“What is there to talk about, Gianni?”
“Well. . .a lot, but let’s get some sleep for now, my queen.”
That made me nervous, but I knew that I would stand strong and not back down. And if he was going to possibly battle me on this, it would be better if I had all my rest and a clear mind.
While a shiver of unease did creep over me, still I slowly drifted to sleep.
Chapter twenty
Furs and Memories
The next morning, it was a windy fall day in Obsidian Bay. This merciless, biting wind swirled through the streets with an intensity that cut through my new designer black dress.
Next to me, Gianni wore a black buttoned shirt, and pants complete with this belt that had a skull on the buckle. He could have been mistaken for some corporate CEO if not for that menacing skull, telling everyone that he was in fact a harbinger of death.
A devil to all.
Yet so far. . .an angel to me.
Tenderly, Gianni held my hand as he guided us down the broad, cobblestone avenue toward his sleek black Porsche.
The chauffer waited for us with the door open.
Damn. It’s freezing.
Chill seeped through my thin jacket.
I shivered with each step.
Gianni looked at me. “Are you cold?”
“Yes, but we’re almost at the car.”
Gianni slowed our pace. “No. That won’t do.”
I looked up. “What won’t do?”
He scanned the area and then had us go to the right, completely out of the direction of his car.
“Gianni, where are we going?”
“You’re cold.”
“Which is why we should get to the car.”
“Not yet. Hmmm. Where is it?” He checked out all the stores on the block we’d just rounded and then pointed. “Here it is.”
I looked in that direction. “Oh.”
A boutique stood in front of us with large windows displaying mannequins draped in luxurious fur coats and hats.
He took us that way and soon we were inside.
Thankfully, the boutique was warm and cozy, with an old-world charm to it. Plush carpet underfoot swallowed any sound our feet might have made. The air smelled richly of leather and expensive perfume.
Glittering chandeliers overhead dripped with crystal droplets.
Once we made it five steps inside, a saleswoman approached us.
