CHAPTER 12 (MARCO)

Out of all the people around the table I thought would be late for dinner; it didn’t cross my mind to put Aliyana on the list. The food is almost cold by the time she arrives, and because she is the guest none of us have eaten. Aside from Mischa of course.

“Sorry I’m late,” Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are still swollen from sleep.

But her muzzled hair and half-mast eyes that are way too dangerous to belong to a woman like her, is not what has us all staring. Everyone seated around the table is wearing evening clothes, dressed to take pictures and have wine in the informal lounge after dinner. It is an Italian tradition when someone is getting married.

The women gossip and compare dresses and the men talk business. In our case, Aliyana will join in on our discussion.

“Why aren’t you dressed,” Guilia whisper yells from her seat looking as embarrassed as Aliyana should feel but she is comfortable in her skin. I’m not sure why my eyes are more drawn to her, the most underdressed person in the room.

Maybe it is the power she will soon possess. Or maybe it is her ability to be herself no matter how much the world seems to change around her.

“No one said dress up, Se mi dicessi di vestirmi, mi vestirei.” If you told me to dress up, I would dress up. She frowns and looks around the table, decked with food I am sure is cold by now.

Camilla is livid, and my patience is wearing thin just looking at her. She is dressed in track pants, and a cream jersey that has holes and paint on it. What on earth was she doing in her room for 5 hours. Surely not just sleeping. My eyes filter across the room to Deno, who is smiling. There is nothing amusing about it.

“Sit down, so we can eat,” I say because I have a feeling she will go upstairs to dress up.

She takes her seat next to Guilia and starts dishing up.

“Where is Mero and Michel, I thought you said they were here?” she asks openly

“They had to leave, Mero will be back later tonight and Michel will come over tomorrow,” Xander responds.

And I bite my tongue wanting to say that it was not her business where they were. Everyone begins to dish up. The table remains quiet and dinner is not as joyous as I hoped it would be with an angry fiancé, but we get through the meal.

The staff comes to take the dishes and Aliyana gets up and starts helping them. I say nothing and Camilla blinks a few times before I see her first smile.

My chest eases and I place my hand on her knee under the table. She holds my hand in return smiling brighter.

“I can see why Xander has it bad for her,” Camilla whispers. I frown but straighten my face before she sees it.

“He hasn’t mentioned it,” I responded wanting to know more. Xander hasn’t seen Aliyana for years, I have made certain of that. But obviously, that was about to change.

“Of course not, he's Xander. Let’s chat about it later.” I smile at her but don’t respond. We won’t be chatting later, about anything, because tonight I am going to be plotting a murder.

“Gabriel comes and help me with the dishes,” Aliyana says not looking at the man who has kept a close watchful eye on Aliyana since she arrived.

He gets up and does just as she asks, without question. The two of them walk side by side and I clench my jaw recalling his uncle saying what a good couple the two would make. For some reason, he doesn’t deserve her.

“You squeezing my leg too hard,” Camilla moans. I drop my hold on her leg and get up,

“I think the men need some alone time. We'll be in the library.” I kiss Camilla on her head and leave the room as a text comes in.

Check your security footage between 2 pm and 2.09

Ghost

I walk faster to the library and head straight to the bookshelf, and twist the lion statue on the shelf until the door clicks open. I open the secret door shooting a quick text to Deno so he knows what I'm doing and heads down the staircase. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The room is bright with cameras, and Matteo sits by the main set of cameras eating cake.

“Bring up the cameras between 2 and 2 09 this afternoon. Did you guys manage to get the plan I wanted?” I ask him all business.

“Yes, also we found a possible location for Amariya, that hacker of yours is going to get us a smaller region to look.”

The video starts playing and I see nothing out of the ordinary.

I wait, and don’t move my attention from the screen even as Deno and Filippo enter.

“There, is that a jet?”

“Yes, Salvatore is here.”

“Where is he?”

“Probably around somewhere.” Deno sounds calm and collective.

“I don’t suppose you know where.”

“If you must know he was with Aliyana in her room.”

“What the fuck?” Filippo swears as his face turns murderous.

“Calm the fuck down. He is celibate and as hot as your sister is, Salvatore, will never touch her unless he was saving her.” I say, which is the truth and the only reason I told Deno to give him to her. Now I am starting to question my own logic to my reasoning of giving her a loyal protector.