Dark Queen

I have to do something.

I’m up before dawn, trying to be as quiet as possible moving through the closet, slipping on a pair of leggings and a hoodie.

Holding my breath I take another look at Luca, feeling my chest expand with the vision of him, naked the sheet resting over his lower half. His chest rises and falls in a peaceful rhythm.

Dragging down the door handle, I wince when the door squeaks open, he doesn’t move so I make my move, sneaking out and gently closing the door behind me.

I wait for a couple of seconds just outside the room to be sure he doesn’t stir, before moving toward the stairs taking them two at a time.

There are men stationed at the front door again, so I nip into Luca’s office and unlock the window, climbing through.

The small drop to the ground is easy, the flower bed losing a couple of heads under my feet.

Racing across the green my heart races a little. There are men outside the house walking the perimeter, but the estate is huge. It doesn’t take much for me to slip into the brush and sneak off the property.

Walking takes me an hour. The sun is just kissing the horizon when I knock on Simon’s door, waking him up.

He appears dishevelled, surprise enlarging his eyes. Fear pales his skin as he takes me in.

His eyes scan the street again. “I’m alone,” I tell him. “Are you going to let me in?”

Moving to the side so I can pass him, the door latches closed and bolts into place.

“I’ve been going crazy,” he says, pushing his hand through his hair, his bare feet padding across the floor. “What the hell was that with Leto?”

Sucking in a deep breath I shrug my shoulders, “You have to quit.” I tell him, getting straight to the point.

“What?”

“You’re compromised. Your cover is blown. You have to quit.” Folding my arms, I hold my position, trying to remember the Simon I know is a façade, a character he’s playing.

“Did you tell him?” he asks. Frantic, he rushes over to the kitchen window and peers out through the blinds.

“No, Simon—or whatever the hell your name is.” I throw a hand up. “But I will if you don’t quit. Now. Today.”

Coming back to where I’m stood, he asks, “Is it true what he said, about you being his fiancée?” He places his hands on his hips.

He doesn’t even look old enough to be an undercover cop. Don’t you need experience for this kind of work?

“It complicated, and frankly, none of your damn business.” I tire of this conversation, knowing it’s going to take me an hour to get back and Luca will be awake by now.

“You’re ruining my career threatening me like this.”

A twinge pulls at my heart. Isn’t he trying to destroy Luca? If he’s undercover, it’s to get dirt.

“It’s not a threat, Si. I’m going to be his wife, you’re the threat. This is your only warning.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Luca

Adjusting to the light, I seek out the clock. It reads six a.m. I haven’t slept that good in a long time.

Reaching out, I stroke the empty sheet, and my chest tightens. It’s irrational, but the fear of something happening to her is becoming more dominant inside me.

Slipping into a pair of lounge pants, I listen for the shower, but don’t hear anything. “Alyssa?” I call, barging into the bathroom, I’m greeted with silence. It’s empty.

Where are you?

Racing through the house, I search every room, becoming more frantic with each one that comes up empty.

“Sir?” A maid asks, as I spin on the spot in the foyer trying to think where to search next.

“Where is Alyssa?” I bellow to the men guarding the front door.

“We haven’t seen her, sir. She didn’t leave the house.” They look between themselves, their hands out like beggars.

“Then where the hell is she?” I bellow. “Find her.”

Placing a hand over my erratic heartbeat, I go to my office and slam the door, bringing up the tracking app I have on her phone.

The little dot pings in this room.

My eyes search the space seeing she left her phone on a chair by the window—the open window. She left me. My thoughts race. Where would she go?

Simon.

Swan.

Farm.

I take the stairs two at a time and throw clothes on. She will be coming home today, whether she wants to or not.

How can you share what we have and then run?

Gathering everyone in my office, I begin dishing out orders on who will look where when fingers appear over the window ledge, all eyes draw there.

Her beautiful face appears through the gap, her lips popping open, forming an O when she sees everyone looking at her. Rushing over to her, I lift her inside, planting her on her feet.

“Leave us,” I command.

When the last person leaves and the door softly clicks shut, I pull her into my embrace, cradling her head. She’s wearing a hooded sweatshirt dressed all in black, like a robber.