Page 52 of Vistaria Has Fallen

She swallowed, her throat dry and raspy. “And heaven help anyone who gets in the way?”

“Yes, indeed,”he agreed, his voice low. His eyes, his gaze burrowed into her soul again. He cleared his throat and looked away.

Calli shook off the spell.

He walked over to a desk in the corner and lifted the phone. “One moment,” he told her and spoke into the phone. He had a quick exchange in Spanish. Then a second conversation, at a slower pace. He finished the call and hung up, picked up her hand and kissedthe back of it. “All has been arranged.”

“Really?”

“You doubt me?”

“It seems a little simple.”

“Simple enough. I always keep my options open. Now, you must play your part.”

“What do I do?”

“You and Minnie must go to Pascuallita with Duardo.”

“That’s it?”

“Tonight.”

“Oh, yes, that might create problems.”

“Can you handle them?”

“I think so.”

“Good. Duardo can pay penance for interferingwith my personal affairs by playing nursemaid to two American women who want to sight-see around the top of the island. He will be bored and charming in turns and you two will pretend a total fascination with the country.”

“That’s the easy part. Vistariaisa fascinating country.”

He smiled a little. “Vistaria can also be a deadly country. Don’t underestimate my fellow countrymen, Calli. Youhave only seen a glimpse of the passion and drive that runs in their blood. Vistaria has been self-determining since we threw off the Spanish yoke and men will give up their lives to ensure it stays that way.”

She thought of the gun in his jacket. How could she underestimate Vistarians when the gun proved that Nicolás would not take any chances? “I won’t.”

“Good. Now, you should scale whateverwall you scaled to reach me and go give Duardo his orders.”

“Then what?”

“Enjoy your trip to Pascuallita.” He walked her towards the door, his hand on her waist.

It was moving too fast. “Wait,” she said, turning. “What happens after that?”

“I will find you.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t feel that way. Nick, I’m afraid that if I step out of this room, I’ll never see you again.”

He didn’tdismiss her fears as foolish. “Do you trust me?”

She answered honestly. “With my life.”

“Yet you still believe I will not come to you. Hmm.” He thought about it for a moment. He reached into his pocket as she had seen him do a hundred times since she had known him. His hand emerged, snarled with a gold chain. He lifted it up, so the pendant attached to it swung clear. “St. Christopher,” he explained.“Patron saint of—”

“Travelers,” Calli finished. “My grandmother was Irish.”

“My mother was Irish, too. This pendant traveled with her father through Europe during the war. She wore it until the day she died and swore it saved her life a hundred times in Northern Ireland. She gave it to me and I have carried it with me ever since.” He held it out to her.

“No, Nick, I can’t.”

He shook his headand turned her around. “Your hair. Pull it aside,” he told her.

She pulled her hair aside and watched as the pendant descended in front of her. It settled on her chest. He turned her back to face him. “Believe that I will come for you,” he said and kissed her.