Page 62 of Deadly Vows

Perfect.

Luca built this home himself, installing secret exit routes as well. It was one of the things I noticed in the beginning before Luca started keeping things from me. So we can leave without anyone knowing otherwise, and no one telling Luca.

“Come on,” I call to Enzo.

Enzo was right about one thing: his mother is unique. The apartment she lives in is clearly new, but it is filthy. It isobvious that an addict lives here. There’s trash and discarded paraphernalia everywhere. Her clothes, while designer, are strewn about as well. The smell from the kitchen is stomach-churning as I pass by the dining table.

There’s discarded mail here, all addressed to his mother. My gaze narrows as I recognize the handwriting on one of the envelopes, and I pull it from the pile. It’s addressed to Enzo’s mother but has no return information.

“Your mother lives here alone?” I call to Enzo.

He kicks through a pile of laundry, looking at me.

“Yes,” he says.

I sift through the mail, finding another envelope with her lease agreement. I look at the date, scoffing in disbelief. It’s around the same time Luca brought Enzo into our world.

“How is she affording this? Does she even have a job?” I ask.

Enzo doesn’t respond, confirming my suspicions. He must be one of the many people giving her money for this lifestyle she can’t seem to let go of for the sake of her son.

“Where doyoulive?” I ask, and shock covers his features before he quickly hides it. He obviously hasn’t thought about a lie in his panic.

“Mr. Pasquino has a place for me,” he says.

I don’t push his explanation further.

“Well, maybe she left a note in an unusual place,” I say, moving across the room to the bookshelf. I reach for one of the higher placed books, my shirt lifting as I do.

“What the fuck?” I tense, lowering my arm just in time to see Enzo’s shocked expression. He steps forward slightly, his finger trembling as he points to my shirt.

“What was that?” he asks.

I look down at the book I managed to grab, opening it. There’s no note.

“It’s nothing,” I say.

“Elise, that looks like it was…carved into your skin—”

“I said it’s nothing,” I snap.

I was careless. I’m so used to being around people who are aware of this life. I move as far away as I can from Enzo to the hallway.

The door is closed.

“Whose room is this?” I ask, placing my hand on the doorknob.

“It’s my mother’s. I already looked there before I left,” he says.

I push open the door.

“It won’t hurt to check her room for a note—”

My words hitch in my throat as I open the door to reveal the gruesome display. My eyes widen, and I stumble back in horror, vomit lodging in my throat as I fall against the wall. I hear Enzo’s hurried footsteps as he approaches, and I quickly stumble to my feet.

“No, Enzo!” I catch him, gripping him tight as I pull him toward the door.

“We have to call Luca,” I say, panicked.

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