Rosa

Chapter 57

The next few days offered a much-needed distraction from the malaise of her emotional turmoil. Cristiano might rule her heart, but she'd be damned to let the bastard rule her head, too. Rosa Lenoir's rebirth as Eve Davies had to take precedence above all else. Losing focus would lead to losing this precious new life that had been gifted to her.

On the rare occasions Eve would step out in daylight to run "errands" for her upcoming plans, she dressed not to impress but to fade into the masses. Every look, every word, and every move had to reflect a whole new woman. Someone who was easy to ignore, thus, easy to forget. To the world, all traces of Rosa needed to be erased in order to fly under the radar. Moving like water. Existing like air. Only as a phantom could she find Sienna and Angelina before Cristiano or Mesrine tracked her down.

She had yet to hear from Cristiano and Mesrine, but her paranoia ran rampant. Rosa couldn't seem to make up her mind about whether or not she wanted Cristiano to capture her, but she often had nightmares about Mesrine closing in on her.

Until Rosa felt as ready to show herself, keeping a low profile would be a crucial part in outsmarting these men. It comforted Rosa to know that Mesrine and Cristiano were probably still in the dark about Eve Davies. If either of them was aware of her new identity and location, Mesrine wouldn't hesitate to haul her back, dead or alive, and Cristiano would've flown to her side in a heartbeat.

She intended to switch out her phone numbers and check into a new hotel on a weekly basis.

For two more days, however, Rosa intended to stay put, occupying her hours with meticulous preparations as though preparing for another hit job. Yet, unlike all of her past assignments, this particular assignment was deeply personal and vastly meaningly to her. It was completely self-assigned, after all. No one would be paying her. Like a fool in love, she was working pro bono.

Simply because it was the right thing to do.

Simply because she loved a man who had taken a bullet for her.

The contradictory nature of this complex emotion, love, had turned Rosa into a woman who was just as contradictory and complex. She became both soft and hard. As much as she yearned for Cristiano—so much so that it made her want to weep—the hardness in her wanted their separation to gut him, too. Rosa hoped the bastard would drive himself crazy, scouring every nook and cranny from here to Antarctica, trying to find her. Mesrine was probably ready to burst several blood veins now that he realized she had gone rogue. Yet again. Rosa prayed that her little game of hide-and-seek with these two seasoned killers wouldn't turn deadly.

Her expression soured.

On some level, Rosa understood that she'd probably fucked Mesrine over one too many times. Even if the monster wished to keep her alive for his own demented reasons, at this point, she'd left him no choice. He needed to save face in front of his men. He grew weaker in their eyes each time he forgave her. There was no doubt in Rosa's mind. She'd definitely end up as a body in a bag if Mesrine ever got his hands on her again. Perhaps, he was already planning to pierce a bullet through her skull at Monte and Mariposa's wedding.

Would Cristiano kill Mesrine if the monster took her life?

A fucking blood bath was the last thing she wanted right now. She hoped that Mesrine and Cristiano would behave themselves for a while longer. Rosa lacked the time and patience to deal with their blood on her Louboutins. Even though the soles were already red, she knew from experience that stains were impossible to remove. She didn't want Mesrine and Cristiano to wage war until Sienna and Angelina were safe, secure, and in her custody.

Fuck Mesrine.

Fuck Cristiano, too.

Sienna and Angelina were her priorities right now.