Chapter 53 The Failed Escape

• Lily’s heart pounded as she moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridor. The house was quiet; most of Dimitry’s men were either out handling business or too deep into their vodka to care about much else. She had spent days studying the mansion’s layout, befriending the maid, and watching the guards’ shifts. And tonight was the night.
• She tightened the shawl around her shoulders, disguising herself as one of the house staff. Her palms were slick with sweat as she reached the back entrance—a heavy wooden door that led to the courtyard. If she could make it past the courtyard, she could reach the side gate, where she had already tampered with the latch earlier in the day. Once she was out, she could disappear into the city, find her way back to Giovanni—if he even wanted her back.
• But just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, a voice shattered her hope.