’re all set. Any bags to check?” She’s flirting with him, smiling as she taps on her keyboard.

Back off, woman. He’s taken.

Wow. Really, Gloria?

“No, thank you. Just my carry-on.” He smiles politely, fidgeting with his wallet, his phone, checking it quickly before shoving into his pocket.

Dammit, I need a hint…

“Excellent. Anything fun planned?”

“Just visiting family.”

“Ooo! That sounds nice. And even better, looks like you were upgraded to first class!” She sets the ticket on the counter. “Be sure to thank your boss.”

“I sure will,” he mutters tightly.

Come on. Anything!

“Well, enjoy your flight!”

“Thank you,” he says, turning away. Walking away.

No. No! I need to know where he’s going.

“Miss, if you aren’t ready, please let another customer go first?”

“Just a second, please ,” I say, just above a whisper, scrambling for a clue, any sign, digging through my purse like an idiot, pretending I lost something…

“Oh, sir!” The other clerk shouts.

Adriano turns back, his eyes passing over me, back to the desk.

“You forgot your passport!”

“Oh. I’m all out of sorts, today.”

“No worries, but you wouldn’t get out of the Rome airport without this.” She lowers her voice, teasing him quietly.

Yes!

“One ticket to Rome. Something near the back of the plane?”

“Certainly. And how will you be paying?”

“Cash.”