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Chapter 13
Sybil
Having a cell phone makes a monumental difference.
Nico came back with it the day after our shower sextête-à-tête, and I’ve called my family every single one of the five days since. Krista has a billion questions about my mysterious fiancé, all of which I deflect the same way when I went to visit. My mother sounds far more at ease knowing she can reach me, and Mark has gone on and on about how much he loves his new job. It’s some coveted position in banking finance, something a college dropout like him wouldn’t easily get, and I’m even more sure now that Nico had something to do with it.
Speaking of Nico…the last few days have changed how I view him even more.
Before, it was all sex and fighting and getting back to business, with a few flirty comments and snide comments sprinkled on top.
Now, that’s stopped. Not the verbal sparring—we still do that, though it has less sting to it. But getting back to business? It doesn’t seem to be his number-one priority all the time. He’s brought me breakfast in bed twice, cooked some kind of Italian dish almost every night, and seemed genuinely interested to find out that I’ve been using my days alone at the penthouse to hijack his computer and get a part-time job working from home.
I mean, that was quickly followed by an argument that I didn’t need to do “shitty customer service,” as he put it, but still. I made it clear I need something to do all the time. I can’t just spend the next nine to ten months sitting around waiting for him to get home and fuck me senseless.
Not that he hasn’t still been doing plenty of that. And not that I don’t thoroughly enjoy it.
I try to ignore the dirty thoughts about him that immediately flood my brain at that thought, tucking my phone into my pocket and glancing at the driver’s seat. Percy is driving.
That’s another thing that changed. Nico hasn’t had a problem with me leaving the penthouse, as long as one or two of his lackeys tag along. It bothered me at first to feel like I was being babysat, but honestly? I’m starting to warm up to these guys.
Especially Ace, who is currently sitting in the back of the car. “You should turn right up here,” he says.
“Stop backseat driving,” Percy mutters.
“I’m just saying, it’s way faster.”
“And I’m just saying, I’m almost twice your age, Ace. I’m not Giovanni and I know how to drive. So shut up.”
Ace rolls his eyes and finds me watching him in the rearview mirror. He grins back at me. “Did Boss give you his credit card, Sybil? Is it unlimited?”
Yes, he did, and yes, he said it is. “I’m not using it. I have my own money,” I insist.
Which is true. Before, my family was on the tightest shoestring budget imaginable. Without the Gattos breathing down our necks, I can actually use some of the money I’ve saved up for them over the last few weeks to buy clothes that aren’t from a thrift store or on clearance.
“If you say so. I’m glad he’s sending you out to get new clothes. I wasn’t going to say anything, but…” He trails off with an impish shrug.
I guffaw. “But what? Are you insulting my sense of style?”
“No. I’m insulting your lack of style. There’s a big difference.”
I smirk and notice that Percy is fighting a smile, too. He acts annoyed that Nico is having them take me out to get clothes, but I’d be willing to bet he doesn’t mind it at all.
“Where’s Nico today?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
“You should know. You’ve been texting him—don’t pretend otherwise. No one grins at their phone like that unless it’s someone they’re fucking.”
“You’re so crass,” I mutter. “Wait—Percy, you missed a turn. I told you to go to—"
“Yeah, yeah. I know what you said, but Boss said otherwise. Said something about not letting you shop anywhere that also sells batteries. You’re going to a real clothing store, short stuff.”
I fold my arms. “Whatever. Just don’t take me anywhere expensive.”
A few minutes later, I step out of the car and gawk at a store that is entirely out of my price range. The skyscraper’s glass storefront displays clothes, each piece more than my family’s entire monthly income put together.
“Are you crazy? No. We’re going back to a poor little battery store where I belong.”
I start to get back in the car, but Ace stops me, his big grin changing the shape of the scar on his jaw. “Sybil. Come on. Just try a few things on.”
