Surrender (Careless Whispers #3)(67)

“Since Kayden handpicked Oliver, I wasn’t about to handpick wrong. Plus, I have an ulterior motive for joining you.”

Now he has my attention. “Which is what?”

“I need a birthday gift for a woman. I have no idea what to get her.”

“Oh,” I say, the explanation seeming to explain much, but still not sitting exactly right. Yet not much will until Neuville is dead, I suspect. “I’m sure Giada will have ideas.”

He opens my door for me and I slide inside, and unbidden, and perhaps because of the timing, Kayden’s words play in my head: If you face anyone who dares threaten you or one of our own, or even a civilian, you deliver the message that code requires.

The car starts to move, and I answer that memory with a silent Without hesitation, before allowing myself to be drawn into the conversation. In only three minutes we’re at Giada’s apartment, which is small but adorable. It’s also well furnished, thanks to Adriel. We hang out there for a half hour, and Matteo confesses the name of his secret girlfriend, Abella, and everyone laughs at how close her name is to Marabella. After hearing how head over heels he is for her, I make a mental note to ask Kayden how The Underground handles such things. Whatever the case, we head out to the Spanish Steps shopping area, with a few jewelry stores for Matteo’s Abella on the “must do” list.

Two hours later, Giada has spent a ton of money on things for her apartment, and we’ve just exited a jewelry store where Matteo has purchased a necklace for his new woman. I’m enjoying myself for the most part, but Kayden’s silence regarding his investigating a Hunter who met with Alessandro is weighing on me, and The Code keeps playing in my head. Loyalty and life first.

“I’ll take the bags to the car,” Matteo offers.

“Perfect,” Giada says. “I’m so glad you came.” She points at a store. “We’ll be in there. We still need to get Ella something not black to wear.”

Matteo gives her a tiny nod, but just before he turns, I note this odd smile that has me frowning. My phone buzzes with a text and I reach for it, glancing down at the message.

Kayden: You okay?

Me: Yes. Is all well?

Kayden: Weird situation. Will tell you about it later. Walking into meeting with Donati and Gallo. Are we still good for an early dinner?

Me: Yes.

Kayden: Talk soon, sweetheart.

Feeling much better, I look up to find Giada looking at me. “Everything okay?”

“Of course,” I say.

“Not my feet,” Marabella says, and I glance up to find her motioning toward a bar, which means a coffee shop here. “I’ll be there. I need to sit.”

“Are you okay?” I ask, giving her a critical inspection. “You look a little pale.”

“Just old,” she says, giving me a tiny wink. “Nothing coffee won’t help me pretend isn’t true. Go shop.”

Giada lights up and links her arm with mine, and I suddenly realize Marabella is just giving us some time alone. Glancing over my shoulder, Marabella and I share a look before I’m pulled along by Giada. “Did Kayden tell you about the coin?”

“Yes. He was honored, and I was proud of you.”

“I really am trying to make changes,” she says. “It feels a little weird being away from the castle, but it’s thrilling, too. I’m starting a life. I’m going to college. I’m going to do something for me.”

“And I can’t wait to hear every detail.”

She opens the door to the store. “Chanel,” she says. “You know you love it.”

I laugh and we enter, and before long, the attendant and Giada have pretty much put half the store in a dressing room for me. The attendant, a woman in her fifties who barely speaks English, looks at me and I catch, “Would you like . . .” And the rest just has me blinking.

Giada laughs. “You need to learn Italian,” she reminds me. She motions to some sort of back garden. “They serve champagne on the patio. She wanted to know if you’d like a glass.”

“Oh. No. Thank you. I prefer to stay sharp.”

Giada laughs. “Tipsy is the best way to shop. You go home with more.”

But your gun hand isn’t steady, I think.

“Go,” Giada motions. “Go get in that dressing room and try stuff on. I want to see.”

I go down the hallway and step into the dressing room. Slipping off my coat, I inspect the clothes waiting on me, not sure I even want to attempt to try all this stuff. Nevertheless, I sit down and take off my boots. “Ella,” Giada says at the door.

“Yes?”

“Matteo says Marabella wants him to drive her home. I need to make sure she’s just giving us time alone, and nothing is wrong.”

“Yes,” I say. “Go see. Now I’m worried.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Remembering how pale Marabella looked, I don’t like this one bit, and I quickly pull my boots back on. That’s when something comes sliding under the door. I look down and my blood runs cold, because I know what I’m looking at. One of the missing pages from my journal. Adrenaline surges through me, but that person I become at times, that deep down is really me, kicks in. I unzip my purse and make sure Annie is handy, and with her in reach, then, and only then, do I bend down and open the folded piece of paper, sucking in air when the writing belongs to Garner Neuville: Bella. You should know I can get to you anywhere, anytime. And I can get to anyone you care about anywhere, anytime.