Page 196 of The Next Lie

“Yes.”

I look between them. “Do you two want to finish negotiating my kidnapping route, or can we go?”

Nash bends close to my ear. “Two minutes. You stay where I can see you.”

Delia’s face tightens.

I answer him anyway. “Fine.”

He releases me. The loss of his hand at my back feels immediate and wrong.

Delia turns before I can rethink it. I follow her through the edge of the dancers, past a woman in a silver mask laughing too loudly, past a waiter with a tray of champagne, past the chapel arch where the two red-rose guards shift their attention with us.

I see it. Delia sees that I see it.

“Keep walking,” she says under her breath.

“That is not comforting.”

“It is not meant to be.”

“Great. Love the sisterly warmth.”

Her mouth flinches. There and gone, but it makes me feel like shit for some reason.

We do not go into the chapel. She passes it, heading for the main entrance.

“Delia.”

“Shit.”

Her whispered curse, coupled with the icy tone behind us, makes my skin prickle. Delia’s hand squeezes mine and she stops. “Follow my lead,” she grits out, before turning around to face Isabel Rosario. “Hello, Nana.”

Nana.

The floor drops out beneath me.

Nana. Nana. Nana. I physically feel my eyes widen, feel my lips parting, my mouth drying. This woman is my grandmother. This woman wants to kill me. My grandmother wants to kill me.

“Where are you going?”

“Reva and I are taking a stroll.”

“I thought you were going to stroll the chapel path?”

Quick squeeze of my hand. “It looked a bit crowded. I thought we’d walk the front garden path, instead.”

“I see.” Isabel’s attention refocuses on me. “How are you enjoying your evening, Reva?”

“I…” I swallow desperately, trying to make saliva form. “It’s been illuminating.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Lovely.”

She turns to walk away.

“Ma’am?” She pauses, looking back. “May I ask why?”

“Why what, dear?”