I pull a wad of cash out of my purse and hand it to her. "When will she be back?"
The woman glances around, then leans closer. "Tonight, late. She work at art galleries. Places that buy and sell, no too many questions. I help her find job."
Art galleries. Sofia was looking for work here, trying to blend in using the skills she actually has. Smart girl.
"Do you remember which galleries?"
"I write down for her." The woman disappears into a back office and returns with a piece of paper. "These places, they are... how you say... not so careful about papers. Good for people who need work but cannot do official jobs."
I memorize the addresses quickly in case I can’t come back here. Three galleries in different parts of the city, all inareas where I could conceivably go shopping without raising too much suspicion.
"Thank you," I tell her. “If you see her, tell her sister is here. In Prague. Okay?"
"Yes, I do that."
I step outside and hurry down the street. I only make it a block when I hear a familiar voice.
"My God! Is that really you?"
I turn around, and my heart stops. Oh no! Carlos is standing on the sidewalk, looking exactly the same as he did weeks ago except for one crucial difference. He's wearing a tank top that shows off his arms, and there, covering his left shoulder in intricate black ink, is the massive dragon tattoo I tried so hard to talk him out of.
The night I received the call from Sofia that changed both our lives.
"Carlos," I breathe.
"My love! Where the hell have you been?" He crosses to me in three quick strides and pulls me into a bear hug that lifts me off my feet. "You disappeared that night and never came back. We were worried sick! Didn’t know if you were alive or dead."
"I had to leave Prague suddenly. Family emergency."
"Family emergency my ass. You vanished like a ghost." He sets me down and holds me at arm's length, studying my face. "And what the fuck happened to your hair? You cut it? You look good though."
"It's complicated," I say.
"Everything's complicated with you. But seriously, where did you go? One night you're there telling me not to get a dragon tattoo," he pulls up his shirt sleeve to show off theintricate artwork, "and the next morning you're gone. Hans was convinced you'd been kidnapped."
"You got the tattoo," I say, staring at the elaborate dragon wrapped around his shoulder.
"Of course I got the tattoo. You told me not to, which meant I absolutely had to." He grins. "Turns out you were right about the artist though. She was wasted. It turned out amazing anyway."
"Carlos, I’m sorry.” I say, fondly squeezing his arm. “I can’t stay and talk. I can't really explain right now, but---"
"You can't explain? You disappeared in the middle of the night without a word. I've been wondering for weeks if you were dead or kidnapped. And now you show up looking like you've been living the good life and you can't explain?"
"I'm sorry. I really am. I wanted to say goodbye, but there wasn't time."
“What kind of family emergency requires you to disappear without a trace? Why didn’t you text me back? I’ve been calling and calling."
“I lost my phone and your number.” Which is true. My sister has my phone.
Before I can answer, I spot movement across the street. A man in a dark jacket. It could be anyone or it could be one of the men on Luca’s security team I haven’t met yet.
Shit.
I can’t take a chance and need to get back to the hotel.
"I have to go," I tell Carlos urgently.
"Like hell you do. We're going to sit down, have a couple of beers and you're going to tell me what's really going on. Starting with why you look like you're running from something."
