His Woman

et that evening, b

s pre

marble. Every corridor she passed felt like it was watching. The silence was

ilent maid named Rina. Everything about the house was pristine, polish

ad said, opening yet another pair of double doors. "Yo

ed?" Vale

. Just gave a smal

ble exit. She hadn't planned on trying to run again-not afte

already dipped behind the hills. The large windows

ront of the mi

back looked the sa

. Her chin higher. Not b

ne knocked once b

u

t turn to

knock," she

ied. "You just w

eves were rolled up, his watch catching the low light. He looked at ease-but

eat dinner

n't hu

simply. "This place d

im then. "Are you th

row. "No. Just te

like it carried a hundred meanings. It made i

you wan

ser, and this time,

you who y

n't for

t to brush a strand of hair

react. He let

w night," he said. "Famil

ind of

each his eyes. "The kind y

er arms. "What ha

won

but her voice was even.

l get tonight," he said.

at, he turn

shawl, watching the estate grounds disappear into darkness. So

th lau

cho

own dam

trategy. Every word she said wa

't just

ed in velve

again. This time, she o

, holding a

quietly. "Mr. Mo

aside. "Leave i

and did just tha

Valenc

n leaned in slightly. Her voi

them see

blinked

ped her head and slipped out th

for a moment, her h

them see y

a she was war

e people

n't sle

tonight, they were full of w

g came, her eyes f

Black again. It had bec

the same guard from the we

. "They're waiting

itated.

fam

cou

ed the ha

the table again. But thi

en. All sharply dr

star

her. "Valencia, come.

forward, fac

uca said, "th

iled-thin, practice

of the men note

a didn'

at beside Luca

she realized, was

s sur