Page 53 of Weeping Roses
As soon as I reached my room, I changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt andtried to use my skincare regime to distract my mind from the events that have unfolded. There is no fancy lingerie on me tonight. Not anymore. Any idea I had about spending it wrapped in Valentin’s arms went on the answer of a cell phone. I am doomed. I really believe that and I’m not being overly dramatic because a woman was murdered because of me.
I even contemplate calling the police and telling them everything. Surely, they can protect me better than Valentin and his men. I could be part of the witness protection program and be re-housed. My assets will be frozen and I’ll live life on the run.
Trust me to become an heiress to millions and spend the rest of my life running from them. That wasn’t the idea at all.
I pace the room and consider every option and when the door opens, I almost jump out of my skin.
“It’s me, Polly.” The soft reassuring tones of the man I really need right now cause me to race into his outstretched arms, sobbing with relief.
“What’s this?” He says softly as he holds me close and I sob, “I murdered someone today. It’s all my fault.”
He pulls back and stares at me with an amused grin that doesn’t help at all.
As he brushes my tears away with his thumb, he smiles. “You never murdered anyone, Polly. I doubt you could even kill a spider.”
I shiver at the mention of those despicable creatures, but realize he is right.
“But she died because we asked for the key.”
“No.” He strokes my face with a gentle touch and says reassuringly, “She died because she trusted the wrong man.”
“What do you think happened?” I can’t imagine how she even knew him, and Valentin steers me across to the bed and sits down beside me.
“She was an easy target. It’s not uncommon.”
“What isn’t?”
“He wanted access to your aunt’s house to look for something, either information or an object. I still haven’t figured out what.”
“Do you think he found it?” I really hope so because then he will move on and Valentin shrugs.
“I’m not sure. His next movements will tell us, but he probably met the maid in a targeted meeting and charmed her into trusting him.”
“How?”
I doubt I’d be so trusting and Valentin says gently, “It happens. She won’t have stood a chance. He will have appealed to her in every way and earned her trust. I’m guessing he knew she worked for Samantha and had access to Thorn House. It was obviously his way of getting inside without being detected.”
“But why kill her? I don’t understand.”
“Because she was a loose end that needed tying up. She obviously went to him, afraid of losing her job. Perhaps she stole the key, and she needed to replace it.”
“You mean he could have come in at any time and murdered us, too?” My eyes widen and Valentin shakes his head.
“Not with us there. He wouldn’t dare and that’s unfortunate.”
“What is?”
I’m confused, and he sighs heavily.
“Now he knows I’m here with you it will make him more desperate. I don’t believe he found what he was looking for and he will be angry that we are so close behind him. He had to dispose of Justine because she could have led us to him. I expect he’s hoping we didn’t discover he’s here because then he’ll know his cover has been blown.”
“Let’s hope so.”
I shiver and Valentin holds me closer, and it’s good knowing he is here.
“Your meeting tomorrow.”
I glance up and the darkness in his eyes burns brightly as he huffs, “You must meet her and discover her intentions. Don’t question them, play the innocent and don’t let on you know anything at all.”