Page 122 of Little Deer
“But will she come back with him? I mean, the two of them were always glaring and sniping at each other.”
“Those two love each other,” Gia laughs. “They’ve just been fighting it. I mean, she trusted Alonzo with Hades. She loves that dog more than herself. And she apologized to him over andover. He’ll bring her back, and the two of them will figure out whatever their issues are, mark my words.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We lapse into a comfortable silence. “So what do we do now?” I finally ask. “Now that this is all done?”
“I don’t know,” Sienna says, expression morphing into one of pain and frustration. “I need to think on it. Alessio wants to go home, but I don’t know that I can leave my best friend. Not when she might need me.”
Amara nods. “I know. Lazaro was talking about going home too, said that Alonzo will let them know about any problems, but it feels wrong to leave her, you know?”
“I’m so angry at her and terrified,” Sienna rasps, emotion thickening her voice. “She couldn’t trust me enough to tell me what was going on? Now she’s in the hand of some crazy woman and supposed to marry some Russian asshole? And I have to just sit here?” The last part is harsh and grating. She shakes her head, gets up, and storms out, the door slamming behind her.
“This is tearing her apart,” Gia says softly, concern clear. “I’m just as upset, but I don’t know what we can do.”
“Should we go after her?” I ask.
“Leave her be for now. I think this is going to require more than just us,” Amara admits. “Maybe we should get a message to Alessio so he knows.”
Gia gets to her feet and heads for the door. I look back at Amara. “I don’t know that I want to stay here,” I whisper. “I’m worried about Rori, but that woman touched my son. She was around him. I don’t feel safe with him here anymore.”
She reaches out and pulls me into her holding me tight. “I’m sorry that happened to you, Lucy.”
Tears burn my eyes. “I was so scared, Amara. I know she’s your sister, but all I saw was the gun and what could happen to my son.”
Amara’s grip tightens. “I know. I was terrified too. She was so nice to me. Even when she got me and put me in that office, I never thought once that she could be the Chameleon. I was just so excited that she was my sister. That she had found us on her own. I was blinded by that. I should have realized the dangers myself.”
“Did she say anything when she took you there?”
“No. Just that she was my sister, she knew I was looking for her, and she was going to make sure I was safe. That she worked with Rori and they were going to get the others. But then they never came back and I had promised I wouldn’t leave.” She pulls back and shakes her head. “So maybe I should be the one apologizing. If I had realized, maybe I could have warned you and not put Soren in that positon.”
“I’m not angry with you,” I rush to assure her. “This isn’t your fault. How could you know this was going to happen?”
She nods, but I can see the guilt on her face. I want to ask her more, but Gia comes back in.
“I let one of the guards know and they’re going to get tell Alessio.” She sighs as she sinks back down. “What did I miss?”
“Lucy was saying that she doesn’t feel safe with Soren here. I was just trying to find out where she wants to go,” Amara tells her. She doesn’t bring up her sister, and I figure that she wants that to just be dropped for now while she sorts through it herself.
Hopefully she and Lazaro can talk it out if that is what she wants.
“Where do you want to go?” Gia asks, bringing me back to the current problem.
“I don’t know where we can go.” I wring my hands as anxiety builds. “Massimo said that people might come after us if we just go back to our apartment if they find out who we were and who we’re connected to. And I don’t want to risk going to my parents and putting them in danger.”
Amara and Gia share a look. “If you really don’t want to risk Soren, then what about going back to Sicily tomorrow?” Gia finally asks.
I stare at her. Wait, what?
“Even if Sienna and I don’t go back yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t,” Amara agrees. “Have you talked to Massimo about what happens now that all the stuff here is over?”
I hesitate. “I…I really don’t know what he wants to do. I’ve fallen for him, but it’s been only a few days. It’s insane just to pack up and leave for a man that I’ve just met. Especially with Soren in the picture.”
“You think Massimo will change his mind?”
I shrug. “Maybe. I guess I’m just worried that we’re jumping into this too quickly. If it doesn’t work out, how am I supposed to come back here and just pick up the pieces? I’ll have nothing if I take Soren and go.”
“What about Kida? Is she going with Zeno now or when Alonzo and Rori get back?” Gia asks.
