Chapter 4

By six o'clock, the Valenti estate was glowing with lights.

Black cars lined the driveway, and men whose names usually appeared only in Father's guarded conversations were being welcomed into the ballroom.

I stood in front of my mirror, fastening the silver bracelet Isabella had sent me. My suitcase remained under the bed, packed except for the dress I was wearing.

For three years, I'd waited for this evening. Father had promised to introduce me properly to the relatives and allied Families who still knew me only as the daughter who'd disappeared.

I had chosen a simple blue dress. Not because mother recommended it—she hadn't asked what I planned to wear—but because I liked it.

When I reached the ballroom, Mrs. Doyle gave me a small smile.

"You look lovely, Miss Paige."

"Thank you. Has everyone arrived?"

"Nearly everyone. Don Valenti will make his announcement after dinner."

I found father speaking with two visiting Dons. He glanced at me, then at his watch.

"Good. You're ready. Stay nearby so we don't waste time looking for you."

"Where's everyone else?"

"Your mother is helping Sienna get dressed. Your brothers are around."

I nodded and stepped aside. Guests approached to offer congratulations. Some had met me during the past three years; others asked polite questions about the orphanage and how I'd found my way back to New York.

I answered them honestly. I was beginning to relax when Nolan hurried into the ballroom and leaned toward Father.

I couldn't hear his first words, but Father's expression changed.

"What do you mean, she's gone?"

Nolan glanced at me before speaking more quietly. "Sienna left a note. She says she can't bear to watch everyone celebrate Paige while she's being pushed out of her own home."

My stomach sank.

Yesterday, she'd said the same thing about changing bedrooms. Today, someone had apparently convinced her that welcoming me meant rejecting her.

Father pulled out his phone. "Have security check the cameras."

"Adrian's already doing that. Mom's terrified. Sienna isn't answering her calls."

I went over to them. "What's happened?"

"Sienna's missing," Nolan said. "Happy now?"

"Why would I be happy?"

He ignored the question and hurried away.

Within minutes, Mother appeared, pale and shaking. Julian followed her, scrolling through messages on his phone.

"She said she was going somewhere we wouldn't have to worry about her anymore," Mother told Father. "Vincent, we have to find her."

"Of course we do."

I looked toward the ballroom, where guests were settling into their seats.

"Can Julian and the security team search for her while the party continues?"

Mother stared at me. "Your sister might be in danger."

"I know. That's why I said they should search for her."

"How can you think about a party at a time like this?"

"Because you promised we'd have it. I didn't say not to look for Sienna."

Father cut in. "This isn't the time, Paige."

A guard approached and murmured something into Adrian's ear. Adrian showed Father a message on his phone.

"Sienna's at her friend's apartment," Adrian said. "The driver confirmed she arrived safely an hour ago."

Relief washed over Mother's face. I felt it too.

"Then she's safe," I said. "We can call her after dinner."

But Mother was already reaching for her coat.

"She must be devastated. I'm going to her."

"Camille," Father said, "we have guests."

"Then explain it to them. I won't leave our daughter alone when she's suffering."

Adrian took the keys from a guard. Nolan followed, and Julian said he'd come in case Sienna needed medical attention.

I watched all four of them head toward the exit.

"Mom," I called.

She stopped.

"Yesterday you said Sienna needed time to adjust to a different bedroom. Today she's safe at her friend's apartment. What emergency requires all of you to leave?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't believe you're keeping score while your sister is hurting."

"I'm remembering what you promised me."

Mother looked away and continued walking.

Father stood motionless for several seconds. Then he beckoned his consigliere.

"Apologize to the guests. Tell them a family matter has come up. We'll reschedule."

My chest tightened.

"Reschedule?"

"Your mother needs me."

"Is Sienna injured?"

"No."

"Is she missing?"

"Not anymore."

"Then why can't you stay?"

Father's face hardened. "Because this Family doesn't abandon its own. I would have thought you'd understand that by now."

I looked past him at the decorated tables, at the flowers and place cards, at the people who had come to welcome me home.

"Does that rule apply to me?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he straightened his jacket and walked out.

I took out my phone and sent a message.

Then I went upstairs, changed my clothes, and pulled my suitcase from beneath the bed.

I left the pearl necklace on the dresser. The photograph from the orphanage and Isabella's bracelet were already packed. I took one last look around the guest room and closed the door.

At the foot of the staircase, Mrs. Doyle saw my suitcase.

"Miss Paige? Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes. Please tell Father I'm leaving."

She looked worried but didn't try to stop me.

I'd almost reached the front door when the sound of cars filled the driveway. Mother and my brothers entered with Sienna between them. Father followed close behind.

Sienna's cheeks were pink. She wasn't crying anymore.

Nolan spotted my suitcase first.

"Are you serious? You're leaving because we went to check on Sienna?"

"Yes," I said.

Mother rushed toward me. "Paige, put that down. We can talk."

"We've talked for three years."

Adrian stepped into the doorway. "You're embarrassing yourself. What do you expect to accomplish by running away?"

"I'm not asking you to do anything."

Father's voice rose behind them.

"Paige Valenti, if you walk out of this house, don't expect us to come begging you to return!"

"Okay."

My answer seemed to anger him even more.

"You spent eighteen years searching for this Family! Now you're throwing us away over a party and a bedroom? Where will you go? Without the Valenti name, you're just an orphan with nowhere to belong!"

I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle.

Before I could open the door, a bright, delighted voice rang out from the driveway.

"Paige, sweetheart! I'm here to take you home!"