Page 58 of Conceal

I want to say something to Lev and Roman, but there aren’t any words. And I need to be careful if I’m going to get away safely.

I stand, gathering my small clutch, and walk through the crowd with my head held high, as if I’m just going to the restroom.

A man moves in behind me.

I turn down the hall, and so does he. Just outside the restroom, I turn and confront him. He’s an older gentleman; his face hard and flat.

“I’m assuming you’re my new security detail?”

He neither confirms nor denies it. But what else could he be?

I roll my shoulders back and pull on the tiny bit of bravery I still have.

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to go to my new home now, please. I have a headache.”

I don’t. But I need to get away.

Luckily, he motions his hand out, letting me know I can walk ahead of him. He leads me toward a back entrance and out into the cool night air. Fear grips my stomach, knowing my husband could be lurking out of any corner; knowing that this man could be taking me anywhere. I look over my shoulder, wishing it was Lev driving me to Giovanni’s.

But I can’t trust that he won’t do something stupid like kidnap me or fight my new guards.

I have to trust that Giovanni knows that hurting me would bring a war to his doorstep. Or, at least, that’s why my father’s letting him think. I’m not sure Dmitri will waste any of his men to avenge me.

The new man opens the back of a town car for me, but I hesitate. If he wanted to, he could shoot me right here. No one’s around. No one would be the wiser. How long would it be before someone noticed?

Wiping my sweaty hands on my dress, I gather the skirt and slide into the car. I guess it’s now or never.

When the new guard slides into the driver's seat, all the unknowns eat away at me.

“What’s your name, sir?”

He doesn’t answer for a long minute, shifting the car into reverse before pulling out onto the street.

“Enzo.”

I sigh a bit of relief. “Enzo. Have you been given instructions for me? Rules I have to follow? Mr. Vitale and I didn’t really get a chance to talk before tonight...”

If he’s been given instructions that don’t involve killing me tonight, I’d like to know sooner rather than later.

The streetlights create a strobe effect in the car, which is silent except for the beating of my heart.

“To get you to the house and to keep you there. That’s it.”

I finally allow myself to rest back against the seat. I guess I’m not dying tonight. That doesn’t mean someone else isn’t going to kill me, or that my husband might want to do the honors himself. But I don’t have to worry about it tonight.

We slide between wrought-iron gates, flanked by two security huts and men with rifles.

Half of the mansion is surrounded by scaffolding and tarps. I’d heard that the Colombian woman started a fire when she escaped. Maybe there’s hope for me yet. If she could escape, maybe I can too.

Except she was stolen from her home, not arranged. If I escape, my father’s not going to take me back in. He’ll send me right back to Giovanni.

Enzo parks and pulls a suitcase from the trunk. My things, I’m guessing.

I follow him into the mansion, where he turns right and down a menacingly dark and bare hallway. When he pushes open a door and steps aside so I can enter, I see... a bedroom. A normal, regular, boring bedroom. It could be a bedroom anywhere.

I don’t know what I was expecting. But this is... nice.

I’m relieved I’m not expected to live with Giovanni. I feel like I would catch something if I had to sleep in his bed. Not to mention what he’s willing to do if sneaking away with another woman at his own wedding is any indication of how he feels about me.