Page 47 of Pretty Plaything

I can’t see any cameras or anything, and I don’t think any alarms have been triggered. But if someone gets past all the guards and alarms to get to this floor, they have to be a ninja or a ghost.

Or get invited up here, like me.

I open Santiago’s closet. My eyebrows lift up. He only has one suit jacket. It makes my job easier when I slip a bug into his pocket. It’s just a tiny, mostly undetectable thing that will help me listen in on anything he says while he’s wearing it.

Since his closet is full of leather jackets, it looks like he prefers those, but I don’t think he wears a leather jacket when he meets with important people. His father probably doesn’t allow him to do a lot yet, but he has to be introducing him to the family business bit by bit.

If Santiago spots the bug, he’ll think someone else slipped it while he was outside.

I don’t know if this will lead to something or not, but it’s worth a try.

After quickly closing the closet, I slip out of the room. The hallway is empty, so I stride back to Sienna’s room.

The first thing I notice is a piece of paper among the books on a shelf. I go closer, my curiosity winning.

It’s a sketch of a dress.

Looks nice.

Is it Sienna’s?

Who would’ve thought my wife had such talent?

I return the sketch to its place. A creak catches my attention. One of the floorboards is loose. I glance at the door and listen, but no one’s coming.

Not yet.

I crouch and inspect the floorboard. It comes away easily when I lift it up. Hiding inside is a notebook with a sparkly pink cover.

Sienna’s diary?

It’s insignificant. I know I won’t find any secrets in there that will help me figure out what happened to my family.

But I take the notebook anyway and slide it in the inner pocket of my suit jacket. There’s a reason why I always insist on having big pockets.

Just as I return the floorboard back, I hear footsteps, so I dash to the dressing table, pretending I’m collecting the photos.

“I’m sorry for taking so long,” Sienna’s mother says. “But I realized you’re going to need a bag for the things, so I brought one.”

“Great! Thank you.”

A woman holding a tray with a glass of water is behind her.

It’s a good thing I already did what I came here for.

“Mom, what’s going—” Santiago pokes his head through the door, surprise flashing in his eyes when he sees me.

“Alessandro just came for some of your sister’s things that she wants to have in her new home,” Sienna’s mother says.

“Huh. Nice.” He nods, his eyes trained on me. “Take good care of my sister.”

“I will,” I say.

Looks like I’ve already won over two of the important members of Sienna’s family.

Even if she says something against me when she talks to them, it’s likely they aren’t going to believe her, or they’ll think she’s overreacting.

My plan is already working.