BRIDE OF DECEPTION

CH 6: FINDING CLAIRE 2

Annie's POV

Despite getting the key, I turned around again, down to Rossi's gate.

I stood at the entrance with sweaty palms as I prepared to slip into Claire's skin even deeper. I had done this dance with Tobin before, but this situation felt entirely different and far more dangerous.

The man standing before me was a complete stranger, and I cursed myself for not doing proper research on the Rossi family beforehand.

“What are you still doing here!?” He asked me.

Then again, Claire probably didn't bother with that kind of preparation either. Claire never cared about details or consequences, which was exactly what I was counting on now. I decided to take the risk and see where it led.

"I had to see you again, Mister..." I let my voice trail off, hoping he would fill in the blank and give me the name I desperately needed.

The man's eyes narrowed into a cold glare. He said nothing for what felt like an eternity, and I began to wonder if I had already blown my cover. I forced myself to remain perfectly still, fighting every instinct that told me to run.

"You have forgotten my name already?" His voice was sharp with anger, more of a statement than a question. "This is the fourth time! Why do I even bother helping you after we had s*x every day up till yesterday! And then I called you throughout the day thinking you'd be in Spain, but no, you're here!"

I glared at him as I processed what he had just revealed. Claire had left here yesterday, which meant she was either already in Spain or still traveling there. But which city? Spain was a big country, and I needed more specific information.

I needed to tell Tobin more.

I placed my fingers against my temple and began rubbing slowly, buying myself time while appearing distressed. "I'm sorry, I've had such a terrible headache. Could you remind me of your name again?"

"Anthony Rossi," he replied, his tone still cold but slightly less hostile.

I nodded gently, filing the name away while I churned at his earlier revelation. Claire had been sleeping with this man regularly, and now he expected the same from me. There was no way I was going down that road, regardless of how important this mission was.

Anthony stepped closer, jarring me from my thoughts. "Give me my keys. You need to go back to Spain right now. You can't keep showing up here like this."

I shook my head firmly. "I can't leave. I missed you too much."

"Are you trying to ruin my home?" Anthony's voice rose to a shout. "Have you forgotten that I'm married?"

The words hit me like a physical blow. Not only was Claire sleeping with this man, but she was also destroying a marriage in the process. I had known Claire was selfish, but this level of callousness still managed to surprise me.

I could see the frustration building in Anthony's face, but I refused to back down. I needed more information before I could leave, and I wasn't going anywhere until I got it.

Anthony reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, thrusting it toward me. "Don’t go to the lakehouse any longer.” He placed a key into my hand. “This is for a suite at Kent Station. Wait for me there, and we'll figure this out later."

I took the key without hesitation.

***

The suite at Kent Station turned out to be modest but clean. I let myself in and immediately began searching for any clues Claire might have left behind. I checked every drawer, every surface, even behind the bathroom mirror, but found nothing useful.

Finally, I sat down on the bed and pulled out my phone. It was time to do the research I should have done before walking into this mess. I searched for information about the Rossi family and quickly found Anthony's profile. The man I had just met was indeed Anthony Rossi, married with two young children.

I spent the next hour memorizing the names and faces of his family members, particularly his wife Maria and their kids. I couldn't understand how Claire could be so heartless, carrying on an affair with a man who had a family to protect.

The sound of a key in the lock made me look up. Anthony walked in, his expression still tense but slightly softer than before.

"Do you still remember my name now?" he asked.

"Anthony," I replied simply.

He moved closer to where I sat on the edge of the bed. "Good. Now we need to talk about what happens next."

I tried to steer the conversation toward Claire's whereabouts, but Anthony seemed to have other priorities. He kept trying to touch me, to pick up where he and Claire had apparently left off the day before.

I backed away toward the small table near the window, hoping to create some distance between us. Anthony followed, clearly not picking up on my reluctance.

"I really think we should talk first," I said, but Anthony was already leaning in, his lips moving toward my neck.

His phone buzzed at that exact moment, and both of us glanced at the screen. My heart stopped when I saw the name displayed there…

Claire.

Anthony quickly answered the call, stepping back from me. "Why are you calling me?" he demanded into the phone.

There was a pause as he listened to the voice on the other end. I watched his face change, and saw the moment when understanding dawned in his eyes.

"You're not Claire," he said slowly, his gaze snapping back to me.

The phone clattered to the floor as Anthony lunged toward me. I grabbed the glass vase from the table and swung it as hard as I could, connecting with the side of his head. The vase shattered, but Anthony barely seemed to notice. If anything, the impact only made him angrier.

His hands closed around my throat, and I realized I had made a terrible miscalculation. I had walked into a trap of my own making, and now I was going to pay for it with my life.

"You're Annie, aren't you? Tobin’s wife." Anthony snarled, his grip tightening. "What do you want with Claire?"

I clawed at his hands, trying to pry his fingers away from my windpipe, but he was much stronger than I was. Black spots began to dance at the edges of my vision as my oxygen supply dwindled.

I had to think fast. My phone was in my pocket, but I couldn't reach it with Anthony's hands around my throat. The broken pieces of the vase were scattered on the floor around us, but I couldn't bend down to grab one without losing what little leverage I had.

"Please," I managed to gasp out. "I can explain."

"Then start explaining!" Anthony's roared and I felt my life slipping away with every hard grip.