I wear his name like a scar.
Alessandro Rossi stole everything from me; my freedom, my future, the lie I told my father to keep him alive. He thinks I'm a tool to be used, a bride to be displayed, a Fraga to be broken. He thinks the ring on my finge...
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The bell above the door chimed one last time as the last student filed out, their teacher trailing behind with an armful of Romeo and Juliet copies and a look like she hadn't slept in a week.
Melinda came out from the back, brushing dust off her hands. "What was that? Sounded like a herd of elephants stampeded through here."
"School kids," I said, and my voice came out weird even to me. "Romeo and Juliet. For a project."
"Ah. The classics." She smiled, but it dropped when she got a good look at my face. "Hey. You look pale. You okay?"
I forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired. Inventory's a nightmare."
She studied me for a second, that sharp look in her eyes, then she nodded. "Okay. I'm gonna finish up in the back. Be out in twenty."
"Take your time."
She disappeared through the doorway, and I grabbed my phone with shaking hands. I pulled up my father's number and hit call.
Nothing. The call wouldn't go through.
I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the button. No signal, not even one bar. I tried again. Same thing.
I got up and walked to the window, holding my phone up like that would somehow help. Still nothing. Just those two words blinking back at me: "No Service."
I couldn't reach anyone. Not my father, not the cops, not a single person.
I went to the landline on the counter and picked it up. A dial tone. Thank God. I punched in the numbers, my fingers shaking, and waited. Nothing. I tried again, and again, and again. Same result every time. Just dead air.
"Melinda!" I called out, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt. "Can you come here for a second?"
She appeared in the doorway, brow furrowed. "What's up?"
I held out my hand. "Can I borrow your phone? Mine's dead."
She pulled it out and handed it over without a second thought. "Everything good?"
"Fine. Just need to make a call."
I dialed my father's number again. No signal. Nothing. The man in the suit had done something, jammed the signals, cut me off. He didn't want me calling for help or warning anyone. He wanted me alone.
"Mel, I gotta step out for a bit," I said, grabbing my jacket and purse. "Got some errands to run. Can you hold down the fort?"
"Sure." She tilted her head, giving me that look. "You sure you're okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced another smile. "Everything's fine, babe. Be back in an hour."
I didn't wait for her to respond. I walked out and hit the street.
