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Angelo licks some of the blood off his hands and glances over at me. “Happy now?”
“Why would I be happy?” I try to sound neutral, but it’s hard to keep myself from smiling at him. At least Vanessa still has her eyes covered.
Angelo glances around, but it’s really just us here now. He walks over to me and stops close enough that I have to crane my head up to look him in the eyes. “Careful, Princess. Victor liked your antics. I don’t think Pavone will.”
The thought sours my exhilaration at having pulled one over Pavone. Victor didn’tlikemyantics. He’d been determined to break me from who I was, what I was. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I tell him. “Now fuck off.”
He doesn’t move at all, just staring at me long enough that I start to feel unsettled. Long enough that I get the urge to kiss him, too, despite the blood drops on his face.
“P-please,” Vanessa suddenly says, reminding us that she’s still there. “Please, don’t hurt us.”
I wince and take her hands into mine. “Nessa. Why don’t you go take a shower? Or lie down. I’ll clean up the invites and come find you later.”
She shakes her head quickly. “N-no! I can’t—I won’t leave you alone with him.”
I’m touched at her concern, at how brave she’s being despite how clearly terrified she is.
Angelo laughs. “Don’t worry. Haven’t you heard? Lucia’s not my type.” He grabs Vanessa’s shoulders and pushes her gently toward the door. He leaves a bloodstain on her shirt. “Get out of here,Nessa.”
Vanessa stumbles, looking at me in confusion, but I nod to her. “I’ll be fine,” I tell her, even though I’m not sure that’s the truth. “Go on. I won’t be long.”
She looks down at Stevie’s body and shudders, and for a moment, I’m worried she’s going to pass out. She seems like she wants to argue, but she swallows hard and hurries out of the room with an apologetic glance over her shoulder at me.
I’m left alone with Angelo, and I stare up at him again. That molten moment had been interrupted, but the heat hasn’t faded between us. I should be scared of him, of what Pavone would do to us if he found out about this, but I’m strangely not.
“I should take the scissors toyourthroat,” Angelo murmurs, dragging his blood-covered thumb across my neck. “You’re playing with fire.”
“So are you,” I counter, but my voice catches. It’s strange to be alone with him, and I’m all too aware of the dangers that surround us, but I can’t bring myself to pull away. “At least nobody’s threatening me with guns here.”
Never mind Pavone’s regular reminders about what will happen to me if I fail to perform to his expectations.
He grins at me and leans down to whisper in my ear. “I still jerk off to that memory.”
“And I still have nightmares about it,” I say, the heated moment disappearing as I’m reminded of just who and what he is to me. It’s good to be brought back down to earth.
I shouldn’t want him, not after everything.
But I do.
I try to step around Angelo, but his arm catches me around my waist and drags me to the wall. He boxes me in, traps me, and despite the sudden spike of fear, I feel a shiver of something else, too.
“Apologize,” Angelo says. “And I won’t tell Pavone what you really are.”
“Apologize for what?” I ask, a little breathless. “I have nothing to apologize for, Angelo. And you should be worried that I’ll tell Pavone whatyoureally are. I’m not the only one with dangerous secrets.”
“You betrayed us.” Angelo rubs his fingers over my lips, leaving behind the coppery taste of blood. “Fucking played me. I want to drag a knife over your skin and make you beg for forgiveness.”
“I didn’t betray you. I freed myself,” I retort.
“Yeah?” Angelo meets my eyes. “How’s that working out for you?”
I swallow hard. I don’t have an answer to that.
“Apologize,” he says again.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, even though I’m really not.
He snorts, clearly not believing me, then grips my chin and kisses me hard. His tongue traces the blood he’d left behind on my lips before demanding I open for him.
