He Let Me Die for Her, So I Refused His Ring novel · Chapter 26 of 32

Chapter 26: The Orchard Door

At dawn I sat across from my sister in the dock gatehouse with Silvio's name between us on a torn page.

Adriano stood behind my chair, and he had not slept either.

Bianca had been given tea and a blanket, and she held the cup in both hands.

"Why that name?" I asked.

"Because he's going to call," Bianca said. "He told me when. He told me to be sitting down."

"Call what?"

"The black phone. He knows you took it."

The phone lay on the table between the tea and the page.

It rang as she said it.

Nobody moved for the first ring, and then I put it on speaker.

"Good morning, Signora Corvi," said a heavy voice. "Or is it Ardenti? I heard about the vows."

"Silvio," I said.

"You've kept my little bird. That's kind. She's very tired of cages, you know."

Bianca had gone rigid, and I looked at her until she sat back.

"What do you want?" Adriano said.

"Ah. The groom. Congratulations on your docks. I sent flowers."

"You sent lilies."

"I did. Next time I'll send something that lasts."

His voice changed, and it became flat and quick.

"Let me say it plainly, since you like plain talk. The Ardenti girl took my money for two years."

"She took a passport, a new name and a flat in the sixth arrondissement. All paid in advance."

"I do not do business at a loss."

I held the phone steady. "She delivered the books."

"She delivered the books. She has not delivered the east wall."

I felt Adriano's hand close on the back of my chair.

"The east wall," Silvio said, "below the orchard. Two men fewer than the north gate, she told me. On the night of the feast, at nine o'clock, she will walk down to the orchard door and unlatch it."

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