AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Evening, Miss Rubens,” the guard says while giving me a half bow, eyes on my body the entire time. Not my face, but chest and then lower, causing me to shudder in disgust. I don’t address him, and this causes the jerk to chuckle. “Did your parents teach you not to speak to strangers? Or did a cat catch your tongue?”
“You work for Cancio.” My response is cold and flat. That of a woman who finds him beneath her standing, and one I’ve perfected over the years. The governor’s daughter always conducts herself differently:
I can never entertain a man like him or anyone that isn’t approved of by my parents.
The authoritative head of the house and his silent, submissive wife.
She does what he says, and I’m forced to do the same.
My sole reprieve from under his thumb is working at the Conte House, and it’s because to the public, I’m the perfect daughter. Charitable. Humble. Hardworking. Between running the public relations part of the women’s home and then teaching the computer literacy program three days a week, it doesn’t leave much time to get into trouble. Add to that my college classes and breathing, some days are hard.
Not that anyone in my family cares. I’m a pawn the governor moves at his will.
“I know who your father is, sweetheart.”
“Everyone does.” Just as Aurora’s father promised, a car pulls up to take me home then, and I’m thankful. “If you’ll excuse me...”
He moves as if to open my door but pauses with his hand on the handle. His face is close to mine, breath on my cheek, and I cringe. “Does he know she’s taking over?”
“Please move.”
“How will it look to his constituents to have his daughter running around the city with a future mob boss?”
My eyes narrow, I meet his cocky grin with an icy glare. “My life is none of your business, and trust me, Cancio would agree that neither is his daughter’s. Don’t threaten me again.”
“Will he hurt you?” he asks instead, his stare focused on my mouth now. “I could protect—”
Pig. But he isn’t the first, nor will he be the last, to flirt or be pushy. Not in our world.
“And are you going to be there for me?” I’m watching him now from beneath long lashes, relaxing my previously stiff form. Men like him like that. To see a woman back down, but little does he know that they’re nothing more than puppets against a quick smile or the thought of an easy lay. Pathetic, really. “Will you defend me?”
The guard licks his lips. “Yes.”
“Should I bring that up while my father and your employer play a round of golf before Mr. Cancio heads back to Boston? Or what about at dinner tomorrow night over the first course?” This time, my sarcasm isn’t missed and his eyes narrow, hand shooting out to grip my arm. I step out of reach, though, just as Cancio’s right hand begins to walk our way. Another man that makes me feel uncomfortable. Something just isn’t right about him. “Please move.”
“You’ll learn your—”
“Is there a problem, Santis?”
“No, Dominic. Just getting the door for Miss Rubens.” There’s no missing the hard grip he has on the handle nor the tightness in Santis’s jaw, but he follows through and opens it for me before stepping aside. I don’t wait and slip inside, closing the door before either tries to engage me again.
And yet, I don’t miss the angry scowl on both their faces.
One looking toward the Town Car. The other watching him.
“Your parents’ house or your apartment, Miss Rubens?” a voice I know asks, and at once, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, my body semi-sinking back into the seat. Pierro has worked for the Cancio family for a long time—if Aurora’s father is in town, so is he—and is the only person that my best friend will hug without a second thought. He’s old, charming, and always respectful. He also engages the locks immediately. “Are you okay? Did they say something—”
“I’m fine, and my house, please.” My smile is genuine, but I can’t entirely remove the stiffness in my body. There’s no hiding it, but thankfully he just nods while looking at me through the rearview mirror. “It’s late, and I have an early morning tomorrow.”
“As you wish.” Pierro pulls off from the curb, but I can still feel Santis’s eyes on me. Something about him puts me on edge more than Mr. Cancio or his right-hand man. “There are some chocolates back there, by the way. Your and Miss Conte’s favorite.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite person, Pierro?”
“A time or two, and each involves chocolates.”
“Just speaking the truth,” I sing off-key, making the man chuckle while I find the offered treats near the opposite door. Come to Momma. They’re from a shop back in Boston that does the best sweets in my opinion, and this box, their signature collection, is to die for. Grabbing a piece of dark chocolate with hazelnuts and a hint of orange, I pop it in my mouth and groan. Everything—all the stress I tend to carry—evaporates. My eyes close and the city becomes quiet; nothing matters. “I needed this.”
“There’s also a bottle of water in the pocket behind my seat.”
