“Are you done talking?” I ask my brother.
He frowns, his expression unsure, I think he’s wondering if he may have pushed me too hard. My brother’s great withmaking plans and strategy. People have always been dicey to him. At least they were until he met his wife. He’s better now because of it. But the asshole still peeks through sometimes.
“Rafaelle...” he starts but I cut him off.
“If you’re done, take Elio and get the fuck out of my house,” I tell him. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep your precious business deal safe until you need her.”
A muscle twitches in his jaw before he nods once in agreement. I walk back into the dining room, feeling ice in my veins and anger. At my brother, at myself, I have no idea. It’s not enough for an outburst, but it does settle deep in my chest.
I’ve locked away all the uncertainty and confusion, and now an angry helplessness seeps through me.
Liliana frowns once I take a seat, her eyes meeting mine like she’s searching for something. I look away, avoiding her gaze.
“Let’s go, Elio,” Matteo calls from the doorway.
My younger brother hesitates like he wants to argue but eventually gets to his feet and leaves the room. We’re the only two left apart from the staff lining the walls. The silence is soothing for a couple of seconds, at least until she breaks it.
When she starts speaking her voice is hesitant, “So I was wondering, in the spirit of you being halfway decent and giving me a knife for protection, is there any chance I could ask you for something?”
My eyes are on the plate in front of me, my hands busy with the bacon on a plate as I cut a piece off for a bite.
“Rafaelle,” she prods.
“I’m listening,” I grunt before raising the food to my lips.
When I glance at her, she’s biting down on her bottom lip distractedly.
“There’s a bag at my motel room. It has some of my stuff in it. And I’d really like it back. My phone as well. I need to talk to my mother. It’s been two days, she’s probably worried sick about me.”
I stare her down for a minute, until she starts to shift uncomfortably, confusion in her gaze.
“You have a lot of demands, little siren. Remember your place.”
Her mouth parts, “Are you fucking serious?”
“Finish your food, Liliana. I may have given you a knife but that’s the extent of my generosity.”
“Aknifeis the extent of your generosity? Do you even realize how insane you sound.”
“The bacon is really nice. Try it,” I urge, ignoring the anger in her tone.
She scoffs in disbelief and in the next breath is jumping to her feet and pushing back her chair.
“I’ve lost my appetite. I can’t look at your stupid face any longer,” she snaps before sweeping out of the room.
The cutlery in my hand clatters on the plates as I let them drop, leaning back in my chair in the wake of her tantrum. I run a hand over the bottom of my lip exhaling a harsh breath. It’s probably best that she hates me.
For her sake and mine, I can’t be anything more than a psychopathic bastard that kidnapped her.
* * *
Later that day I grow curious enough to text my little brother.
Me: Where are her things?
Elio: Always so fucking vague. What things?
I roll my eyes at the reply. He’s a fucking idiot. Who else would I be asking about?
