Page 21 of The Valiant (Spy Girl 4)
He looks at himself in the mirror and laughs. "It's brilliant. Now, where are you taking me?"
"I have no idea, which is the point. But I thought the top of the Spanish Steps for sunset would be a good place to start."
He holds out his arm. "Shall we then?"
"Yeah, but we're not going out the front door."
I take him down the service stairs and out the fire exit to an alley, and then I link my arm through his elbow and lead the way.
"First stop is gelato," I say, veering into the first store I find along the way.
"Dessert before dinner? How dangerous of you." His lips graze my ear. "I adore it."
"That's because we're being bad," I tease as we order.
We take our dessert, eating as we wander down the street to the Spanish Steps where people are gathering for the same reason we are.
"There are a lot of people here," Lorenzo notes as we make our way to the top, finding a place to stand so that we can lean on the railing. "Isn't that amazing?"
"I know. All of us are here to witness the beauty of the end of the day."
He gently takes my face in his hands. "It's fitting since you are the beauty at the end of my day."
"Ah, now, you're just sweet-talking me," I say as I press my lips against his.
We kiss, cuddle, feed each other gelato, and enjoy the moment. The sun goes down, and the sky starts to darken, so we head back down the steps, discussing the colors that blazed across the sky.
As we turn the corner to walk past the Keats-Shelley House, an old woman touches my arm. I assume she wants to sell me something, as there are numerous vendors hawking roses and other trinkets near the stairs, but then I realize she is blind and is neither selling or begging.
A split second later, she pulls her hand off my arm like she received a jolt of electricity and then speaks in Italian, telling me, "I see things others do not. Your heart is your most dangerous weapon as well as your greatest weakness. Wield it wisely."
I stand there, staring at her, not sure what to say. How could she possibly know? I take a wad of euros out of my purse, slip it in her pocket, and gently pat her hand. "Grazie mille."
"Did that old woman just quote you Keats?" Lorenzo asks as I quickly lead us away from her.
I'm a little freaked out by what she said because it's like she read my mind. I know love is my greatest weakness. Particularly the love for the man I talked into sneaking out with me tonight.
"No," I reply, trying not to stutter on my words. "Keats said, Love is my religion. I could die for it."
"I'd die for you," he says, causing me to stop in my tracks.
"Don't say that. Please." I start to breathe heavily.
"Why? What's wrong?"
I put a smile on my face even though I'm still shaken. "Nothing. She just caught me off guard."
"I was worried you might put her in a strangle hold just for touching you."
I can't help but laugh as I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. "Don't think that didn't cross my mind." I point to a little cafe off the beaten path. "What do you think about that? It has only four tables outside."
"And a view of an alley. I bought out an entire restaurant, so we could dine alone tonight. Although we are late, I'm sure the view of the city lights are equally delightful."
"Lorenzo, you should have told me!"
"I was having too much fun, running around Rome with you. Thank you for helping me forget about the pressures of my country for a few precious moments."
I look down at my dress. "Do we need to go back to the hotel and change first?"
"Absolutely not."
We trek up a hill, making me glad that I'm not wearing heels, and to the restaurant. Lorenzo was right about the view. It's stunning. After being greeted by the staff, we make our way around the windows, checking out the view from each perspective before taking our seats.
While we're waiting for the champagne he ordered, he slides his hand under the hem of my dress, letting it creep up my thigh until stopping suddenly.
He clears his throat and then whispers in my ear, "Do you have a gun holstered under your dress, or are you feeling a little kinky tonight?"
"I don't need a gun, Lorenzo. But I wasn't going to risk taking you out in public by myself without one as backup."
"You are always thinking. I love that about you. Now, tell me what that woman said to you."
"Just the ramblings of an old woman. Something about love. I've already forgotten it," I lie.
"I do have some bad news," Lorenzo says, taking my hand in his. "I can't accompany you to London, as I hoped. I must get back to my country before I don't have control over it anymore."
"That's not going to happen, Lorenzo. I'm going to make sure of it. I promise."
"And do you also promise you will join me on Sunday to meet with my mother and announce our courtship?"
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," I tell him.
MISSION:DAY FOUR
Our dinner lasted late into the night, and I barely remember Lorenzo kissing me good-bye when he left early this morning. A glance at my phone tells me I slept in until nine.
I have a text from Ari, telling me that we need to leave for the airport at ten. I get up, get myself ready, and shoot off a quick text to Wesley.
Me: Heard you are celebrating your birthday tonight. I think my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.
Wesley: She'll be there.
Me: Your girlfriend? Well, I would assume so. It's your birthday.
Wesley: It could be awkward.
Me: :(
He doesn't immediately respond, so I set my phone down. He and I both know all I have to do is text one of his friends, and I'll have an invite in seconds.
Wesley: We seriously didn't do anything?
Me: Seriously. I know that your friends think it'
s hilarious, but it crushed my ego a little.
Wesley: Oh, bullocks. Now, you are just blowing smoke up my arse.
Me: If you need a play-by-play to ease your guilt, here it is. We shared a few kisses--no tongue--mostly in celebration due to my winning at roulette. We flirted, drank a lot, and then left together. It went downhill from there. But it worked out well for me actually. Lorenzo was extremely jealous.
Wesley: Will he be accompanying you to the party?
Me: Aw, I get to come. <3
Wesley: Was there ever any doubt? Just be warned, my sister will be there. I'll forward you the details.
Me: Wait until you see your present.
Wesley: As long as you don't jump out of a bloody cake naked, it's all good.
Me: Darn it, there goes my brilliant plan. Guess I'll have to go shopping instead.
Wesley: Wait, what?!
Me: See you tonight. And happy birthday, Wesley!
When Ari and I are boarding our flight to London, I notice him shove a phone I've never seen before into his backpack.
"What's that?"
"Oh, nothing," he says.
"Ari."
"It's just a phone."
"I know it's just a phone, but you already have a phone. One that is highly encrypted. For a reason."
"This one is encrypted, too," he says.
I make a little huffing noise and gesture at him in a way that lets him know in no uncertain terms that I need a better explanation.
"I got it at the meeting. Everyone in The Society gets a phone like this. You don't have to worry about it. They have their own satellite."
"Why can't they call you on your own phone?"
"I asked the same thing. Security. They say their encryption can't be hacked." He laughs and shows me the bottom of the phone. On it is the distinctive Von Allister logo. "It's how they communicate with us."
