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5
TRAPPED LIKE A CANARY
“At last.”
Neri sat supine behind an incredibly large Cherrywood desk, clean of debris such as papers, pens, or anything else that would suggest he ran a legitimate business. I wondered what he needed with an office like this—a whole library of books behind him in dark wooden shelves.
I squinted and read that a lot of them were law textbooks.
Ah. Irony.
“Hello,” I said, then cleared my throat. I sounded too croaky.
“Regretting your wager last night?”
Neri stood. The dark interior matched his dark skin. It was impossible to tell his expression, but experience told me to always treat him as I would a shark.
“Not at all,” I said. “I half-hoped you were running a game this evening.”
“So you could further pick the pockets of my business partners? I think not.”
Ah. Sarcasm.
Neri came around the corner of his desk. “Your reputation has proceeded you, but you know that. Last night … that wasn’t your usual self.”
I remained stoic, standing out like a bright sapphire in the low shades of this room.
“My father designed this office,” Neri said. He was eerily keen on others’ thoughts, and I made note to keep even the slightest tic under control. “My mother, the rest. I believe, once coming to America, the movieCluelessinspired her.”
I nodded like I agreed and mentally commanded my hands to relax.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It feels very law professor,” I said. At his answering uptick of his lips, I knew he appreciated the honesty.
“Boring, stale, reeking of old cigar smoke, yes,” Neri said. “Though my father is long dead, his memory in here remains strong. And why I will not change a thing. But we won’t be staying. Come.” He held out his elbow.
After a brief hesitation, I took it.
We exited the office and there were many more bodyguards than the one I started out with. I counted six as we passed, and like dominos, they fell into step behind us. I staunched my curiosity from cricking my neck and staring behind me, keeping my attention straight ahead. My heart fluttered so hard it might as well be a canary trapped in much too small of a cage, but my steps were smooth, despite the blisters.
“I won’t insult your intelligence,” Neri said, but it was in such a low voice that combined with his accent, I had to strain to hear. “I am not leading you to a bedroom to have my way with you.”
My fingers tightened on his arm, then loosened. It was my only tell.
We turned into the deserted kitchen, where his hired chefs and staff prepared his meals, farther back in the mansion. I wondered how deep this house went.
Only the bare minimum of lights were turned on in order to find our way, and my curiosity piqued when we bypassed the dining room and wet bar, and approached patio doors.
“I do not rape my women,” Neri continued.
I nodded like he was giving me a courtesy, though inside I burned with adrenaline. I was ready for anything, constantly on alert. Neri had me bet one entire night with him, and it wouldn’t be for nothing. I was simply waiting for the axe to fall.
We headed outside to the back terrace, my arm still in his. It took every atom I possessed to prevent him from feeling what I was thinking as we stepped over the stone tiles with carefully trimmed bright green grass bordering the squares, and down another set of stairs with thick gray banisters. When I touched it for balance, it was freezing.
A roar of sound broke through the cloudless night and I jerked, instinctively drawing closer to Neri, then, realizing my mistake, boomeranging away.
“Not to worry,” he said over the noise. “Come this way.”
