Page 39 of Married to the Devil

Enormous, spike-covered walls, multiple armed guards, and surveillance technology.

Dread and terror fill me as Hattie begs me to let her go swimming.

There’s no way I’m getting out of here.

I can’t give up. I can’t roll over and accept this.

But what am I going to do?

How am I going to get my daughter out of this place?

12

RAFE

Iwalk slowly along the wall’s perimeter. Fifty feet away is the pine forest, stretching out into the distance, the empty space from there to here a killing zone for anyone trying to get through.

Theodora walks beside me. Her BMW is parked on the drive back the way we came as we stroll outside the wall. She’s got her phone out and busies herself getting a call set up. Eventually Ignazio’s voice comes through the line, though it’s somewhat scratchy; the service isn’t good in the middle of nowhere.

“—Got news, Don Corvino, and it isn’t news you’ll like.”

“What’s going on?”

“Word came this morning. There’s a problem with the closing documents.”

Theodora stiffens. “Hello, Ignazio, this is Theodora. I don’t think that’s accurate. I made sure everything was settled.”

“I’m only relaying what I’ve been told. The other lawyer, Mark Thurston, called and said he found some discrepancies. We talked about it⁠—“

“Hold on a second. You talked?” Theodora’s eyes narrow. She gets that look when she’s pissed. “This is supposed to be my job.”

“Don’t shoot the messenger now. Mark reached out to me after he couldn’t get ahold of you.”

Theodora’s jaw works. “What did he say, exactly?”

“Oh, it’s the usual story. Permits, names on dotted lines, I don’t know. Sounded like a bunch of deflecting.”

I slow, hands clasped behind my back. “Was he fishing for something?”

“I can’t say for sure, but it’s possible. He mentioned some numbers.”

Theodora looks positively radiant with anger.

“That fucking prick,” she snarls. “We had everything hammered out. The rest is a god damn formality.”

“I agree totally, and yet he’s trying to pull some bullshit.”

“This deal can’t fall through.” I meet Theodora’s gaze and hold it. “There’s too much at stake.”

“I’ll go back to the city now and sort it out.” She curses and starts toward her car. “Ignazio, don’t talk to anyone without me present again, understand?”

“I can’t make promises, but I’ll do my best.”

“Do better than that.” She looks at me. “I’ll handle it.”

“Make sure that you do.”

When Theodora’s on the long drive back, I take the morning to myself. June and Hattie are safely inside; Nunzio’s been updating me on their whereabouts and what they’ve been doing hourly. I use the time to exercise and to clear my head.