White Lies (A Twisted Fate Series) (Volume 1) (22 page)

He grunted and closed his eyes. “Are you going to show me?”

“Not until it’s done. Be patient.”

Francesca appeared to be doing some shadowing from the way she moved her pencil. I was interested to see what it looked like. We’d talked extensively about the Medici family. They fascinated me, especially because they were the reason the Botticelli survived all this time. Francesca and I both did our theses on the Medicis. We were alike in so many ways. I knew we’d get along great.

So far, she didn’t seem bothered by the relationship Carson and I shared. Hopefully it stayed that way. Francesca blew some of her brown hair out of her face and glanced at me for a second. “Carson says you have a house on the beach.”

“I do. I grew up there. It’s home.”

In a flash, Carson snatched the notebook from Francesca and took off. I couldn’t stop laughing as he tried to look at it. “I think my nose is too big.”

“Carson Whitmore! Give that back.” Francesca jumped about trying to snatch it back.

He jogged backward and held it up above his head. It was déjà vu from our childhood; Carson used to do the same to me. He used his height to his advantage.

Francesca squealed while looking like a bobblehead. “Carson Bennett Whitmore! Give that back!”

“Make me.”

I called after him, “Very mature, Carson.”

Giggles erupted from a few children, and I joined in. They kept chasing each other. All of a sudden, Francesca bent over and gasped in pain. “Ouch!” she grunted.

Carson was by her side in an instant. “What happened, baby?”

Quickly, she snagged the notebook and took off. “I fooled you! I fooled you!”

Onlookers clapped. I stood and said, “Carson, you lost. Be a good sport.”

He was close, so close. Francesca dodged right, left, right. “Oomph.”

Carson caught Francesca with ease and hoisted her over his shoulder. “Looks like I got back what was mine after all. Are you ready, Willow?”

I shook my head as Francesca continued to yell, “Carson!” His name was barely understandable in her delight.

I picked up the remnants of the picnic and followed them to my car. They were most definitely in love.

“Signorina Russo, a delivery came for you today. I had the bellman put it in your room. Is there anything else you need before I leave for the evening?”

A yawn slipped out. I was exhausted. After the Boboli Gardens, we’d driven through Tuscany, admiring the view. We’d walked through vineyards and talked all afternoon.

I gave him a tip. “Thank you, Tomas. I don’t think so. I’m so tired I’m going straight to bed. You have a great evening with your family.”

This morning when breakfast was delivered, we’d chatted a few moments. He had a small daughter who was four. She was the apple of his eye and adorable in her pigtails, from the pictures I’d seen.

One day I would have a family. One day.

“Thank you, Signorina Russo. And you have a good evening, as well.”

Carson had put Francesca into a car and sent her home. He planned to meet her out at her place after he reviewed a few reports. The night was only beginning in the Italian culture.

They’d asked me to join them, but I politely declined. Carson and I were heading back to the states in a couple of days, and they needed their time together. Hopefully, Francesca would decide to join him stateside over the next couple of weeks.

Tired, I trudged up the staircase. My phone vibrated in my purse as I slipped the key card into the door. It was Tack. Last night we hadn’t talked. Only texted good-night to each other. I missed talking to him, but I was relieved to have some space, in a way. I’d been emotionally drained.

As soon as I was inside, I answered. “Hey, you.”

He chuckled with that accent. “Evening. Did you have fun today?”

I yawned. “I did. I’m turning into an old person. It’s not even eight, and I’m exhausted. I’m about to head to bed.”

A large, flamboyant arrangement of flowers sat on the table. The fragrance was incredible, and I sniffed a few of the buds before locating the card.

“Did you enjoy meeting Francesca?”

I shifted the phone. “I did. I think Carson is in love. I’m happy for him.”

“Me, too. Everyone deserves it.”

There went that warm gooey feeling again.

I yawned again. “I think you’d like him.”

As I opened the envelope, I wondered who sent the flowers. They seemed too loud to be from Tack. He seemed to be more the simply elegant type of man.

The smile faded as I read the words that chilled me to the bone.

“Willow, did you hear me?”

“I-I…” I reread the words.

The command in his voice jolted me, his accent becoming thicker. “What’s going on, Willow?”

My hand began to shake as I read it aloud.

“
Fuck
! Send me a picture. Call Carson. Willow, don’t leave your hotel room.”

This wasn’t over. I had been living in a false reality, thinking I’d escaped Alex’s deceit so easily. Yesterday, I’d been all over Florence by myself.

