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Carly is cool but not completely unfriendly since she got to go out on her date. Sebastian is allowed to visit her at home with her grandmother or father’s supervision, but as Gabriel is always out during the day, it’s mostly Magda who keeps an eye on the lovebirds.
On Wednesday, Carly is alone by the pool. When I pick up her towel to put it in the wash, I notice she left her iPad outside again, something she does often. I take it with the intention to put it away in the house, but as I reach the sliding doors, Quincy’s voice stops me.
“Hey, Val. Look, Bruno’s all better.”
Bruno runs on a leash with Quincy, the limp gone. The dog barks and wags his tail furiously when I approach. Leaving the iPad on the wall, I go down on my haunches and get a sloppy dog kiss.
I laugh, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “Glad to see you’re back in shape, boy.”
“Thanks, again.”
“I’m glad I could help.” I straighten and glance over my shoulder at the house. “I better get back. Lots to do.”
“Yeah.” He looks uncomfortable. “Are you coping?”
“Sure.”
“Valentina,” Magda says from the door, her condescending stare resting on Quincy and me as if she caught us making out or something, “if you’ve finished socializing, we need to talk about Friday’s menu.”
“Bye, Bruno.” I stroke his back and smile at Quincy in greeting.
His eyes are hard as he directs them to the door where Magda waits with her hands on her hips, but I don’t give it further thought as I hurry inside.
* * *
It’s not until the following morning when Carly makes a ruckus at breakfast about her missing iPad that I remember leaving it outside.
Magda summons me to the dining room. At first, I’m in the dark when Carly points a finger at me and exclaims, “She took it. It was there last night, and now it’s gone.”
“Did you take Carly’s iPad?” Magda asks. “Don’t bother lying, because I’ll be going through your room myself.”
My insides freeze, remembering where I left it. They go even colder when I look at Gabriel. He’s regarding me with a frown. He believes I stole it? Hurt lances into my heart. Why does it matter what he thinks?
“Well?” Magda asks with a flick of her penciled eyebrow.
“I meant to bring it in last night, but I got distracted and forgot it on the wall.”
“Distracted with Quincy,” Magda says snidely.
A thunderous expression darkens Gabriel’s face. Of the three people in the room, right now, I’m most scared of him.
“I’ll go get it,” I offer quickly, but Carly’s already on her feet, heading for the door.
Magda folds her hands on the table and gives me a single instruction. “Stay.”
I stand quietly in the uncomfortable silence until Carly’s screaming filters through the backdoor. Everything inside of me tightens further.
“It’s ruined!” Carly shouts, running into the room with the iPad. It’s dripping with water.
Gabriel’s tone is flat. “On which wall did you leave it, Valentina?”
“The one by the pool!” Carly shoots daggers at me with her eyes.
“The sprinklers reach there at night,” Gabriel says almost distantly.
“This is your fault,” Carly continues in hysterics. “Do you realize how many photos I had on here? Not to mention my homework!”
“Carly.” Gabriel’s quiet but hard voice instantly shuts her up. “Let that be a lesson well learned for leaving your iPad outside. It’s not the first time. It was bound to happen.”
“Dad!”
He holds up a hand, giving her a dark look. “Let me finish. You can recover your homework and photos from iCloud.”
“I didn’t activate it!”
Gabriel’s tone is uncompromising. Not a flicker of sympathy warms his eyes. “Lesson number two, well learned. From now on, you’ll make a backup like I told you.” He turns to me, suddenly looking tired. “I’ll deal with you after breakfast.”
“You’ll replace Carly’s iPad,” Magda says. “It’ll teach you to be less forgetful in future.” She shakes her napkin out on her lap. “Now, I want to eat in peace. Quiet all of you.”
Carly flops down in her seat, her face red.
I’m shaky as I return to the kitchen, cursing myself for my negligence. I can’t afford to replace the iPad, not without making more debt.
It doesn’t take long for Gabriel to come find me. The words I dreaded most leave his lips. “Go to the gym after you’ve cleared the table.”
Going down to the basement is like a walk to the gallows. He’s already waiting inside, his tie removed and his shirtsleeves rolled back.
“Close the door,” he says quietly.
I push until I hear the click, but I don’t have the courage to turn and face him.
“Come here.”
I bite my nail as I gather enough strength to obey, one step at a time.
When I stop in front of him, he pulls my hand from my mouth. “Undress.”
