“As I said, Mr. Dominico isn’t here. And the Signora isn’t comfortable with your presence,” the housekeeper stated, tipping her chin up.
My steps slowed. There was no way in hell she was letting me leave mid-shift.
Hearing my approach, the housekeeper rounded on me. “Magnolia, there is dust on several of the banisters. You need to redo them.”
I opened my mouth to tell her I hadn’t done them yet, but Luigi spoke faster.
“Magnoliais coming with me. You’ll have to clean them yourself,” he said with the same imperious tone that had been used on him.
“Absolutely not,” Sanderson huffed.
“I wasn’t asking your permission,” Luigi said coolly. “Nico needs her.”
“She works here, and Mr. Dominico isn’t her boss,” the housekeeper sneered. She rounded on me and snapped her fingers. “The stairs, Magnolia. Now!”
Because the witch’s back was to him, she didn’t have time to dodge. Luigi wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hauling her back with a vicious snarl.
“I don’t like you.” His voice was ice. Cold and sharp. He reached into his pocket, producing a lighter. Flicking it open, he brought the flame close to her face.
Sanderson squealed like a stuck pig. She angled her head as far back as she could, but it didn’t work. Luigi brushed the tip of the flame under her chin.
Her scream echoed through the vaulted ceiling.
“There.” He flicked the lighter closed. “You won’t have to wax this week. Thank me later. And…don’t you ever tell me no again. When I want to use Rae, I get to use Rae. Understood?”
The old woman’s chest beat up and down as she hyperventilated.
“Do you understand?” Luigi barked. “Or do I need to remove your eyebrows next?”
“Ho capito—capito!” the housekeeper wailed.
“Va bene.” Luigi dropped her like a sack of garbage. Looking up at me, he winked. “Let’s go,Magnolia.”
I scurried to the front door, desperate to leave. In the choice between the incensed housekeeper who hated me, and the maniac who burnt her chin hairs off, the choice was easy.
As soon as the front door closed behind us, I slowed. “Can we stop by the butler’s cottage? I don’t want to appear in public wearing this—” I plucked at the uniform on my chest.
Luigi chuckled. “Sure thing. But that’s where we’re headed anyhow.”
He fell easily in step beside me as I quickened my pace.
“Why are we going to the butler’s house first?” I asked, already breathing hard.
“We need a fast car. Heard you have one.”
I nearly tripped. “Oh, okay.”
What in the hell do they want that for…oh.
Oh, no.
“It’s not for anything illegal, is it?” I skidded to a stop near the front door of the smaller house.
Luigi bent over. His laughter rang out around us. “You do know what kind of people you work for, right?”
“I do, which is why I don’t want my car being tagged.” I opened the front door.
“It won’t be,” Luigi wheezed. “Nico would never let anything happen to you.”
