The service was so lovely, Mary thought she should take pictures to show Ella later, though that seemed ridiculous. “Look, friend. See how lovely you were when you were dead?” She almost started laughing and had to cover her mouth. While she had no idea what the pastor was saying, it wouldn’t be appropriate to laugh in the middle of the service.
Bart was standing next to her, and he looked anything but amused. This was it--in a moment, they’d all go say their “final” goodbyes to Ella, and then everyone would leave. Jeff and his team
The sensation started in her toes. Pinpricks that turned into vibrations and then radiating warmth that spread up her calves, to her knees, and higher. Ella was suddenly aware that she was conscious. It wasn’t as if she were waking from sleep; it was as if she’d suddenly returned to her body after hours or days of being away from it.The feeling was unsettling, and as it spread throughout her, she had to remind herself it was a good thing. She wasn’t dead, after all. That had been her fear when she drank the liquid from the vial however many days ago
The tinkling of rocks against his window reminded Rome of three things--when he was younger and Bart wanted his attention, when he’d done the same thing to return his phone not long ago, and when Rome had stood outside of Ella’s window, staring up at her beautiful face.He’d been sleeping so he wasn’t sure how long the rocks had been hitting the glass. Whoever was trying to get his attention was impatient, that was for certain. He sat up and saw his mother dozing on a settee across the way. The rocks hadn’t woken her up, and he hoped he w
By the time they reached LAX airport, Ella felt like herself again--at least on the outside. A nervousness buzzed around on her insides as she thought about what she was about to do. She had forged documents; she was allegedly dead. Yet, she was about to try to get on a plane. She was also extremely worried about Rome.“It’ll be fine,” Bart assured her. “These documents are top of the line. This guy works with all kinds of people who aren’t supposed to be coming in and out of the country, but they do it all the time.”
Ella’s sleep on the plane had been restless and full of unsettling dreams. About an hour before they arrived in Italy, her eyes flew open, and images of Rome’s face slid from her mind. It had taken her a few moments to remember everything that had happened, to recall where she was, just as it had in the crypt. But this was different. She could move right away. Her memories all rushed back to her, and suddenly she was fully energized and ready to go.She needed to find Rome.
Ella followed Bart and Mary through the busy airport, all of them walking at a brisk pace and trying not to look directly at anyone. At least she didn’t have her heavy bags to worry about. Always thinking ahead, Bart had arranged for all of their checked baggage to be taken to a hotel near the airport so that they could get a rental car and head straight to Verona. With any luck, they’d be back at that hotel later that night--all four of them. Then, they’d be close to the airport so they could figure out what their next move was. They wouldn’t be able to stay in Italy long with Rome’s dad looking for him.
For the second time in recent days, Rome woke up feeling like he’d been beaten over the head. His mouth was dry, and his muscles were sore. At least this time, he could move a lot more quickly. He had a feeling that second shot wasn’t quite as potent as the first.He opened his eyes to a twilight lit room, but it wasn’t the one he’d been in just before he was knocked out. He recognized it, though. It was his room in their apartment in Milan. The last time he was here, he couldn’t have been more than twelve years old. He sat up and looked
“This is the right building,” Bart said, finding a parking spot on the street. “But I have no idea how we’re going to figure out which apartment is Rome’s or how we’ll get to him.”Ella got out of the car, only half listening to him. She was feeling out with her heart, trying to find her other half. Something was wrong; she could feel it in her blood. With every beat of her heart, anxiety pulsed through her veins, into her limbs, seeming to pool in her stomach which was tight with worry.
The knife was in his hand, poised above his wrist as Rome considered what his mother would think the next time she walked into this room and saw blood all over his bedspread, all over the floor, all over his dead body.He didn’t think it would hurt. With the pain radiating out of his heart with each breath as he thought about his beautiful wife, and how she was gone now, nothing could be more painful than that. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, and he made no effort to make them stop.