"Antonio?" Hestood.
The air around Lucio electrified and not in a good way. The beam in his face dissipated. She tugged the sheets around her. She'd not go anywhere until she understood what waswrong.
"Where?" A second later he nodded, "I'll meet you downstairs in fiveminutes."
Done, he hung up the phone and grabbed a pair of pants from the closet. She stood with the sheet and crossed the room. As he pulled his black slacks on, she asked, "What's goingon?"
He chose a polo shirt from the shelf. "Whoever is leading the anarchists has a clear plan. They just attacked a financial center downtown. I'm going tohelp."
He pulled on the shirt and she nodded her understanding. "Go."
He kissed her forehead and rubbed her arms. "Shower. I'll be backsoon."
She hugged him. Lucio running into danger scared her but she tried not to show her feelings. "Do you have a printer I can plug into here? I want to print out a report for you tosee."
"It’s all in the office off the kitchenette." He strode to the front door. "Goodbye,Amy."
She waved. A second later, she heard the click and knew she was alone. She dragged the sheet with her and returned it to the bed, and then dashed for thebathroom.
Energized after her shower, she changed into a gray pantsuit and matching blouse with a single button at the back. Lucio had to be okay because she felt this hum in her veins that wouldn't quit. She studied the room one last time. The soft sheets where she’d found her transformation. For the rest of her life she’d never think sex was only a chore to avoid. "Guess it's time for me to find myparents."
She slipped out of the suite into the massive hallway. Amy stayed on the red Persian carpet to ensure her shoes didn't scratch the polished floors and once again the portraits of Lucio's ancestors struck her. The entire family had a kissed-by-God handsomeness that no artist could get quite right. Lucio’s brooding, rebellious glint-in-his eyes was missing and his face seemed duller in the portrait without that lightness that warmedher.
Finally, she made it to the open stairwell and looked both up and down. She'd need a map of the place, but as she took her first few steps down, her sister's voice echoed around her. "Amy!"
"Evie." She slowed until she saw her sister climbing the steps forher.
Evie latched her arm to hers and led her down the stairs. "I saw Lucio running to the door. Is everything fine withhim?"
Her sister shouldn't ask about Lucio with that tone of concern. Her stomach went into knots, but Amy tried to stay cool. "Royal business to attend to." She’d been thinking about finding lunch but there was no way she'd be able to eat near her sister. None. They walked another few steps and she asked, "Care to walk in the gardens withme?"
Evie smiled as if genuinely happy to be asked. "I'd love to." They made it to the bottom step and Evie asked, "How are the wedding planscoming?"
Amy's back stiffened. She didn't want to have this discussion. Staff opened the patio door which led to the garden. Amy nodded at the man who held her door, realizing she’d have to tell her sister something. "We haven't really made too many yet. How are yours coming? The house in Scotland islovely."
"It is. Michael and I are very happy." They walked down the last set of steps and reached the path in the gardens that meandered toward thefountain.
"That's good to hear." For a few minutes, they walked in uncomfortable silence. The light wind in the air brushed against their skin and rustled the green leaves, making this early fall still feel likesummer.
As they turned toward the house again, Amy felt a tick in her vein. She glanced at her sister, and decided to be completely honest. "I wondered if you were here to cause problems for Lucio and me." Her sister's face went white, but Amy took a breath and continued, "I'm glad to know I was wrong and that you're here to be a supportivesister."
Evie's face pinched. "I want what's best for you, Amy, and to let you know that you do not have to go through with Mom and Dad's contract. Michael and I agreed to support you if you needed to getaway."
She flinched. Her sister had tried to be nice and the ground hadn’t broken apart under their feet? If Evie really had spoken to Michael, then maybe she saw the years of fighting as amistake.
Amy wasn’t sure what to believe. While there was nothingwrongwith Evie, Amy hadn’t ever felt that close. Her heart began to beat a little faster at the thought her sister was now making amends and warmth heated her cheeks. She deflected the conversation. "Thanks. I'm happy here." They continued to walk but the dark-haired American in form-fitting maternity blue jeans that showed off her slightly pregnant body rushed down the steps toward them. Amy smiled brighter. "Oh, here comesRenee."
"Renee?"
Hadn’t her sister been at the castle before she and Lucio? Amy kept the immediate question to herself and supplied, "Marco’s newwife."
Renee walked toward them and Amy let go of her sister's locked arm. "Renee, it's nice to see youagain."
Renee glanced at both of them with a smile though she protectively held her belly. "The queen is expecting you for an audience, Amy. Are youready?"
No one told her she was to see the queen immediately. She’d assumed Lucio meant later in the afternoon because he said after lunch, but she turned toward her sister and shrugged. "I must go. Talk to you later,Evie."
Evie reached out and hugged her like she'd actually missed her. Amy stood awkwardly then finally hugged her back. Renee led her back up thesteps.
