Chapter 40

• Without looking back at Nelly, Talia cleared her throat then cheerfully said, “See you later Nelly.” She hurried away, crossing the street without even looking. She wanted to duck and hide at that point. She really disliked it when people were in her business, as minute as it may be, especially people she didn’t know so well.
• Then why didn’t you just say no? Or play dumb? She harrumphed as she raised her right hip to the door so that the keycard in her front pocket could scan her in. Was the phone tree already activated in the building? All asking where the Ferrari had suddenly come from and in whose apartment the owner had passed the night? Had nosey Mrs. King already knocked on her door, ready to spy inside? Talia stomped her way to the elevator, grumped for the few minutes it took to her floor and stomped her way off and to her door. She placed the bags down then searched through them for her wallet, phone and keys. She’d dropped her phone in the moment they’d handed the bags to her in the store. A handy excuse to not answer if or when he called looking for her. She pulled her key out and stuck it into the lock. She pushed the door wide open, then grabbed the bags and stepped into her apartment. For a moment forgetting she’d been avoiding coming back to this place, she kicked the door closed, took five steps in the kitchen’s direction and froze. DeLuca was awake.
• “Where have you been?” he asked, seated at her four chaired round dining table in nothing but her wrap around his waist, his back to her.