~Clara's POV~
The call from Papa had come just as I had finished my morning coffee. His voice was gruff, satisfied, the way it always got when a job went clean.
"It's done, pumpkin. The girl's been handled. She won't be a problem anymore. She's out of the city." Those had been his words.
I nearly dropped the phone. Relief flooded me, hot and sweet, chasing away the weeks of gnawing jealousy and sleepless nights. Anne Allistair was gone. Finally!!! The little nobody who'd somehow wormed her way into Riccardo's world was out of the picture. He'd see it now. He'd realize what he'd almost thrown away. He'd come back to me, where he belonged.
I had ended the call with a breathless "Thank you, Papa," my heart racing. For the first time in forever, I felt light. Happy. Like the future I'd been dreaming of was finally within reach.
