Page 15 of Vows of Silence

“What are we watching tonight?”

“Game of Thrones,” I replied, chuckling when Luca groaned down the phone.

“One of these days you really need to watch past series one. I can’t do this much longer.”

I smirked as I heard Game of Thrones start from his end.

“They rewrite it to keep Drogo alive, I’ll keep watching. Until then, shh.”

Chapter 6

The Flame

Luca:What are you doing, little ember?

Isabelle:Don’t you ever sleep?

It was plainly obvious what I was doing.

I was breaking and entering my father’s office.

After we finished watching Game of Thrones last night, I still couldn’t sleep. I spent hours tossing and turning, until eventually I gave up and decided to sneak down here at two AM to investigate for myself.

I’d already heard my dad come back from wherever he disappeared to with Mr I-Need-A-Wife Vescari, and I’d waited a further hour to ensure he was asleep before sneaking down here. Even Frank was asleep, and that man ran off nothing but coffee fumes and spite. This was the perfect opportunity, and I wasn’t going to pass it up.

Luca:You’re awake, so I’m awake. You know how this works. I’ll ask one last time—what are you doing?

Isabelle:You didn’t use my nickname that time.

Luca:You haven’t earned it. You’re also avoiding the question.

Isabelle:You have cameras everywhere, Luca. Take some of your own advice: stop making me spell it out for you and figure it out on your own.

I waited a beat for him to reply and then rushed to add.

Isabelle:And when you do figure it out, don’t even think about trying to talk some sense into me. My mind is made up.

Luca:Far be it for me to be the voice of reason. Do you know the code?

Isabelle:Of course I know the code. It’s been the same since I was a child.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed at him, keying in my date of birth and waited with a smug grin for the light to turn green.

Access denied.

“I beg your finest pardon,” I scoffed, as though the stupid lock was going to answer me. I keyed in my date of birth again, only for the same thing to happen.

Isabelle:He changed the code! When did he change the fucking code?

Luca:Maybe when he had a suspicion that his daughter would go snooping? He’s forcing you into a marriage you don’t want. Snooping was inevitable.

I looked at the door in frustration, hating that he was right.

But if my dad felt the need to hide things from me, that meant I was right, too. Therewassomething behind that door. Something he didn’t want me seeing.

And then I remembered who I was talking to.

Isabelle:Luca…