Roses never fade

Rossi'

st, quietly packing my things into boxes

s sulking. He thought I had

ring over the study door, when I s

his tone casual. "Yes, I know she's goi

fr

to stay at the villa in Tuscany for a few we

other. Or maybe, Isab

voice came through the speakerphone. "She

ered violentl

already signed

et change, Mom. She isn't going anywhere.

lly beli

nce became

to the shadows

t, he hos

o my hands. It held a pair of diamond earrin

e exact day he left me stran

ballroom wa

ed in, peop

he kept woman.

ssed to the small of my

ouble doors

walk

oidered with delicate silver vines t

a custo

ause I had seen

arting to return-when he couldn't see anyth

ced the lines. "When I can see a

ia was w

oom, the crowd parting

straight

weetness. "Dante told me he designed this dress. It's beautiful, is

ashed

ncomfortably, a

gift, too," S

her manicu

forward, carryin

puppy-a Ger

up, its teeth

backward,

into the servants' quarters. One of them tore

rrified

knew

k

hoving the basket against my che

ed, a sharp, p

tly, bumping into

a urged, her eyes glea

I stammered, m

urning to look at him. "

watching, waiting to see if the m

warning in his tone. "Take th

spered, begging him to

damn dog!"

I reached o

fear, the p

t scrambled frantical

bol

nto a towering pyrami

as

ds of shattering gl

g into acti

Sofia, shielding her f

ned down

d my forearm. Anoth

elling up on my skin,

r face, her a

?" he asked h

himpered, burying h

did he l

g down my arm, dripping

nd, a flash of regr

e crowd beg

barked at a nearby soldie

s attention

oftly to her. "Let's

orted

ai

overed in blood, while the guests cove

dier said quietly. "T

eet. It was the exact same color as t

eed the ca

walked towa

t need

a plane

days