Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Deal With The Devil: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

SiennaI don't run into Giovanni on the way back upstairs and don't see him anywhere in the house. Declan lends me a jacket which is about five sizes too big. When I slip my arms into it, I realize it's his from the scent of aftershave clinging to it. I find myself glancing back to be sure Giovanni isn't coming around a corner because if he was angry about me talking to Declan yesterday, he'll flip when he sees me wearing his jacket.We climb into Declan's older model Range Rover and head into town."This bridge scares me," I say as we cross it.Declan smiles wide, glancing over at me. I see two dimples beneath the scruff along his sharp jaw. His dark hair is messy, and he looks like he hasn't shaved in two days. He's wearing a Barbour jacket that looks well broken in and all I can think is how opposite he looks to Giovanni right now. How this is the side of himself that Giovanni hides beneath his expensive suits."Bridge is fine. It'll be here long after we're gone. Don't fret, Sienn

Giovanni"Why did you bring me here?" she asks when we're in the car. "I thought you needed me, but you just seem really pissed off with me every time you see me.""I'm not pissed off with you. Being back here is harder than I thought it would be. That's all.""Then let me help you."I turn to her. "Stay away from my brother. That'll help me.""You're wrong about him. He's really just being nice.""What did he tell you about me?"She looks straight ahead as we drive. "He told me about your parents and Ann."I snort. "What did he say? Paint her to be a saint?""No, actually, he didn't. He told me about the affair and finding out he was your brother by blood. And he told me how much influence his mother had over your father. He gave the impression she was unfaithful, and you tried to protect your father and that it backfired."I'm silent for a moment because it's the truth. And I guess I didn't expect Declan to tell the truth. Or maybe that his version would be different than mine.That

SiennaThere's so much stuff in the drawer that I have to tug it to get it out and when I do, something slips out and falls to the floor.I look down and it takes me a moment to process what it is.An American passport.I pick it up, open it and see the photo of me taken hastily in one of those booths at the mall. I remember Giovanni hadn't given it back to me after our flight. I open the folder wondering if his is in there too. Maybe for safe keeping? Makes no sense though.But when I open the top flap to see what's underneath, the air in the room suddenly becomes thinner.My missing flash drive, I'd forgotten about it. So much has happened that the last few days feel like months.But this, what I'm looking at, it reminds me. Abruptly and absolutely, it reminds me.And it's not the flash drive.This is worse.It's what's on the drive. It's all those files printed out. The police reports. The photographs. Everything.I think I would be sick if I had any food in my stomach.I'm unprepa

SiennaI find the number of the Brewster Clinic and dial. Someone answers there. I assume they have someone on twenty-four hours a day."Hello, I'm looking for a patient, Ciara Williams.""Ms. Williams is no longer a patient here, ma'am.""You mean she was released?""I'm afraid I can't give out personal information.""Do you have contact information for her?" I ask."Ma'am that is all confidential. We take care to protect our—"I disconnect, frustrated, then remember the other messages.One more of those is disconnected right away, but the next one, it's from Deirdre and it takes her minute a speak like she doesn't realize it's time to."Hey hun, I was hoping to catch you. I have something here for you. That man from the other day was back. Honestly, he was more than a little upset when he heard you weren't here again. Left something for you. An envelope addressed strangely to L. B. W." I can almost hear her shaking her head. "Just a sec, dear." I hear her say something to someone an

SiennaMy phone keeps losing reception and I'm lost. It doesn't help that the rain's picked up again and it's cold enough that the roads are slippery.It's been ages since I've driven a stick shift and never with my left hand.The gears scream as I shift to drive up the next hill, trying to load the map on my phone again, my attention split.It happens so fast, the turn coming out of nowhere, the rain at its heaviest, the boulder on the side of the road. I look up and it's too late, I know it even as my foot instinctively slams the brakes.The tires screech, the car slips and swerves.I scream, clutching the steering wheel, realizing I'd never put on my seatbelt as the SUV collides with the boulder, the sound of metal crushing and my own screaming all I hear as something pops and my forehead collides against the windshield, the pain sharp and instant just before I lose consciousness.-------GiovanniThe car's stopped moving.She's not much farther, but I'm stuck, cursing as I wait fo