“Water, please.” I gave him a reassuring smile that I was fine, then I reached out when I saw Tieri’s date for the evening looking rather lost.
“Hey, are you looking for Tieri?” I asked her.
“Who?” She looked at me, confused, then glanced around the room.
“Tieri,” I repeated, unsure if she heard me correctly, as the first time as the music was so loud. “Your date who brought you here.”
“I came with Edwardo. I’m sorry, but I’m not sure who Tieri is.”
I stood there staring at her, knowing she was the same woman Tieri had pointed out. At least I thought she was. It was the same dress and fancy headpiece.
“My mistake.” I forced a smile and shook my head.
“What was that about?” Elio handed me a tall glass.
“Nothing, I guess.”
* * *
On the way home, I filled Elio in on what Mariano had said, and by his silence, I could tell he was attempting to process everything. He held the door for me as we arrived at the house.
“Can I get you anything?” He tossed his keys in the silver bowl then used his thumb to unlock a hidden gun compartment.
“No, I think I just want to get out of this dress and have a shower.”
“I need to make some calls. Why don’t you join me when you’re finished?”
“Sure.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and drew his mouth to mine. “Look at us,” I sighed with a smile, “under the same roof, together, just like the old days.”
“A little more complicated, but we made it.” He seemed to let go of the Mariano thing for the moment. He picked me up, swooshed my dress aside at the slit, and hiked my leg up on his hip.
My head flopped back as he kissed along my collarbone. His other hand gently palmed my breast. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and I groaned at the sudden intrusion.
“Don’t answer it,” I huffed.
“Shit.” He looked at the screen and closed his eyes.
“It’s okay,” I almost moaned. “Let me shower, and I’ll come find you later.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Mariano had said as the water flowed over me. When he saidhe,did he mean Elio or someone else? Suddenly, my head couldn’t take the thoughts anymore, so I stepped out of the shower and changed into a bra, panties, and a simple dress. I never knew if the guys would stop by, so I made sure I looked respectable.
It didn’t take long for Elio’s tone to draw me down from the bedroom.
“You’re my eyes right now. Tell me everything you see,” Elio commanded as he stared out the living room window, with whoever it was on speaker phone. He listened as the voice prattled off what was apparently happening at the warehouse.
“A couple guys came to the dockyard looking for you. They were sent away but somehow found their way here to the warehouse. Now they’re trying to get past the guards at the gate, and there’s more of them coming around the back. Any idea who they are?”
“Yes. I think I might.” Elio tucked a hand in his pocket and leaned against the window. “What’s happening now?”
“They seem upset that they can’t get in. One is calling your name and saying something.”
“What’s he saying?”
“Hang on.” We could hear him move about. “He’s saying, ‘I know you’re in there. Give us the girl, and the hunt stops now.’”
Oh, boy…
Elio stood and ran a frustrated hand through his hair while he thought.