Free Undone by Lila DiPasqua Page A

great trepidation.
    “Yes, I’m…ha-happy.” She offered him a miserable smile.
    “ Dieu .” A dark-haired man walked up behind Simon. “ She doesn’t look happy, ” he murmured in French. Then to Gabriella he said in Italian, “Gabriella, your friend is correct. There’s no need for tears. We discussed her recovery yesterday, during our walk in the gardens, remember?” Clearly, this was the man Domenico, whom Gabriella had talked about.
    At the mention of the walk in the gardens, Gabriella was back to sobbing into her hands. More men began exiting the dining hall, making the corridor feel smaller. They circled like predators. Angelica felt as though she and Gabriella were the prey.
    Her smile still frozen on her face, Angelica slid a protective arm around Gabriella’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. We seem to have disturbed you. We’ll return to our chambers now.”
    She turned and escorted Gabriella down the hall, praying they couldn’t hear her heart thundering.
    “Angelica?” She tensed at the sound of her name, every muscle in her body poised for flight. It was Simon.
    Leader of sea-bandits.
    Hearing her name from him this time didn’t have the same tantalizing effect. Swallowing down her terror, she turned to face him. He strode past her and opened the door to the library. “Please, come in.”
    Angelica lowered her arm and exchanged looks with Gabriella. Her friend’s eyes were big and full of fear. Filled with her own dread, Angelica clasped her friend’s hand and led her into the room.
    Simon and Domenico entered after them.
    Simon stopped before her. His size and muscled form had never been more intimidating. She desperately hoped he couldn’t read in her eyes the horror she felt inside.
    “I don’t believe you’ve met Domenico Dragani. He is a commander of one of my ships,” he said.
    She exchanged polite greetings with the man; all the while, her mind raced. How were they going to get out of here?
    “Are you certain nothing is amiss?” Simon asked.
    How could his concern appear so sincere? How could he be so proficient at duplicity? Because he is a criminal.
    She looked away briefly, needing to break the connection with his gaze, when she noticed a small, blank parchment on the desk.
    An idea came to her.
    “Actually”—she glanced at both men—“there is something amiss. Gabriella isn’t feeling well.”
    Gabriella gasped. Angelica squeezed her hand to silence her.
    “She isn’t?” Domenico stepped forward, studying Gabriella closely.
    Gabriella looked down at her feet, unable to meet his eyes.
    “Yes,” Angelica answered for her. “It seems she’s been having stomach pains. They come and go.” She squeezed her hand harder. Gabriella’s attention shot back up to her. Upon making eye contact with her friend, Angelica said, “When the pain hits, it’s quite terrible. Even worse than the time she was to go to the village with Madre Paola.”
    Thankfully, comprehension dawned on Gabriella’s face. Clearly, her dear friend remembered the time she’d fabricated a stomach ailment to avoid spending the day with Madre Paola. Unfortunately, afterward, she’d been forced to down considerable amounts of nutmeg oil to combat her “malady.”
    Gabriella looked unsure for a moment, and Angelica was afraid she might be too frightened to go through with the ruse.
    “I-I think the pain is returning…” Gabriella said.
    Relieved, Angelica watched her friend begin an impromptu performance, clutching at her stomach with a moan. Then a moan louder still.
    “You should sit down,” Angelica ordered and grabbed the parchment off the desk.
    By the time she returned to her side, Gabriella was not only sitting but doubled over and moaning repeatedly.
    “Gabriella… What the devil…?” Domenico dropped to one knee beside her.
    Angelica fanned her with the parchment. Gabriella continued to moan as if in dire pain.
    Angelica forced herself to meet Simon’s gaze. “She needs a physician.