Chapter 7 - THE BEDROOM DOOR
Marriage changed everything.
Not because Rosa suddenly became a mafia wife.
Because Adrian stopped pretending she was temporary.
He gave her a key.
Then another.
Then access to the workshop inside the penthouse.
Rosa laughed when she saw it.
"You built me a workshop?"
"I had it installed."
"You had a workshop installed on the sixty-second floor?"
"Yes."
She stared.
"You're insane."
"Probably."
Violet loved it.
Every afternoon, she sat beside Rosa while Rosa carved wooden animals.
Adrian often watched from the doorway.
He never interrupted.
But Rosa began noticing little things.
He remembered how she took coffee.
He kept extra cinnamon because she liked it.
He had the penthouse kitchen stocked with foods she actually ate.
He bought her new work boots.
When she protested, he said:
"Your old ones have holes."
"They have character."
"They have rain inside them."
She smiled.
"You noticed?"
"I notice you."
The words stopped her.
Adrian seemed surprised he had said them aloud.
That night, Rosa couldn't sleep.
She walked into the hallway.
Adrian stood outside her bedroom.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking the locks."
"They're electronic."
"I know."
She smiled.
"You're worried."
"Yes."
"About me?"
"Always."
Rosa stepped closer.
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because I love you."
Everything stopped.
Adrian seemed almost angry with himself.
Rosa whispered:
"When did that happen?"
"I don't know."
She reached for his hand.
He didn't move.
Then she kissed him.
It was gentle.
Uncertain.
Nothing like the violent world surrounding them.
When they separated, Adrian rested his forehead against hers.
"We shouldn't."
"I know."
"Matthew will use it."
"I know."
"But I don't care."
Neither did she.
At midnight, Adrian received an encrypted message.
A photograph.
Rosa's mother.
Alive.
Standing outside the Caruso workshop.
The date was six months after Rosa believed she had died.
Adrian stared at the image.
Then another photograph arrived.
This time, Rosa's mother held a baby.
A baby with dark curls.
Adrian's blood went cold.
The message contained four words.
ASK ROSA ABOUT HER SISTER.
May you like
Adrian looked toward Rosa's bedroom.
For the first time since meeting her, he wondered whether Samuel had lied about something even more important.
