“And why would I, little flower?”His voice is emotionless and cold, sending shivers of fear down my spine.
“If you let her go, I…I will be willing to negotiate…your offer.”
“Is that so?”
I swallow, my throat feeling dry.I nod.
He nods to his man, who takes Erin’s arm again.This time she doesn’t fight, sensing that things are maybe not looking so good for us.
“Go, Erin.Send me a text when you are safely home, okay?”
“Will you be okay, Lily?”she asks and I can only nod, afraid that my voice will betray me.
I watch as the man guides her out of the room, then suddenly I am alone with him, the Devil.I slowly turn around to face him.His face is closed off, his eyes are cold, dark voids, and I am suddenly aware that I am standing in front ofIl Demonio, the one whose name is whispered in fear and awe.I gulp.
“A-about that offer.”My voice cracks.“I am ready to consider it if…if you promise not to harm my family and friends.”
“The offer?”His eyes have a calculating glint that sends dread down the pit of my stomach.I am going to be sick.
“You…you know, about becoming your wife.”
He chuckles darkly.“Sweetheart, that offer was made before you ran from me.It has unfortunately…expired.”
Huh?Confusion wars with relief as I ramble on.
“What?I mean…that’s great news, isn’t it?We can simply part ways and pretend we never met each other.I will leave you to it and wish you good luck, bye!”
I turn around as fast as I can and bolt to the door.I manage to open it a crack before it slams shut again and his body cages me in from behind.His hot breath tickles my ear when he murmurs in a dark, raspy voice, “This is where you are mistaken, sweetheart.You are still mine—not as my wife, but as my whore.”
I let out a shocked gasp when a needle pricks my neck, then I spiral into darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
Lily
I blink, slowly trying to regain consciousness.
My body feels heavy, my mind is hazy and thirst is killing me.
I should have hydrated more while drinking at the club.
Suddenly the memories come rushing back and I sit up, not caring that my head is spinning.I am on a bed in a dim room lit by a pair of bedside lamps.I can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows that it is still night outside.How much time has passed and where am I?
I drag myself out of the bed, relieved that I still have Erin’s red dress on even though her shoes and the wig are gone.I pad to windows and let out a dismayed gasp.
I know this skyline!I am back in Boston.
I turn to look at the room.A huge bed flanked by two bedside tables takes up one wall.The other wall is taken up by the glass windows overlooking the city skyline.Opposite the bed is a door.It is ajar, giving a glimpse of a walk-in closet with an en suite bathroom complete with a shower stall and a huge bathtub.I walk to the sink and splash some water on my face to clear my head.When I go back to the bedroom, I notice a water bottle on the bedside table and gingerly approach.It is still sealed, still chilled, and I eagerly open it to gulp the cool water directly from the bottle.
Now it is time to find an escape route.I silently tread to the last door and try the handle.It is unlocked, so I slowly push it open, trying to be as quiet as possible.My heart hammers wildly in my chest.The whole place is dark and silent.I tiptoe down a hallway out of the sleeping quarters and emerge in a unlit living room, lit only by the city lights outside.I can hardly make out the furniture as I continue toward what I hope is the main entrance.
Suddenly the hairs on my back rise and I know that someone—something?—is in the room with me.
I turn around and squawk in shock.There is a human silhouette sitting on a chair in front of the windows, facing me, his black form backlit by the city lights.
The room is too dim to recognize his features but I know exactly who it is.Damiano.His arm is hanging loosely over the arm of the chair, his hand holding a glass with amber liquid refracting the faint light coming in through the windows.He is silent and immobile, like a predator assessing its prey.
I feel his gaze on me, burning and sinister.I am frozen to the spot for what seems like an eternity.Then he chuckles darkly and stands, puts his glass on the coffee table, and this is all I need to snap out of my frozen state.
