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"And it is?"
"Are you going to kill me?"
At that he does smile, and I hate that he finds pleasure in my fear. It's a reminder of why I should hate him, why I should be repulsed by him.
"Not right now." He pulls out a chair from the table. "Sit. Eat."
I do as he asks, taking a bite of pizza and hoping it stays down at least as long as he sticks around. I pick up my napkin to wipemy hands and mouth, and I note that his phone is lying next to the tray. I nonchalantly set my napkin over it, at the same time telling myself I'm an idiot if I think I can fool him.
I take another bite of pizza and then look up at him to find him watching me. Did he notice what I did?
"That will be all, Maria," he tells the woman who quickly leaves the room.
"I have business to attend to. Enjoy your meal. I will likely be late, but when you are tired, you will sleep in this bed."
"Will I have a nightgown or pajamas?" I ask.
He smirks. "You won't need those."
I hate the thrill that rushes through my body at the sensual promise of his words. Why is my body betraying me?
He exits the room. For long moments, I sit and wait. I pick up the napkin and move it to the tray so if he re-enters the room, he doesn't believe I was trying to hide his phone under it. But as the moments tick by, he doesn't return.
My hand shakes as I reach for the phone, but I'm too terrified to pick it up. I stand and go to the door, opening it to see if he's outside waiting to catch me in an illicit act.
A man looks up from his own phone from across the hall. "Do you need something?"
"I wanted to ask Don Leone something. But it will wait." I pray to God that my guard doesn’t contact Niko to tell him I need something.
"He's busy. Get back in the room."
I shut the door and sag against it. My legs are shaking, but I inhale a deep breath and rush to the table, picking up the phone and then hurrying to the bathroom. My first stop is the toilet where I empty out the couple of bites of pizza. This time, I sure it's the fear that has me getting sick and not the pregnancy.
I rinse my mouth out and then, with phone in hand, move to the farthest corner of the bathroom and hope there are nolistening devices. For moments, I sit and wonder whom I should call. My father is out of the question. Chances are he's planning to get me back anyway to hand me over to Romeo. Niko isn't my savior, but I feel certain that in Romeo's control, there would be no pleasurable touches. If the wedding had gone through, I’d probably be bruised and feel violated by Romeo.
I consider calling Kate since her father is a cop, but involving her would put her in danger. I realize there is no one I can call to rescue me. But there’s one person I can reach out to who can give me advice.
I dial my sister’s number. It rings for a long time, and I realize it's probably the middle of the night in Italy. I'm about to hang up when the call is answered.
"Who is this?" My sister’s voice is a mixture of angry and frantic.
"It's me, Luce."
"Oh, my God, Elena. Are you okay? Where are you?"
“I’m sorry… I was caught and locked in my room?—”
“Oh, no. So… you’re with Romeo?”
“No. During the wedding,Il Soldato Della Morteambushed and… he has me now.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not hurt.”
She let out a breath. "We had gotten word that Leone made a move on our family and the Abates and the bride had been taken. I've been worried sick. How are you able to call me?"
"Niko left the room without his phone."
