“Remind me why you care?”
“I just saved your life.”
“You just ruined my escape.”
He suddenly steps away, and I try not to stumble forward. Annoyance and anger riddle his expression as he turns back to the door. He sticks his head out, no doubt to inform Dante or whoever is stationed out there what just happened.
I eye him cautiously as he does, weighing my options.
Plan A didn’t work. Now, I will be stuck with Teo until my brother does something stupid like show up and barter me for information on my mother.
This, obviously, can’t happen. So. What are my options?
“He’s just a man. Placate him,”a voice that sounds suspiciously like my mother's whispers through me.“Let him underestimate you.”
I swallow hard. Teo Vitale may hold all the cards, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.
When Teo returns, fresh tears are falling out of my eyes.
If I had a camera, I would take a picture of his shocked expression and frame it. Possibly give it to Ida as a souvenir of my exploits here today.
“What are— are you…?” he splutters over his words.
I quickly cover my eyes in an attempt to look bashful. “I-I-I’m sorry. That was just…I was so scared and…and…and…”
He staggers forward a few steps. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”
“I’ve never been so…so…so…scared!” I fling myself into his arms and bury my face in his neck.
His hands slowly, hesitantly fall onto my hips.
Someone give me a motherfucking Oscar.
“It’s okay,” he breathes in my ear.
A hand reaches up to stroke the back of my hair. I tell myself it's a part of the act when I lean into the caress.
“Come on, why don’t you lie down?” Teo whispers softly.
I nod into the crook of his neck and allow him to guide me over to the bed. There are no sheets, but Teo pulls up the comforter anyway.
“That was so stupid,” I say as I take a seat, tucking my legs under myself so that I can lie down flat.
“At least we can agree on something.” Teo almost smiles. It’s almost sweet how he tucks the comforter around me and brushes the hair out of my eyes.
“Thank you for saving me.”
Teo does smile, then. “I might be a don, but I’m not a monster.”
“You’re my hero.”
He looks away bashfully. Got him.
“No, really,” I continue, allowing my tears to stop entirely. “I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you. I owe you my life. I owe you, well…anything really.”
This gets his attention. Onyx eyes meet mine, a simmering hunger lying just below the surface. “Anything?”
I lick my lips, and those hungry eyes follow the movement. “Mmhm.”
