Page 87 of Enduring Caine

Probably wasn’t good enough. I crossed to the piano and pulled out the bench to sit. “Do you play?”

He chuckled and sat to my right. “No. Do you?”

My fingers hovered over middle C. “Not even ‘Heart and Soul?’”

He shook his head.

I began the top part, simple but distracting. Face toward the keys, like I was focusing on the only thing I knew, I mumbled, “What do we need to do?”

Vin put his fingers on the keys two octaves above me and mimicked my play—fumbling once or twice—and my volume. “Get to the cave. I have a delivery coming.”

Delivery of what? From whom, I could guess. “I know another way. There’s a passage in the wine cellar.”

He laughed, resuming a normal voice. “You’re much better than me.”

“My sister tried teaching me, but I didn’t have the patience.” I tapped the last key three times. Piano required too much sitting still. “I don’t suppose you want to go to the wine cellar? I could use a nice glass of something strong right about now.”

He nodded and stood, offering me a hand, which I ignored.

Chapter 38

Samantha

“Haveyoueverworkedin the security control room?” I asked Vin as we approached the hidden door in the tasting room. Someone had cleaned the glass from the floor and stood the cupboard back against the wall.

“I have.”

“So you know we’re in a blind spot?”

He nodded. “The outer room is monitored, but not this one. Giovanni brings people down here for privacy.”

“If Antonio and Leo are still up there, they know we’re here.” I leaned over the casks at the far wall. What was I doing? This place was dangerous enough as it was. If either of those men got suspicious or jealous and came down here, Vin and I were done for. “Pick a bottle of wine. Look like you’re putting some thought into it and ask me what I think of whatever vintage you choose.”

He nodded and left for the racks of wine. I pulled the lever. Leonardo said only trusted staff knew about this door—that was probably another reason there were no cameras in here. While the door opened, in case the camera could make out the noise, I hollered to Vincenzo, “I’m partial to Chianti, if there’s anything like that. Or maybe a Valpolicella?”

If theywerelistening, hopefully Antonio would pick up on my hidden message. He’d prepared a from-scratch feast for me the night after he arrived home a couple of weeks ago, and those were the two reds he’d served with the meal.

“Found a bottle of each,” replied Vin. “We’ll try both?”

“Sounds good, thanks.”

“Giovanni’s selection is truly magnificent.” He strolled back into the tasting room, seeming without a care in the world, but his gaze fell to the open door in the rock wall, his eyes widening. “Do you want to be alone with your thoughts?”

“No,” I said, speaking loud enough to keep up the ruse, just in case. “Antonio wouldn’t approve—nor would Leo. You know how it is.”

“I’m sorry for how this has to play out, Samantha. I’m sure it’s not easy to have someone looking over your shoulder nonstop.”

I gestured to the hallway. “Think we can raise a glass to Johann, then have a few moments of silence?”

He neared the door, nodding. “That sounds good.”

“How long do we have?” I asked after we were through the short hallway and halfway down the stairs.

“Did Leo show this to you?”

“No, I found it.”

Vincenzo walked ahead of me, scanning the low ceiling and rough walls. “What’s it for?”