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Fuck.
Seeing his skin lather with sweat, his breath exhale mist, I picture him doing things other than painting a car. How about, fuck me inside the car. How about, chase me. I slam a figurative door on that image.
I shake my head free of the sickness. Is this how it began for Anabel?
Heat grows in my belly, not from arousal, but from annoyance. At myself. “I’m going for a walk,” I demand.
He freezes mid-motion.
“Oh, don’t get turned on. I won’t be going far enough that you’ll have to chase me.” I imagine a smile on his face. When he picks up where he left off – back to me – I take it as an okay.
I mean, I’m already out, right? Might as well enjoy the fresh air so I don’t start to feel cooped up in the basement.
A close inspection of the house side panels really shows what a piece of crap it is. Leandro did a good job in making the visible half of the palace unassuming. It’s like an iceberg. Small on top with a giant bottom. No one would ever, in a million years, think there’s a mansion hiding beneath. How’d he even build the damn thing? Did he hire a bunch of workers and then just toss them into the foundation when he was done?
I shiver, and it’s not from the cold.
The recurring knot in my stomach starts to form as I start to deviate farther from my prison. Across the dirt road is just endless bare trees for miles. It’s beautiful, in a haunting sort of way. But the cold temperature bites. It’s my body telling me that every step away is one without the warmth of those heated tiles under my feet. But I trek on anyway, thinking of those mobsters trying to stalk Leandro, of whether or not Arnold was a figment of my imagination.
I’m not crazy like Leandro. I really saw him. Twice.
I bite my lip, remembering the eyes Arnold gave me now and again. It’s possible he liked me, I guess. He did spend a lot of time with me while Joey wasn’t around. There was a moment…
Snap.
A twig slices my ankle and I curse, wishing I wore boots instead of sneakers.
The cloudy light begins to fade overhead. We were out all day – me and Leandro. It felt like ten minutes. Is that what chemistry is? I laugh to myself. I wouldn’t know.
Twenty minutes later, I can hardly feel my toes because of the cold and the house is a little dot in the other direction. I guess it’s time to start heading back before the wolf decides to hunt me. I sigh, and take in the scenery one more time before I’m stuffed back in with the girls.
Tall spindly trees, snow patches littered throughout bare branches, and my frosty breath. Life can be beautiful, and quiet, at times.
“What the?” I squeeze my eyes shut when a bright light makes me turn away. I open them to that light coming back in my face again. A reflection.
I trace it to a faraway tree, and I think my eyes are playing tricks on me when I see a part of that trench coat peeking out.
Oh shit. It’s Arnold.
I glance over my shoulder to make sure there’s no sign of Leandro. No way he’s done with his car yet. There’re butterflies shooting all over my belly. Freedom. So soon?
Then my nerves tighten.
Leandro is more dangerous than Arnold, hands down. He’s not bound by laws made by men. He goes by a different code. Still, my legs carry me toward curiosity.
It can’t be.
I’m sprinting forward now, squinting the whole way. But Arnold doesn’t come out of his hiding spot. He’s careful. Or, it’s nothing and I’m crazy.
My heartbeat is pulsing in my throat, through my temples. I feel one of Leandro’s guns pointed at the back of my head. I’m making a mistake running right now. He wants me to run. He probably hired a guy that looks like Arnold just so I’d chase him.
Stop, Alessia. You’re acting—
I gasp when Arnold peeks out of his spot and beckons me.
It’s him. Balding head, mustache, burgundy aviators.
I run to him like he’s a superhero coming to save me, and nearly crash into him.
