121 Chapter 40 - Giovanni (1)

My phone ringing somewhere nearby disturbs my sleep. Groaning, I glide my hand on the bed, in search of the offending device, and find it under my pillow. With one eye open, I squint at the screen, enough to see Salvatore's name. I slide the green button to answer with a groggy grunt.

"I thought you'd be back in New York by now. Did you change your mind?" Salvatore's voice is sharp in my ear which triggers a pounding headache.

"Stop shouting."

His voice lowers. "Are you hungover?"

"I feel like death."

He sighs, and I imagine him rolling his eyes at me. "Should I cancel your afternoon meeting?"

"What time is it?"

"Ten fifteen in the morning."

My eyes shoot open and I see the barely familiar room I am in. The lack of finishing and industrial furniture tells me where I am: at Gael's house in Esmea. He only stays here temporarily, hence the bareness of the place.