Allies

The door to our hotel room clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against it, struggling to catch my breath. 

My pulse thundered in my ears as I tried to make sense of everything. 

Adrian Santoro owns this hotel and he wants me to go to dinner with him.

The revelation was a dagger in my chest, twisting and sinking deeper with every thought.

"Maria?" Rosa's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. 

I looked up to see her sitting cross-legged on the bed, a glossy magazine spread open in her lap. 

Her brows knit together in concern as she studied my face. 

"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." 

I pushed myself off the door, rubbing a hand over my face. 

"You won't believe what just happened." 

Rosa put the magazine aside, her full attention now on me. 

"Try me." 

I walked over and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. 

"I ran into Adrian Santoro." 

Rosa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.