“And you never once thought they might be right?”
“Never.” Maria shakes her head with absolute conviction. “I had no reason to think otherwise.”
I can see her much younger self getting teased by those kids. Knowing what little I do about her, she likely went toe to toe with them, defending her family’s reputation from those eager to tear her down.
“My mother said kids were cruel and to ignore them. That they were jealous of what the Rossi’s built. My grandfather made our family what it is now. My father took what my grandfather built and created an empire. My uncle took the reins when my dad passed. I’ve never once seen anything suspicious.”
“But some part of you had to suspect?” It’s a stretch, but I can’t believe she’s been clueless her entire life. “There had to be things that didn’t add up. The disconnect between heart and mind?”
“I was never let in on any family business growing up. The only things I participated in were the parties. We had councilmen, representatives, senators, and industry giants all attending my family’s events. Celebrities came. Bankers and lawyers. There was never a reason to think things were anything other than what they appeared.”
“But Sybil?” I circle us back around to her friend. “Your gut told you something wasn’t right.”
“There were other things. Recent things.” She looks down, ashamed.
“Like what?”
“Irregularities in the books. I’ve been in my position for a very short time. There’s so much to learn. Some of what I saw didn’t make sense, but I figured that was because I was new and still learning the ropes. There are people who take care of all of that. Uncle Marco kept joking with me about letting my employees do the jobs they were hired to do and stop micromanaging everything. Not once did I realize what my real job was.”
“And what is that?” I’ve already figured it out. Has she?
“I’m the pretty face to put on the business, while all kinds of filth swims below me.” She rests her hands on her knees. Her fingers curl into fists, clench, then relax.
“I’m sorry.” I reach out and gently place my hand on her knee. “I can’t imagine how that feels. The betrayal alone …”
She wipes her face. “I should’ve seen through it long ago.” Slowly, she shakes her head.
“I’m still curious about one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“How did searching for Sybil lead you to me and my team? If restricted, how were you able to see anything?”
“The cameras on that level are normally turned off. I turned them on.”
“Wouldn’t the security staff have reported that?”
“Remember how I said I’ve made it a point to work in all the areas within the Belvedere?”
“Yes.”
“Security was the first department I worked in. I spent a week learning the job. It wasn’t unusual for me to stop in from time to time. I stopped in tonight.”
“To look for Sybil?”
“I had to do something.”
This woman has a head on her shoulders. Smart and pretty, I’m hooked already.
“And?”
“I went for a Hail Mary and put in one of my father’s codes. I used to hang out in his office at home and peeked when he logged in for work. I didn’t think the code would work. All trace of my father has been scrubbed, but the password worked. I saw your team take out the guards. You brought out the women, and you know the rest.”
“I hope you’ve seen enough to know, we’re on your side. If you still want to go home, no one will stop you. I’ll take you back.” I hold out my hand. “But I sincerely hope you decide to stay.”
I hope she’ll stay.
My fear is what will happen after she does.
15
MARIA
Liam extends his hand. It’s a strange about-face considering not too long ago, I kneed him in the nuts.
Without thinking, I reach out. It’s a natural reaction. The moment Liam’s hand wraps around mine, a jolt of electricity shoots down my arm. In the wake of that startling sensation, a rush of heat follows, wrapping around me like a hug. He gestures toward the door.
“If there’s anything I can do to save Sybil … I’m in.”
Swallowing past the constriction in my throat, I realize what I mean and the lengths to which I’ll go to save my friend.
Liam leads me outside the carriage house. Instead of a prisoner, he welcomes me like a friend.
The lingering heat and humidity engulf me the moment we step outside.
Normal for New Orleans this time of year, the sultry, evening air stubbornly refuses to provide relief to its residents. Cicadas buzz at near deafening levels, joined in by thousands upon thousands of tree frogs and crickets chirping in a dissonant chorus that somehow feels right.
These are the sounds I love, and the oppressive heat is something I welcome.
“Don’t be nervous.” Rough and calloused, Liam’s hand engulfs mine.
I’m way beyond nervous. I’m still trying to figure out Guardian HRS.
Can they be trusted?
Liam says nothing about Sybil, but confirms the Guardians are on the job. Whatever that means. If I lose her, I don’t know what I’ll do.
Hug Liam again?
Is it sad I haven’t felt the comfort of a good hug in years? It may be decades.
The last hug I received from a man was my father. That was years ago. Uncle Marco never touches me. He can barely stand my presence. My mother’s hugs stopped years before that.
Actually, I can pinpoint the day. Summer of my sweet sixteen. Dad took the family to the Hamptons, where we threw dazzling party after party. It was a momentous summer for me.
For Sybil as well.
We made a pact to lose our virginity, and like most things in our lives, we conquered that milestone together.
I found a cute busboy to usher in that new phase of my life. He popped my cherry in one of the many guest rooms that no one ever sleeps in. It was wild, unhinged, and free; exactly how I imagined sex should be.
Sybil ditched her virginity with the help of an older man. Despite asking, to this day, she’s not divulged who the older man was. I’m not sure if that’s because she’s ashamed she never got his name, forgot it, or something else.
What I do know is my mother never once hugged me after my sixteenth birthday.
“How are you holding up?” Liam’s warm voice washes over me, stirring me from my thoughts. “Don’t be nervous. These people are some of the best on the planet.” He guides me across the open space between the carriage house and the manor proper.
Fueled by the lingering rush of adrenaline screaming through my bloodstream, my heart bangs away like a kettle drum. I’m both terrified of what waits for me behind that door and anxiously hopeful for what I might learn.
I walk a few feet inside, then wait for Liam to lead from there. Despite the massive size of the home, the back hallways are narrow; built for servants to use. There’s not a lot of room for him to pass by me, and when he does, I shamelessly take in a deep breath.
I’ve never met a man who smells dark and delicious. Most men reek of cologne or body odor; two scents I particularly dislike.