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Costas bent over to pick up my shirt and tossed it our way for me to catch and place around her naked shoulders. Like a lamb knowing its throat was about to be ripped out, she closed her eyes and braced for impact with her emotions. After she was covered, she wiped a stray tear. "She called me a whore."
"I'll rectify your title when I speak to her. I didn't want the argument while we were in our current state of undress." Kissing her cheek, I left her to handle my mother. Costas had already moved to head for the staff, placing the fear of God into them because my mother was a nasty sort. They knew to avoid her at any cost or be punished for nothing in her passing with her sharp tongue.
Oh, how fun this would be right before I had to leave, and my mother would be the predator in the home with the woman I found myself beginning to love.
***
When the time came for dinner, I took my seat at the opposite end of Draven. With my mother here, we had to act less than lovers even though I hated every minute of it. I'd gone to speak with my mother about Emilia and my arrangement with her, but my mother played the card that her travel had been too much on her. Needing a nap, she wanted an escape. Whenever she didn't like something in my life, she pretended she needed to excuse herself.
Now, we were at the table with a few chairs claimed by our party. She first looked at Costas, avoiding Millie completely. "You allow your help to sit at the family table?" Finally glancing to Emilia, she snubbed her. "And a whore?"
"A what?" Kasey had been eating a dinner roll she grabbed from the middle of the table.
"Uh, my apologies. I didn't see you there." My mom looked back at me. "You have two whores at the table?"
"Neither are a whore, Mrs. Russi," Costas said what needed out. "They are both visiting guests from America that we met while over there."
"Just because they travel does not remove the title. Neither does being paid in sex for their stay here."
"Who's this bitch?" Kasey spoke with her mouth full.
"My mother," I spat. "She'll be staying for the next two weeks with us because my father left our manor to go somewhere, and he had to take Mario with him. She needs to remember I trust Costas more than I do Mario, and she should too after everything he's given up for our family to stay together."
"It's in poor taste, son," she hissed about having the help at the table.
"It's in my taste," Draven interrupted, seeing how he'd undone me already. "This is my home, Giorgia, and while you're a guest, you best remember who you're talking about when you don't like something within these walls. Millie is a woman Tony and I both fancy. Her friend Kasey traveled with her to keep her company when we're absent."
"You're both dating the same woman?" Her eyes narrowed on Millie, wondering how the vixen could've trapped us. Appalled, she kept her hands below the table in order to refrain from reaching over it to choke Millie herself.
"Yes, we are," I confirmed. "Emilia is a fine woman, and I'm hoping you'll try to get to know her while I'm away for a few days."
Just then, Draven's sister walked in. We all froze as she silently took her spot beside him to join us. Nothing felt better than seeing her again. Acting lively, she even managed to send me a smile. Well, until my mother opened her mouth. "Oh, Sofia! I'd heard you wouldn't leave your room. I'm so glad to hear wrong."
Wincing, I hated how uncaring she was when it came to other people. Emotions were not something she wanted to deal with, so she pretended everyone was as cold and dead as her heart. She mostly found ways to attack Costas, and she pretended not to hear me when I told her to stop.
"This is going to be a long vacation," I muttered.
"Here, here." Draven lifted his cup. Leaning over to his sister, he whispered what could only be a warning to steer clear of the parasite that had just arrived.
forty-four
Millie
The house felt empty without their presence. A lighter staff had been requested by Costas because he wanted viewers away from me to help protect me more. His eyes kept tracking the movements of everyone around the front area as I fumbled into the kitchen. He saw me walk by with a small wave, leaving me to my business, but he spoke quietly enough for only my ears to hear. "Mrs. Russi has requested dinner with you tonight. I plan to take you into a neighboring villa, so please have you and Kasey ready to leave by seven with an overnight bag."
"Is she going to be cruel?" I let it slip by looking less than excited.
"Probably." He grinned, petting Whiskers on his lap. I’d noticed their buddying friendship often. When my one-eyed cat didn’t scamper between my feet, I often found him with Costas. "Just tune her out and nod your head when she insults you. It shuts her up faster."
"I heard how she talked to you. I'm sorry."
"Ah, Giorgia Russi has always been known to be rich enough to say whatever she wants or end whoever she wants for disagreeing. I get paid well and treated right by the people I'm watching over. Putting up with her is easy enough on the off chance I have to. Mario needs me to watch over her, so he has my word I will."
"You're a good man, Costas."
He paused his reviewing to glance my way. Shocked by my words, he dipped his chin and cleared his throat. "I will see you, tonight."
Leaving him, I hadn't gotten a great feel for why he stuck around, but he made a point that I understood. Tony was worth putting up with the mean lady in short bursts. When I stepped away from him and into the dining area, I entered the kitchen and found Kasey cussing out the door that led somewhere I didn't know. She kicked it a few times before grabbing a butter knife to twist the lock open. Watching from my point near the counter, I couldn't help but hide a laugh. Once she worked it open, she jabbed the knife upward. "Take that, Tony! You can't hide the good stuff from me!"
