Page 81 of Hostile Secret
24
INDIA
“Where’s Yanni?”
I’m sitting upright, clutching a sheet to my bare breasts, and staring into the chestnut eyes of a small boy.
Loose brown curls hang over pinched brows and his bottom lip wobbles ever so slightly.
“Who are you?” he asks softly, his tiny fingers twisting a cartoon sports car pajama top.
What the hell?
“Hey, little guy.” His wide eyes glisten with worry when I speak to him. At a guess, I’d say he’s either six or seven-years-old. “I’m India… what's your name?”
“Leo.” He continues to look at me, uncertainty rippling through his small frame.
“Oh, wow. I love that name. Where’s your bedroom, Leo?”
He blinks at me with long dark lashes and refuses to answer, notably taking a step back.
I don’t see a Souza family resemblance, or any features that link him to Giovanni, and André had never mentioned a younger relative.
I offer him my friendliest smile and keep the tone of my voice gentle. “Do you live with Giovanni?”
His eyes sparkle in the moonlight as he chews the inside of his cheek and continues to fidget. Although he appears timid and his flawless face is heart-meltingly cute, his rigid body language tells me I’d have to earn his trust.
I resist the urge to lean forward and sweep a wayward curl out of his eyes, dragging my gaze to the closed door instead. “How did you get into my room, little guy?”
He uncurls a tiny finger and points to the farthest corner of the room where a section of the wood paneling is pushed out from the wall, showing a doorway that leads to darkness.
You have to be kidding me. A concealed door in the wall? I sigh heavily. Whatever’s next—smuggling tunnels under the sea? After this surprise, I wouldn’t be taken aback at all. I mean, what trumps a secret kid?
“Did you come from there?” I wrap the sheet around me and throw my legs off the bed. “Where does it go?”
“Everywhere,” he replies.
Standing, I cautiously take a few steps forward and he mirrors me, inching backwards. “I’m going to get dressed and then we’ll look for Giovanni together… okay?”
When I catch Leo’s gaze, he’s cautiously watching me with innocent curiosity from the shadows. I grab the damp bathrobe I’d worn after my shower and skillfully hang it on my shoulders before letting the sheet puddle at my ankles.
Once I’ve tied the belt, I trample over the cotton, moving closer to the little boy.
“Do you want to show me where that passageway leads?” I hold out my hand.
Leo shakes his head. “I don’t know you. You’re a stranger.”
“Well… yeah… I am…” I agree. “But… I grew up with Giovanni's brother, André. Have you met him?”
Leo looks down at his small toes. “No.”
“I’m sort of a Souza.” My lips curl upward into a girly grin. “Are you a Souza too?” I persist.
Leo tugs at his pajamas. “You ask a lot of questions,” he whispers, shooting a wary look at the open doorway behind me.
I roll my lips between my teeth to stop myself from smirking. This kid clearly spends a lot of time with Giovanni. My heart squeezes at that thought with a mix of pointless jealousy and shock.
“I’m sorry, Leo. Let’s start over.” My fingers skate over the pulse point in my neck, aware it’s racing.
