Chapter 3
In the morning, I returned to campus for the remaining paperwork from my research department.
Professor Harrison's recommendation for the federal weapons program had already gone through. I only needed to sign the university's final forms, and I wanted that finished before I left the city.
Three girls blocked my way inside the science building.
One had become friendly with Bianca since she'd joined the Morettis. She glanced at the folder I carried.
“So the classified weapons thing is really happening?”
“It is.”
“Even with Dante staying here?”
I didn't respond.
She looked at her friends, then gave me a little smile.
“Guess you've worked out there's not much left for you in Chicago.”
When I tried to pass, she moved into my path.
“Does Bianca know you're leaving with all your research? Couldn't you spare something for your sister?”
“She has everything I've chosen to give her.”
The girl grabbed for my documents.
“Let's see what you're keeping.”
I drew the folder back.
“Keep your hands off.”
She laughed at that.
“Touchy, aren't you?”
She bumped my shoulder. I lost my grip on the folder, and papers scattered across the hallway. She planted a shoe on one of them.
“Sorry.”
I crouched and pulled it free.
Water from the floor had soaked into Professor Harrison's letter of recommendation.
At the far end of the corridor, I saw Dante and the other three arriving with Bianca.
Dante looked at the loose papers.
“What's going on?”
Bianca reached us before I could speak.
“It's nothing. Lexi's probably just anxious about moving.”
The girl spoke quickly.
“We were asking if she could leave Bianca a few things. Bianca is the family's real daughter.”
Dante faced me.
“Don't make this a fight, Lexi.”
“They ruined my research documents.”
“You can get new copies.”
He sounded as if it hardly mattered.
I looked at him, then collected the pages still on the floor.
I left without another word.
Back at the estate, I changed my clothes and slipped the wet papers into a protective sleeve.
I was going through my departure documents when the door to my bedroom opened.
The four men came in, bringing Bianca.
Nico began.
“Her pendant's missing.”
I glanced at Bianca.
“The one with the crest?”
She nodded.
“The one you gave me.”
She touched the bare chain hanging at her throat.
“I took it off yesterday. I could have sworn I left it in my room. Now I can't find it.”
Adrian turned to me.
“You saw her at the university.”
“I haven't taken anything.”
“Nobody said you had.”
Yet my bedroom was where they'd come.
Nico started opening drawers. Julian went through the shelves. Adrian searched the cabinet by my desk, and Dante remained by the door.
I stood and watched them turn over the room I'd grown up in.
Then I saw Bianca's hand move.
She reached beneath her dress sleeve.
For a second, gold flashed between her fingers.
Passing the desk, she slipped it into the space between the furniture and the wall.
She turned back to us.
“Hold on.”
She knelt and reached behind the desk.
When she stood, the Moretti pendant hung from her hand.
Her face changed.
“Lexi...”
Her eyes went wet.
“You could have asked if you wanted it back. I'd have given it to you.”
“You just put it there. I watched you.”
She started crying.
Before I could say more, Dante moved in front of her.
“That's enough.”
“You're not even going to question her?”
“I know what Bianca's like.”
That absolute confidence hurt worse than a direct accusation.
Bianca bowed her head.
“Please leave it. I can't stand being the reason everyone fights.”
She started toward the door, then noticed the computer on my desk.
I'd taken the drive out of its envelope to finish checking the edit. It was connected again, with my local folder of original photos and recordings still open on the laptop.
Bianca studied the screen.
“Could I have those for my welcome video?”
“No.”
I shut the laptop.
“You've already got my camera.”
“I know. I thought seeing the earlier years would help me get to know you all.”
“Those files are personal.”
Julian sighed at me.
“You're going away, Lexi.”
Bianca shook her head at once.
“Never mind. I don't want her feeling I'm taking more of her things.”
Dante's face hardened.
“You haven't taken anything from her.”
He lifted the laptop screen.
I moved toward him.
“Leave my stuff alone.”
“We'll cut you out if you don't want to appear.”
“I already told you no.”
He opened the folder as if I hadn't spoken.
I tried to reach the desk. Nico grabbed my arm.
“Let him do it.”
Dante highlighted the files showing me.
Childhood birthday parties.
Summer vacations.
The graduation we'd all attended.
Years of memories I'd thought the five of us shared.
“Don't.”
“It's just old footage,” Nico said.
“It's my life.”
Dante added the last file to the selection.
He hit Delete.
The folder updated.
There was no trace of my name in the list.
He unplugged the drive and handed it to me.
“Have the rest done by tonight.”
He went out.
Bianca went with him. The other three followed.
The door clicked shut.
My phone buzzed with a message from Professor Harrison.
Pickup has been advanced. The federal car will be there in an hour.
I read it again.
An hour.
For days, I'd been asking myself whether I could walk out without a goodbye.
I wasn't asking anymore.
I opened Forever Five.
All our names remained on the screen.
Dante. Adrian. Julian. Nico. Alexandra.
I shut it down.
An hour from now, I would be gone.
They'd devoted months to convincing Bianca she belonged.
They hadn't noticed what they were teaching me about leaving.
