Chapter 170 Seventy two hours
Alex's POV
With Alessia gone it feels like the light has been sucked out of my world .Suddenly the safe house feels cramped.Luca gets up and pours a stiff drink and holds it swirling the contents slowly not drinking it yet . Hugh is standing by the window ,his eyes fixed on the perimeter as if he is expecting someone . Lucy and Angelica are seated on the sofa heads bent together going through the map again..
Leaning back in my chair I feel a pang in my chest. No one talks about Alessia but we all feel her absence.
She is in La Geneva
All Alone
My phone starts vibrating in my pocket and I bring it out checking the caller id.
It's Padre. I quickly answer "You are just calling now?" I say and he chuckles "I knew you had everything handled besides I have been busy."
"Doing what?"I ask
"Meeting powerful allies and like minds "
My curiosity is piqued I can't deny I stand up and head to the dining area for some privacy
"Padre,What are you up to?"
"I was able to infiltrate Miranda's private circle”
I suck in a deep breath Padre has so many tricks up his sleeve. He is one man I am glad I have in my corner .
Padre continues calmly "I had her Delayed , to buy you some time. By Delaying shipment of their raw stones,the audits she requested done on their warehouse is riddled with errors so it has to be done again .You have at least seventy hours before she will be heading back."
Alessia won't have to rush the operation now
Seventy two hours
Three days
Luca steps in at that precise moment and looks at me sharply “Seventy two ..?”I repeat just to be certain that's what I heard.
"Yes Signore After that she will be back in the coven and questions will rise. Alessia needs to be out before then.”
Clenching my jaw tightly I wonder if I should reach out to Alessia now or just wait until we are summoned .
"Three days is not that much." I mutter
"It's the best I can do considering the circumstances." Padre adds
"How were you able to achievre this ?"
Padre is silent for a moment "In life Signore Alex everything has its time, I called in all my favours."
I hear a faint static sound briefly
"Endeavour to be in and out before the time lapses ,After seventy hours you are on your own I can't assist you in getting out"
He hangs up
Luca claps my back "So we have seventy two hours to get La Rosa and slip out ?"
I nod apprehension filling me momentarily "I do not want to let her know how short the time frame we have is.” I pause exhaling deeply "Not immediately anyway"
Luca nods"Because you think the pressure could make her reveal herself "
"You get it" I mutters rolling my neck from side to side.
Luca let's out a deep breath"Alex we are going to have to move fast"
“At the speed of light if possible.” I murmur casually brushing off lint from my top for lack of anything better to do .It's either that or I run out of the safe house and head straight for La Geneva .Shaking my head my mind revolts the idea .That will be a suicide mission and it will not help her in anyway but I cant sit and do nothing .
Dammit I hate this, its Alessia for Gods sake !
I whirl around intending to head out for a walk to clear my head and Luca holds on to my arm “Alex please do not do anything rash.”
Narrowing my eyes on his hand I don't get a chance to answer him as my phone vibrates again. Freezing, I let it vibrate for a few minutes. What now? My nerves have been shot since Alessia walked into La Geneva I can't deal with anything else right now.
“Alex aren't you going to answer that?” Luca queries, pulling his hand off my arm. I don't respond. I pull out my phone again and check the screen.
It's a message from an unrecognised number .
Dios Mio, It is not Padre again
Fear snakes up my spine but I shake it off opening the message . It's just one sentence ,three words that once read my knees nearly give out and I descend to the carpet Luca's barely catching me before I hit the ground .
"Alex what is the matter ?" He asks urgently and I turn the screen to him.
"The Lemons are blooming"
I let out a deep breath I did not even know I had been holding .My shoulders relax a bit ,tension reducing slightly .
Alessia is safely inside 14c, Alive and well in Miranda's apartment. My relief is so strong I feel the urge to weep . But just as I am about to return the phone to my pocket another notification pops up. This time it's an email from an unknown address .
Another notification ?
My brow lifts in worry as I tap the link. It's surveillance from the front of Miranda's apartment . I had totally forgotten that Padre had an expert tap into it and I will get routine updates .
Did I say Padre was brilliant earlier? He thinks of every single detail before you even consider it.
My heart starts racing once more as I watch the grainy image of the long hallway in front of Apartment 14c it is carpeted in muted brown and just as I am about to close the link when!
My blood runs cold
My heart sinks
My eyes narrow and my vision blurs
My hands start to shake violently
Luca looks at my pale as death face “Alex what is it now?You will give me a heart-." I dont allow him to finish his rant pushing the phone into his face as I struggle to get back on my feet I watch him his face tightening with a scowl.
"Someone." He says stiffly "Is pacing in front of her door "