“Well, stick around long enough, and you’ll see,” Lucy said, and sighed again. “I manage to get myself into more than my fair share of trouble.”
“Well, you do approach random bedraggled strangers running for their lives in train stations instead of turning the other way like everyone else.”
Lucy’s face lit up with an impish smile. “I don’t want to pressure you. The train is at fivep.m.Just know that you’re welcome to come with me. The choice is yours.”
The choice was mine, for the first time in my life.
The ice wrapping around my heart hardened as a blizzard stormed inside me.
35
KATARINA
Warmth hit me as soon as I walked into Massimo’s townhouse. Paolo greeted me at the door.
“We will have to get you a key,” he said with a soft smile.
I shook my head at him. “Not necessary.”
He followed me up the stairs. “Are you hungry or thirsty or anything?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t fine. Not at all.
I went to the top floor, into Massimo’s room, and shut the door behind me. The room smelled like him. A sob threatened to break through the cold in my chest, but it didn’t quite manage it.
Checking the clock, I saw I had some time until I met Lucy. I sank onto the edge of the bed, then flopped back and inhaled that scent for the last time. Massimo. My Lucifer, my savior. The man who’d taken me out of the dark... and wanted to control me just the same.
I held onto the dog tags at my neck like a rosary until a knock at the door sent me upright. Alarm filled me at the thought thathe might have returned. I didn’t think I could leave him if he was here. I wasn’t sure he’d even let me.
“Katarina? You have a phone call.”
I followed Paolo downstairs to the antique-looking landline phone and put the receiver to my ear.
“Micetta, are you okay?”
Massimo’s voice washed over me, bringing comfort and disappointment at the same time.
“I’m okay,” I got out.
“You left the house? Paolo told me you went out.”
“With Lucy and her bodyguard.”
“I know, that’s the only reason I didn’t break the fuck out of here and come find you,” he said, sighing roughly.
“How come you can call me?”
“I get a phone call.”
“I think that’s supposed to be for legal counsel.”
“Fuck legal counsel, I didn’t start the fire. I’m not afraid of the police. So, where did you go?”
I swallowed a shard of ice in my throat.
“I went to see my mother.”