Page 94 of The Taste of Deceit

I reach for her hand.

“Breathe.”

“No. This can’t be happening.”

I lace my fingers with hers.

“We’re going to figure this out.”

She shakes her head frantically.

“Luca, she’s going to find out that I knew.”

“Shh…it’s okay.”

I pull her against me.

“She’s going to hate me. She’s going to hate me so much.”

She buries her face against my chest. I rest my chin against the top of her head.

“We have to go to the estate.”

“What?”

“Mikey wants me there.”

Her face falls.

“Now?”

I nod.

Neither of us says another word for the rest of the drive.

Sarah curls against my side, resting her head on my chest while I keep one arm around her shoulders. Every now and then, I feel her take a shaky breath, but she doesn’t cry. She lies there, holding onto me while Enzo drives us away from the airport and toward the estate.

When the SUV rolls to a stop beneath the front entrance, I climb out first before reaching back for her. She slips her hand into mine without hesitation.

I don’t let go. The front door opens before we reach it, and Marco is waiting inside.

His eyes flick briefly to Sarah before settling on me.

“Boss is in his office.”

I nod.

“He wants to see Sarah too.”

Sarah’s grip tightens around my hand. Marco turns without another word, and we follow him through the foyer. The house is quiet.

Usually, Beatrice is somewhere nearby, music drifts from the kitchen, or Katie’s voice carries down the hallway from whatever room she’s managed to take over that day. Today, there’s nothing.

Marco leads us down the familiar hallway until we reach the closed office door.

He stops.

I look at Sarah. She looks back at me, her face pale but determined. I give her hand one gentle squeeze before Marco knocks on the door.