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Closing her eyes, she murmured, “The memories aren’t so easy to kill, though.”
His touch was strong and soothing, lulling her almost into sleep. “Do you want to check into a hotel?”
Her eyes flew open, brows furrowed. “A hotel?”
Gio’s face was blank, almost carefully so. He scanned her tense form and her clasped hands before saying hesitantly, “I wonder if this house is making the memories hard to escape.”
It wasn’t a farfetched assumption. There was too much in the mansion that reminded her of that night, of all the nights after when Auntie and Grandfather had interrogated her and made her relive it for days on end–before they disposed of the body and pretended like it never happened.
Ana still couldn’t approach her grandfather’s office. Its layout, its blood-soaked carpet haunted her dreams. It was just one floor below her, steps away.
“Let’s just wait for the Examiner’s results,” she said with more courage than she felt. “Once that’s over, I’d rather just go straight home.” It had already been two weeks since she’d arrived in Pittsburgh. She missed their routine and their staff.
“Is that fine?” Ana asked him tentatively. Gio’s face was drawn, tired and concerned.
“Of course,” he obliged tenderly, bending to kiss her lips. “Whatever you are comfortable with.”
When morning broke, Ana realized with a start that she had slept deeply despite the apprehension plaguing her last night. She groggily searched for Gio, but he was nowhere to be found.
What time was it? Reaching for her phone, she saw it was just past eight. Fairly early.
Tugging on a robe, she freshened up in the bathroom before venturing downstairs.
The housekeeper glanced at her in surprise, seemingly in a hurry, as she headed toward the kitchen. “Miss Ana? Did you–are you ready for breakfast already?”
“Oh no. I was just looking for the Don.”
Her eyes darted skittishly to the window. “He’s outside.”
“Thank you.” Ana smiled, but the woman was already scurrying away.
Strange.
She walked past her aunt’s office and saw the older woman there, her usual pinched frown appearing more severe than ever. Had she and the housekeeper argued?
When Auntie noticed Ana, her disapproval became even more pronounced. She hesitated at the look and then realized what a sight she made, clad in her nightgown with an old, tattered robe on.
“Where are you off to, dressed like that?”
“…just to see Gio.” Ana shrank under her reproving look.
Auntie pursed her lips, her expression sour. “There are staff up and about, so please wear proper attire. And tell the Don that Father’s office is available. Our home may not be as lofty as your Hamptons one, but it is very spacious.”
There was no way in hell Gio would ever use that office, not after learning what had occurred there. Auntie may have swept the murder under the rug, but it was still fresh in his mind.
“He just wanted some sun,” she prevaricated.
Saying nothing, Auntie’s attention returned to her work.
Not wanting to run afoul of her when she was in this mood, Ana hurried along to the front doors and murmured a cordial greeting to the guards there. Scanning the gardens, she found Gio in the same spot as yesterday, with a phone in hand. Had he slept at all?
She watched him worriedly. Since he was busy with work, she began to return to the house. But just then, Gio crooked a finger in her direction, beckoning her closer.
Padding barefoot on the grass, she went up to him until the other caller became audible. “Is that Ana?” an excited voice came through.
“Gabi?”
“Yeah! Are you doing okay?”
