Forbidden Deception (Deception)

12

“L eo! Leo!” I shout. This house is enormous, and God only knows how loud I’ll have to shout for him to hear me from my room.

Remo is on call with me right now while I lie on my bed, surrounded by my comforter. My queen-sized bed is pushed against the right side of the wall just behind the door, a wide arched window in front of me with large curtains that are currently hooked on each side. A vanity is on the left of the window. There’s en suite next to the vanity and a walk-in closet to the right of the room with double doors that slide open.

It’s a fully decorated room, with dark accents that give off haunted castle vibes with the dark browns, black, and hints of white.

“Did you still not install the software, Venezia?” Remo sighs, his face wiped of any emotions, as always.

“Can’t you see I’m sick? I also will be going on a trip to Greece in a day for three to four days—in Santorini, specifically—and will be able to do it then. It will be perfect when I use the excuse to call for a chauffeur or something and Helia will get a notification. Leave me alone now. I didn’t even get time to shop.” I sigh, shutting my eyes. “I only have clothes for winter,”

“Ask Leo. He will make it happen for you. I didn’t place you under his care for no reason.”

“He is pretty awesome, and here he is with my soup. Thank you, Leo.” I wiggle into a seated position while he places a stool above my legs and the soup right on top of it.

“Security found another letter delivered to you. Would you like me to examine its sender?” Leo asks.

My eyes snap to Remo on the video call. His eyes are narrowed. He’s wearing a black suit in his dark office and looks ready to kill off some people.

“What letter? Leo will only examine it when it poses a danger. Is there something wrong, Venezia? I believe you know what will happen if you lie.”

I scrunch my nose at him.

“Yes, do that for me, please, Leo.”

Once Leo leaves my room, I turn to Remo. “I need to tell you what happened a month before you came to get me from the boarding school here in Edinburgh.”

Remo places his phone on his desk and takes a seat. He then turns to me and gives me his full attention.

“Go ahead.”

I take a deep breath, my nerves shaking and fluttering, while I try to muster up the courage to say it out loud.

“Remo, I–I committed a murder.”

Remo’s jaw clenches, but other than that, he doesn’t show anything.

“I murdered a professor. He tried to assault my friend and almost killed her but…but I got to him in time and pierced his neck with a knife. And now my friend is back because she needs help. It means the word got out or something. You need to help me, Remo.” My breaths are quick and short, and I struggle with each inhale.

My vision blurs, and the whole night of terror flashes right in front of my eyes.

“Okay. I’ll look into it. What was his name?” He sounds so calm and collected, so clinical it makes my eyes burn.

“Samuel Ricco.”

Remo nods, then looks away. “And what is your friend’s name?”

“Medora Hale.”

Remo nods once more. “Drink your soup and get that software installed. I guess you will be travelling to Greece for the first time,” he mutters and hangs up, which is his way of saying, you can go . His abrupt hanging up doesn’t bother me. I know the murder is on his mind now, and he will get to the bottom of it by any means possible.

On my table sits a letter, and just as I open it, Leo walks back inside with the head of security in tow.

It’s leaked. His family has found out your name and mine. They are after me, and I’m trying to reach you. Help me, Venezia.

Help me.

Please.

“Ms Venezia?”

“Hm?” I look up at Leo, his white hair slicked back and his butler uniform neat, as it always is.

The head of security, Aiden, stands next to him. He’s a tall man in his mid-thirties with neat facial hair. He wears blacked-out clothes, not a suit but black cargos, boots, shirt, and a gun strapped to his hip with an earpiece. Only guards who are visible to the public wear suits.

“Aiden.” I nod at him, my eyes feeling droopy once more.

A flash of me piercing Samuel with the knife flashes once more, and it hits me right in the heart.

Hurry up, Venezia.

Don’t cry.

Everything will be fine.

I blink to get rid of the memories. It’s been four years. Four long, long years.

“Ms Venezia.” Aiden nods at me.

“Both of your letters got delivered at the same time at eight in the morning. Their return address is a PO box and has been traced back to a small suburban part of the city, often known for its high crime rates and murder. Drug issues are at an all-time high there,” Aiden recites.

It seems I will be taking a trip to this part of the city someday soon.

“Get the address of the owner of the PO box. We will be going there. Get a couple of guards on duty and be on high alert in the next couple of days.”