Chapter 9: The Corridor

After the dinner I walked the east wing alone with my clipboard, counting beds that were already counted.

I needed something to do with my hands.

The corridor was dim, with a row of closed doors on each side and a strip of moonlight along the floor.

"Lara."

Luca stood at the far end, under the last light.

He wore a dark jacket with the cuffs pushed back.

On his left wrist was a mechanical watch with a plain silver face.

I knew it before I saw the engraving. I had picked out that face myself.

"You bought it back," I said.

"Ten thousand. It was still in the case."

He turned his wrist so the light caught it. "I wanted the one you picked."

"It has your name on the back."

"I know. I read it every morning."

I put the clipboard against my chest.

"Say what you came to say, Luca."

He came three steps closer and stopped, with a careful distance still between us.

"I asked Gianna about the text. She said it was a surprise. I think that's half true."

"Which half?"

"The half where she wanted me to see your face."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I didn't stop them in that room."

"I should have said you'd never taken a gift from me. I knew it. I knew the truth."

Keep reading free with an account. Start He Scorned My Love, Now He Watches My Rise from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.