Oxblood by AnnaLisa Grant Read Free Book Online

even bigger piece of shit than yours!” Tiffany laughed as she entered my bedroom.
    â€œThank you. Okay. I think I have everything. Oh my God! I can’t believe I almost forgot the two most important things!” Back in the closet, I pulled the safe down again and retrieved the debit card attached to the airline settlement money. Then I grabbed the journal and shoved it in my purse on top of my tablet. “I’m going to need these.”
    There was no time to deal with my cell phone company and get international service, so Tiffany would have to rely on email. Plus, I left her the hotel address and phone number in Bologna on the fridge if she needed to reach me. I’d email her again when I moved on to the next hotel. Tiffany’s lead foot got us to the airport in record time. She wanted to come in with me to make sure I got on the flight I wanted, but I made her go.
    â€œHow are you going to get from Rome to Bologna? Are they even close to each other?” Tiffany asked as we pulled my suitcase from the trunk. Bus fumes made my eyes water, and the loud roar of their engines made it difficult for us to hear each other.
    â€œI have no idea, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out when I get there,” I shouted.
    â€œBe safe,” she said with her eyes locked on mine. “And don’t forget your self-defense moves, okay?”
    We’d spent hours watching YouTube self-defense videos and practicing the poses—the hope being that we’d never actually have to use them. “I’m going to be fine!” We hugged at the curb, and I rolled my suitcase into the airport. It was surprisingly empty, so I weaved my way through the tape like a lonely rat in a maze and approached the counter.
    â€œI need a ticket to Rome, please,” I said, not believing those were actual words leaving my mouth. “I think there’s one that leaves at two fifty-five?”
    â€œOne moment. Let me see what I have available.” She typed away on her keyboard, looking for a seat while I crossed my fingers and toes. “I’m afraid the only seat I have is in first class. Would you like that?”
    Holy hell. First class? I knew I was going to be spending a lot of money on this, but I hadn’t planned on being a Rockefeller. “How much is that ticket?” I cringed.
    â€œI’m afraid a same-day ticket for this flight in first class is ten thousand, two hundred and fifty one dollars,” she answered politely.
    My heart may have stopped for just a moment before I answered. “What? There wouldn’t happen to be another flight out at the same time with a different airline that wasn’t quite so much, would there?”
    â€œYou’re welcome to check with the other airlines, but I’m afraid unless we’re rescheduling a passenger who already has a ticket, I don’t have access to that information.” She smiled sweetly.
    I didn’t have time to walk the ticket counters and compare prices. I would have to take the flight she offered. I shook my head at the ridiculousness of my being disappointed that I was flying first class to Italy. Anyone else would be thrilled.
    â€œI’ll take the ticket.” I handed her my passport. Before I knew it, she was christening my debit card with an ungodly amount of money. This trip was already killing me, and I hadn’t even left Florida yet.
    â€œDo you have a return date?”
    â€œUm, can the ticket be open ended?” I asked. I hadn’t thought about how long I was willing to traipse all over Italy in search of my possibly missing brother.
    â€œI’m sorry, I can’t do an open-ended international ticket. But you can change the date of your return if you need to. There’s a two-hundred-dollar fee, but it would give you some more flexibility,” she suggested.
    â€œAll right then, how about two weeks from today? I can extend it if I need to anytime?”
    â€œYes,