My fingernails dig into my palm as I get more and more agitated. I donotwant to wear clothes picked out by her! How dare she? But what choice do I have? I mean, I could make a statement and waltz to Kelley’s room in just the undies. But the idea of Allegra assessing my body isn’t worth the anxiety or other feelings her stare elicits.
Begrudgingly, I slip on the clothes and hate myself for feeling really good in them. The floor-length mirror makes me pause because I don’t look like myself at all. I look… Wow! I look pretty hot!
Instead of the usual low ponytail, I let my hair hang free. For no other reason than to give my scalp a break. It has nothing to do with wanting to look alluring, in any way whatsoever. But let’s say that was partly the case; I’d be doing it for me. No reason I can’t look sexy for myself.
Batting away my thoughts, I go to leave until I remember I’m barefoot. One quick look and I see a pair of high heels I’m sure will break my ankles. I have the stability of a baby giraffe in flats, let alone skyscraper shoes. Okay, they’re not quite that bad. Maybe two inches? Still, that’s higher than I’m used to.
Letting out a frustrated growl, I stomp over and put the blasted things on my feet. I hate Allegra has dressed me so well. Hate. It.
With my mood trapped between sour and strangely satisfied with the way my body looks, I do my best to walk smoothly to Kelley’s room. Stopping outside her door, I fix my face into resting bitch mode and enter. Ignoring Allegra completely, and that bloody smug grin plastered to her irritatingly pretty face, I head straight for Kelley, who is looking at me like I’m an alien. Until she wolf whistles, and then I want to punch her.
“Whoa, looking good, Bonnie. Wowzer!”
“How are you?” I grit out. I know Allegra has still got her eyes on me, but I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much she’s pissed me off.
“No way. We need to stay on topic. What’s all this?” Kelley asks with a sweeping motion up and down my body with her non-injured arm.
“This,” I say, “is a violation of my rights. Yet again.”
Kelley’s eyes dart between me and Allegra. “Um, okay. But as far as violations go, you look great.”
I hear the quiet snigger from behind and choose to be the bigger person.
“Why have you summoned me here?” I ask, turning from Kelley to Allegra. “What more could you possibly want from us?”
Allegra’s hair is back in its tight bun. Sad, really, because her hair looks gorgeo—
Stop it right now, Bonnie Moorside!My inner voice is right. I need to concentrate.
“Don Ferrante has agreed to collect your parents,” she says. A rush of air leaves my body.
Oh, thank God.
“They will arrive later today.”
“Thank you,” I reply tersely. I want to throw myself at her and hug her to death for doing this for me. Honestly, I didn’t think she would pass on my demand.
She gives me a small nod. “We have decided that for your safety and that of your parents, we must return to Sicily. Our villa is the most secure of all the family properties.”
Um…what?
“Hang on a second. You can’t just take us out of the country. We have lives… Homes… Pets!” I argue.
“You have no pets, Ms Moorside,” Allegra calmly states.
“That’s not the point… I… You… I refuse!”
She’s doing that thing again, where she grits her teeth and flares her nose. I understand now it’s her way of stopping herself from launching whatever scathing comeback is sitting on the edge of her tongue.
“If your parents agree, will you come willingly?”
This new, calmer Allegra is throwing me off balance. “They won’t, so it doesn’t matter.”
Her eyes are steely. Not in colour, but in determination. “If they do, will you?”
I huff, “Fine.”
There is no way either of my dads will go along with it, so it’s a moot point.
