“Come on. Just get dressed,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “The princess needs to fetch her own food in this house.”
I fell back against the pillows in protest. I didn’t really feel like getting up and going anywhere, but he seemed more excited than I was at the idea of getting a breakfast sandwich. Did he even know what kitchen the chef had cooked in today? It sounded as though the chef switched kitchens depending on his mood—not that I could blame him. Their estate was huge, and there was enough house to have different wings. Not even my parents had purchased such a property.
Savio changed into a pair of black dress pants and a black V-neck, as though he were completing a uniform. I glanced down at the ground and grimaced. Shit. I didn’t have anything to wear except for the bridesmaid dress. I hadn’t thought of that.
He noticed the expression on my face and walked toward his dresser, where he pulled out a pair of black slack and a black t-shirt. “You can wear this, if you want.”
He threw the clothes on top of the bed and turned around. I could only assume that it was my cue to get dressed. I reached for the t-shirt and slacks and got dressed beneath the blanket. Both pieces of clothing were oversized, but it was fine, so long as I was covered and not in that dress. I didn’t want to look at it again. It only brought back the painful memories of the day before. I was sure all of us would throw away or burn the clothes we wore to the wedding.
Savio held out his hand for me and helped me out of bed. I had to keep lifting the pants so that they wouldn’t fall off. I was way too skinny for his clothes, but he seemed to find it endearing. I could handle them if it brought a smile to his face.
He opened the door to the bedroom, and I followed after him, releasing his hand from mine so that I could keep the pants up. The hallway was silent, and I was relieved when I saw that no one was there. The hallway spanned so far that it reminded me of a tunnel. I couldn’t believe it connected to each wing. We passed the first set of stairs that led toward the side entrance. Each part of the house looked the exact same. I couldn’t understand why it was necessary to have a house that big if each part was going to look similar to the one before it.
We had made it to the main stairs when I saw Angelo standing at the main entrance. The door was open, and he had his cell phone in his hand. I hid behind Savio instinctively, unsure of what would happen. It was the first time he’d seen us together. As far as I knew, he had no idea that we were together in any way.
I could feel his gaze on us as Savio walked in front of me. I swallowed hard, unsure of what to do. I wasn’t expecting to see him. I’d spent the morning in Savio’s arms, forgetting that his father had no idea about what we were doing.
“Savio,” Angelo said, clearing his throat, “which one is that behind you?”
Savio stepped aside, exposing me to his father’s eyes. I could feel my hands shaking. I didn’t want to deal with his wrath. After the wedding, I simply wanted a day free of any kind of violence. It had been enough to shake me to my core. Angelo, however, seemed like the kind of man who thrived off of causing others pain.
“Which twin?”
Savio placed his arm up, stopping me as though he was holding me back. “This one is Alessandra.”
His father grimaced. “And what are you doing with her?”
“We’re getting breakfast.”
I glanced down and saw that Savio’s hand was shaking. The tension between them was heavy, and my heart began to pound in my ears. Why was Savio shaking? He’d mentioned a bit about his past, but I didn’t understand what he feared, exactly. Was he shaking out of fear or anger? Without seeing his expression, I couldn’t tell. That made it all the more worrisome.
“I see,” Angelo said, his voice low. “It’s in the main kitchen.”
Savio stayed where he was, and I didn’t move. I was a deer in headlights, and Savio’s father was the car that could end it all. I wanted to bash his ugly face in. I hated seeing Savio worried about what his father might do.
Angelo’s phone rang, and it was the first time he peeled his eyes away from us. He stared at the screen in his hand and gave a frustrated grunt. “I need to go. We’ll discuss this later.”
Savio kept his arm up, and I breathed a sigh of relief as Angelo left the house, slamming the door behind him. I thought for a moment that I would collapse to the ground. Somehow, I kept on my feet. I hadn’t even realized I’d barely breathed during that entire encounter.
A buzzing sensation pulsed through my body. Nausea filled my stomach as anxiety began to move through me. I didn’t want to think about what Angelo would do once he returned. The expression he’d worn was worrying. I could tell that even Savio was a little shaken by the encounter, despite his trying to hide it. It seemed as though all of the Cavettis hid their true thoughts behind their masks.
“Are you okay?” Savio asked, turning to me. “I’m sorry about that.”
“He must know about us now.”
Savio pushed my hair behind my ear and gazed deep into my eyes. “I promise I won’t let him hurt you.”
“How can you be sure he won’t? He wasn’t happy.”
Savio leaned in close to me and kissed me on the forehead. It was enough to make me melt. “I won’t let him. He’d have to go through my dead body.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” he asked, lifting my head with his hand. “I’d do anything for you because I love you.”
Those words hit me like a train. I couldn’t stop the tears as they formed in my eyes. I was so fortunate, and I couldn’t believe that this had happened with him. I believed him. Even if Angelo made things difficult, we would get through it together. I’d stand strong. Not just for myself, but for my lover as well.
