Page 97 of Captured Innocence
Lucia laughed. “Both of you are pains in my ass.”
“That’s why you love us,” Joy said. “I hate waiting as well. Hopefully, you’ll learn where this asshole is so the guys can hunt him down.”
I returned to the computer, plopping down in the same place I’d been for hours. I could barely get my mind off Mattia. Images of his face continued to remain in the forefront of my mind. He’d made love to me before he’d brought us here, the memory of which brought tears to my eyes, fearing we’d never touch each other again. I pressed my fingers across my lips, the taste of him still lingering after several hours. I wanted so many things out of life but the thought of having children meant the world to me when it hadn’t before.
Maybe the old adage was true. When you thought you couldn’t have something, you wanted it the most.
“Love isn’t easy, you know.”
Lucia’s quiet voice brought me out of the fog. “I know. But when you’ve someone for as long as I have, you don’t want to waste any time like we’re doing right now.”
“Good things come to those who wait?” Joy asked in her lilting voice.
The three of us tried to laugh again but it was difficult to pretend everything was going to be just fine. There were guards walking the exterior, but no one knew we were here, brought to the other house in the dead of night. I’d managed to alter the computer’s location, so it appeared I was doing the work from the other compound. However, I had a fear that the person on the other side of the internet lines was as good at his job as I was. If so, he’d eventually figure out where we were.
We had maybe eighteen hours left before that happened.
“Okay. I honestly don’t think after everything we’ve been through that a little champagne is going to hurt the babies,” Joy said with defiance in her voice. “I know we have a lovely bottle of bubbly in the refrigerator. I’m going to get this celebratory party started. You ladies with me?”
I looked at Lucia who smiled in a way that let me know she was feeling my pain. “I think that sounds amazing.”
“Good. I’ll get snacks too. Pregnant women get hungry often.” Joy threw her long red hair over her shoulder as she bounded out of the room.
I slumped in the chair, grabbing a pen and pulling the pad with the tattoo closer. Remember. You need to remember.
Seconds later, Lucia headed toward me. “What’s wrong other than the obvious?”
“Nothing.”
“You can’t lie to your big sister. You have the man of your dreams finally within reach. He’s your hero and your lover and everything you’ve wanted. We’ll get through this.”
“I know.” I tried to clear my mind, absently scratching out another skull. The damn thing didn’t have crossbones but there had been another symbol.
“So what else?”
“So I might not be able to have children.”
“What? How the hell do you know that?”
I glanced up at her then continued drawing. “Mattia insisted after the explosion that I was looked at thoroughly. Evidently, I have some scar tissue; from what, the doctor wasn’t certain. But if I do get pregnant, it will be a miracle.”
“Aww, sis. I believe in them. Think of it this way. I was never a religious girl given what we went through, but I prayed to God more than once he’d bring D’Artagnan back to me and look what happened?”
A flash went through my mind. I peered up at her. “What did you say?”
“I mentioned God, as in maybe you should remember our Catholic upbringing.”
“Oh, my God is right.” I could finally see the tattoo in my mind. I drew it quickly and as soon as I did, Lucia jerked the piece from my hand. “What?”
“I’ve seen this before. I’m certain of it. No. Wait. D’Artagnan described it. No. I did see it. The night of the fire a few years ago. Remember? When his brother…”
“You mean in the barn?”
“Yeah. The one that was rebuilt a third time. Did you tell Mattia about it?”
“Only the skull. Why?” I could tell she was horrified.
“I need my phone. I need my phone now. This can’t be. If I’m right, we are dealing with a ghost. How is that possible? How?”