There's a hint of irritation to his tone and his steps sound on the staircase. I'm playing with fire and in a few seconds I'll discover if I've made another mistake.
My ass still smarts from the spanking he delivered and—terrifyingly—I know he was holding back. It was a taste of what punishment is like, designed to linger in my memory as a warning that any more inappropriate behavior will lead to a more severe one.
The door opens without a knock and Enzo walks in. He's still immaculately dressed in his fitted jeans and V-neck tee. His jet-black hair falls perfectly and his deep brown eyes fix on mine, holding me in place with the sheer intensity of his stare.
“I expect you to come when I call, Adriana. You won't make this mistake again.”
I nod and wait.
Enzo crosses his arms and I know this sign. He's annoyed and waiting for me to do something, usually something that involves correcting a mistake.
“I'll try harder?”
My voice is laced with the uncertainty of not knowing what he wants. His lips curl into a smirk and he shakes his head, amused by my mistake.
“A simple 'yes or no, Sir' will suffice, baby girl. Or Daddy.” He steps closer and towers over me. “I prefer Daddy.”
I nod, and he cups my face with his hand.
“Good girl. I wanted to check how you were doing?” Enzo's eyes narrow for a second and it's another warning signal I'm learning to read. “Today was hard for you and we have a guest coming over for dinner.”
I nod again and he sits down next to me.
“Well?”
I sigh and look around my room again, reminded how little of anything I have left.
“I don't know what you want, Enzo.”
He arches an eyebrow.
“I don't want to make this worse.”
Enzo slides an arm around my back and pulls me into him. “I cannot make things more tolerable if you do not tell me what has upset you.”
It's hardly a resounding declaration of concern, but something in his tone of voice is different. Something softer. Something less unreasonable. Something almost empathetic.
“I hated you throwing my things away. I hate you for it. For taking my things and throwing them out like they're meaningless.”
He nods and stays silent, and the pressure to finish my thought is more than I can endure.
“Like I'm meaningless.”
“I see.” He squeezes me tight. “Adriana, you can have anything you want, within reason. Anything. As many clothes and jewels and ornaments as your little heart desires. But I won't let you have things that are beneath you. You deserve better. And you are not meaningless.”
He plays with my hair, and it isn't unpleasant.
“As it happens, I have a couple of gifts for you. To wear tonight.”
I should have known his visit wasn't out of concern. Enzo has an agenda, and it isn't to check on my emotional wellbeing. He wants something and his ask is clear: wear whatever it is he's bought tonight or suffer the consequences of disobedience.
“We need to talk about tonight, baby. We have a guest and while I don't expect full formal protocol, some things cannot be skipped. I'll let the bowing and grovelling go, but I do expect good manners and you to dress properly.”
I pull away and he lets me go, watching me as I curl up on the little armchair under the window.
“Byron is a demon. He's bound to me and can't disobey me, but he isn't entirely safe for you to be around. He knows I've only just started teaching you, but it would be best if he were to leave with the impression you were obedient. Completely obedient. He'll forgive almost all your mistakes without the need for a severe beating that way.”
I close my eyes as the horror of tonight begins to become clear.
