Page 125 of Nights At Sea

Sensing my opportunity, I feign to bump into her, and in the confusion drop the earring wrapper into her bag. Apologizing, I slowly scuffle along with everybody else toward the carriage while the young couple resumes their quick pace in the opposite direction.

This should buy me some time.

I glance up at the digital display announcing the trains and frown.

Milan?

Am I on the wrong platform? I quickly check my ticket. Nope, it’s definitely the right one.

I tap the person in front of me on the shoulder. “Is this the train to Basel?”

“Si,” the middle-aged man replies.

I point to the display. “It says it goes to Milan.”

“It’s already changed for the next train coming in after this one,” he explains in a heavy accent. It must be because the Basel train was late.

I nod my thanks, relieved I’ve got it right. I know I’m bad with maps. I’d be horrified if I had trouble reading schedules now too.

Mauro is closing in, but I force myself to act relaxed and pretend to be part of a group of friends huddled together right next to me. They laugh and joke, and I smile broadly at them.

God, they probably wonder who the smiling weirdo is.

At last, I step onto the train just as Mauro passes without recognizing me.

Holy shit.That was close.

I think I’m going to pass out. This is too much.

Trembling, I sit down next to a young girl who’s taken the window seat. I lean forward to peek out and see Santino gesturing to Tiero’s men to come back. Pointing to his phone, he shows it to Tiero, who shakes his head.

Then suddenly, as if sensing my eyes on him, he turns toward the train and looks straight at me.

My heart freezes and drops into my abdomen.

Shit, shit, shit.

Closing my eyes, I lean back into my seat, willing myself to melt into it and disappear.

He can’t really see me, can he?

It just felt like it, when really he was looking at the train.

When I open my eyes again, Tiero is running toward it.

I stop breathing and feel the blood drain from my head.

Oh my God, he did see me.

He’s shouting and gesturing at someone.

Fuck, what if one of his goons jumps on?

The doors close, and thetrain slowly pulls away, leaving the station and my captor behind.

Tiero’s face looks crestfallen, and my heart breaks at the sight.

I never wanted to hurt him.