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I take the phone from Benito. “What?”
“It’s Dominic. Sorry to trouble you, boss,” whispers a male voice, “But your house guest is going nuts. She’s wandering the halls half naked and wet.”
The image flashing through my mind sears my veins with fiery rage. It’s bad enough that some of the men saw Emberly before she covered her body with the sheets, and now she’s giving them another show.
I take a deep breath and stride through the hallway and up the stairs. “What has she done now? Put her on the phone.”
By the time I exit through the storage unit and enter the courtyard, all the scientists are gone, along with many of the cars.
“Roman?” Emberly’s voice echoes through the speaker.
“It’s me.”
“Am I a prisoner?”
“Of course not,” I lie, my voice smooth. “What’s wrong? The last time we spoke, you were content.”
“It’s the clothes. Everything you bought costs more than what you’d pay for the portrait.”
“So?”
“Then I’d be in your debt.”
I run my fingers through my hair and swallow back a groan of frustration. Why can’t this woman be like the rest of them? Easy to please and quick to forget.
“Emberly,” I say with a sigh. “Those items were a gift to make up for this morning’s misunderstanding.”
“Oh.” She falls silent for several heartbeats, making me wonder how else she plans to bust my balls. “How soon will I get my new ID? Will it be counterfeit?”
My jaw clenches. “My guy isn’t a forger. He’s already reaching out to people at the Department of State and the DMV. These things take time.”
“Alright, but how long?”
I chuckle, the sound bitter. “Don’t forget, you need to paint me that portrait first.”
She hesitates. “When will you sit for it?”
“If I say tomorrow, will you go back to your room and put on some clothes?”
Her response is rapid breathing. I glare up at the sky, wondering if it would be easier to force her to sign over our assets at gunpoint before putting a bullet through her head. Coercion might be worth the risk because Emberly Kay refuses to be a normal hostage.
“Can someone take me to my studio?” she asks, her voice still breathy. “I need to pick up?—”
“I will provide you with everything you need.” When she makes a strangled sound, I realize my mistake and wince. “Do you still think you’re a prisoner?”
She swallows before saying, “Yes.”
“Ask yourself why I would want to keep you against your will.” I pause to give her time to think. “Are you rich and famous?”
“No.”
“Are you connected to a powerful family that can pay your ransom?” I ask, already knowing about her impoverished upbringing.
Emberly’s mother escaped Capello while she was pregnant, leaving her daughter ignorant of her true identity. No matter how much he tried, the woman eluded his attempts to track down his only daughter. With every Capello bastard dead except Emberly, she has no idea she’s the wealthiest woman in New Alderney.
“Of course not,” she whispers. “But why are you helping me?”
“You came to me, remember?” I reply with a soft chuckle. “For as long as I live, I won’t forget the way you ambushed me with that kiss. Then when I found out why you did it, I wanted to protect you from that crooked cop.”
