Page 185 of Valentino

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ANNA

Heartbreak comes in all shapes and sizes, and last night I met mine.

I pick up my phone and blink as I try to focus my eyes.

No missed calls.

What the fuck…why hasn’t he called me back?

I throw my phone in frustration.

The sun rose slow this morning, the golden glow sleepy in its arrival. I think I got all of three hours’ sleep. I was questioned at the police station and then my parents picked me up and took me back to their house.

I don’t know what happened to Valentino, I called him ten times, but he didn’t answer so I can only assume he’s still at the police station without access to his phone.

Francesca, Giuliano… in fact nobody is answering their phone.

Has everyone been arrested? Maybe they’re purposely not answering to be strategic, perhaps it looks guilty if we speak to each other?

I stare at the wall as I try to make sense of everything, a lot happened last night, too much to process….

Valentino told me that I didn’t do it for him, Carlo turned up and the first thing he said to me was where is he. He proved Valentino’s point; I am just a pawn in Carlo’s games.

That’s all I ever was.

He wasn’t interested in getting me out of there or seeing me, he just wanted to kill Valentino. I keep seeing that gun, see them wrestling as they fought, hear the gunshot.

And the vision of Carlo sitting on the floor in a pool of blood won’t leave my mind.

Did he die?

The police officer’s words are lingering on my heart like a weighted blanket: you were sent into Valentino’s bed to keep him occupied so that Carlo could move in and murder him.

Is that honestly what people think…surely not?

The night has been long, I’ve lain on my side and stared at the wall, I watched the sun peek from the corner before eventually lighting up the entire room.

Valentino did warn me to stay away from him.

Turns out that he was right, I should have.

I drag myself out of bed and collect my phone from the floor, dial his number and pace back and forth as I listen.

Ring, ring…ring, ring…. His voicemail picks up.

Leave a message.

My eyebrows flick up, before last night I’d never heard his voicemail, he’s always answered my calls. But now that I have, it’s just so damn rude. No hello, no niceness…. Just Valentino and his point-blank no fluff fuck you demeanor.

Ugh.

Beep…. “Hi Val, it’s me.” I continue to pace as I talk. “I don’t know what’s going on or….” I shrug, lost for words. “Are you okay?” I keep pacing. “Are you still in the police station or…. I thought I would have heard from you by now, I’m beginning to panic. Can you call me please?”

Three hours, twenty meltdowns and a small heart attack…and still no word.

I’ve called everyone at least ten times and still no answer. What the hell is going on?