Page 151 of Wicked Villain

Mama and I head outside to the garden.

Of all the people in my world, my mother is the least conspicuous person. She’s the best person to slip under the radar and take me with her.

When we stop by the larger water fountain and sit in the chairs there, I’m certain I’m right about her reasons for meeting. Water, especially from that fountain, will distort our voices if anyone is trying to listen in on our conversation.

By now, though, I’m sure Mama has won the trust of everyone, mainly because they think she’s weak. They assume she’ll stay with my father forever because she’s sick.

She stretches her hand across the table and takes mine. “Are you okay, my dear?” She gives my hand a gentle squeeze before releasing me.

“I’m okay.”

“Good.” The smile that drifts across her face looks like one for show. It’s too stiff and doesn’t reach her eyes like her normal smiles. “You look well, my love.”

“I am.” I try to act normal, but the suspense is gnawing at my lungs. I need to know now what’s happening. “Do you have news, Mama?” I lower my voice to a whisper.

She nods, still keeping that smile plastered on her face while she takes out a little lunch box containing two muffins. She pops it open and hands me a muffin, making a show of looking proud of herself. I take the muffin and nibble on the edge.

“When?”

She glances cautiously from left to right. “Next Friday.”

The air around us shifts, becoming so tense I feel I could reach out and snap it. “How are we going to do it, Mama?”

“Here. You’ll come here as normal. Maurice is going to disable the cameras in the back. At lunchtime, you will simply pretend you have to go to the bathroom, then make your way out through the service entrance at the back, where the supplies come in. Someone will be waiting there for you to take you to me safely. Then we’ll make our way to Buenos Aires.”

My brows rise. “That’s it?”

“Yes.” She runs her fingers down her arm.

“I thought it would be harder.” It should be.

Mama chuckles off-key. “My dear girl, it sounds simple, but believe me, it’s not. I’m leaving out the parts I don’t want you to worry about. Your uncle pulled all sorts of strings to make this possible for us. He pulled so many strings, I don’t think there’s anything left to be done.”

A lump rises in my chest. I can imagine what those strings must’ve looked like.

“Will he be joining us?”

Mama shakes her head. “He’ll be heading back to Italy. He came over to sort everything out, but sadly, it will be a long time before we see him again.”

“Oh.” That may mean never.

“We’ll be at sea for three weeks, maybe slightly longer. Maurice has arranged for us to travel on a cargo vessel with some close friends. It’s going to be a rough journey, cara mia. But a new life awaits us. All we need to do is get there.”

That sounds promising.

The smile on her face now is real. It speaks of so much hope. Hope for me and hope for herself, too. Hope for freedom from the shackles that have been placed on both of us.

But I can’t help but think of what I’ll be losing.

My heart.

The thought sounds crazy even to me, but I can’t stop my thoughts any more than I can the emotions that have grown inside me for Lev over the last few weeks.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Mama asks, noticing my hesitation.

I meet her worried eyes and press my fingers together. “I’m just nervous. This is one hell of a plan.”

“I know. But I trust that Maurice will have done everything to ensure our safety. This has only been made possible now because of the contacts he’s formed. People who exist outside the mafia world.”