They weren’t done with me.

This wasn’t over.

“
Willow
!”

I took a steadying breath as my heart fought its way into my throat. “Y-y-yes.”

Traffic sounded in the background. Tack was on the move. “I need you to call Carson and tell him about this. I want him to stay with you, understood? Send me a picture. Keep me on this phone. I need to know you’re safe.”

“Tack, why are they doing this?”

“Money. Sweetheart, I need you to do as I asked. I need someone with you.” Tack remained calm, but I sensed the panic in his voice, which worried me. If he was worried, then this was more serious than I had given it all credit.

My mind was sludge. “Is this why you’ve been watching me in Italy?”

“Willow.” The strong voice snapped me back again. “I swear we will talk about this more. But I need you to hurry. Take the picture. Call Carson.”

Without any thought, I followed his command. Using the burner phone, I sent him the picture. “Okay, it’s sending. Let me call Carson from my other phone.”

“Good job, sweetheart.”

Another honk. “Be careful, Tack. I know you’re on the move. Just be careful.”

“Always.”

I held a phone to each ear when Carson picked up. “Hey, Willow. My conference call got canceled, so I was about to head to the vineyards.”

“I need you to come to my room.”

My tone of voice obviously told Carson enough. “Okay, I’m on my way. What’s going on?”

I was amazed at how calm I sounded. Even though I felt anything but calm. Inside I was a frantic mess on autopilot. “I got a note. A threatening note.”

“
Fuck
.”

Carson’s face was intense as we talked to Trent on speakerphone. We’d switched to a secure line. The whole thing made my head hurt. When Carson had knocked on the door, I kept Tack connected but tucked the burner phone in my back pocket.

Who knew if he was still listening. I stayed rooted in place as I thought about how this person planned to get the money from me.

I was scared to the core.

Housekeeping had delivered hot tea. I sat holding it, which brought back memories of when I first found out Alex had died.

Would I ever be free of that vile man?

I needed to be strong. Letting these people break me wasn’t an option. No way.

I kept staring at the note, which was now in a plastic bag on the table. No amount. No directions. Nothing but a veiled threat.

Why play with me? Why wait all this time?

Trent’s voice broke through my thoughts. “I think you need to come back to the states as soon as possible, Willow. I’ll catch a flight and head back there, too.”

This was news. I thought Trent was in the states. “Where are you?”

“Following some leads.” Again, I studied his accent. Slightly there, but not as clear as Tack’s.

I wondered what leads he had followed. We were due to meet when we came back from Italy to see his proposal. Looked like things had escalated. “Have you found anything out yet, Trent?”

Carson looked at the speaker waiting for Trent to reply. “Yes, I’d prefer to go over everything in person, just in case.”

I looked at Carson and nodded. “I’ll be on the next flight.”

Carson added, “We’ll fly back via my private jet. I’ll let you know our ETA. That’s the safest option I know.”

“Agreed. Don’t let Willow out of your sight. I’ll have one security team escort you to the airport and another waiting for you when you arrive. I’ll follow the Whitmore Hotel protocol to have them cleared for now unless Ms. Russo wants me to do anything additional.”

Of course I had no idea what the Whitmore Hotel protocol was. I looked at Carson and shrugged.

Carson said, “That will work.”

In addition, Trent had spouted off quite a few changes that needed to be made to the house security immediately. I asked, “Can we make the necessary adjustments to the house security while we’re in transit?”

Some keys clicked on the computer from his end. “I’m on it, Willow. I’ll have everything in place by the time you land.”

I was certain whoever Alex owed money to wanted more than what he owed. Just how much… I wasn’t sure. Hopefully, it was only money they wanted.

“H
ey, Willow, we’ve landed.” Carson’s voice woke me. I stretched. Even with all the stress, I’d slept like the dead.

I sat up in a rush. “I’m awake. Let me get my bag.”

His arm touched mine. “Take your time. Security is already in place.”

Sliding off the bed, I grabbed my bag and followed Carson off the plane. Trent informed us there would be men at the house.
Men.
I expected one bodyguard, not a team.
Talk about escalating everything a few levels up
. I knew it was serious, but having someone shadow me constantly was… intimidating to say the least.

Then there was the issue of telling Nonno and Carson’s parents what happened. It was all a fundamental fuckup. All because I married a lowlife, scummy, shit-eating dirtbag.

Yeah, I hated Alex. Even from the grave, he wreaked havoc on my life.
Bastard
.