I purse my lips thoughtfully. “All right. But only if you cook in the nude.”
Her eyes widen and she swallows nervously. “Really?”
“I’m just kidding,” I tell her, but the thought makes me grow hard.
She giggles timidly. “I thought you were serious for a second. Oh well. Might have been kind of fun.”
“Just cook your Caponata,” I tell her.
My phone buzzes then, spoiling the moment. I check who the caller is. Luciano.
Here it comes.
I excuse myself and dash upstairs to take the call.
“CiaoLuciano,” I say.
“Ciao,” he replies.
I wait. He doesn’t say anything.
“Francesco talked to you?” I ask.
“Good guess,” Luciano replies. “He tells me you went off on the caretaker when he wandered into the house. What’s this about you giving our prisoner ‘free reign?’ Is that true?”
“She’s my prisoner,” I tell him, tightening my grip on the phone. “If I want to expand her prison to the entirety of the household while you’re gone, that’s my prerogative.”
Luciano doesn’t respond immediately. Then: “It certainly is. Fuck. You’re getting sloppy, Massimo.”
“No sloppier than you’ve been on other operations,” I counter.
“Like when?” he replies. “Name an operation where I fucked up as badly as this.”
“This wasn’t a fuck up,” I tell him. “I specifically told the caretaker not to come into the house. And he did.”
“That’s my point,” Luciano says. “Francesco tells me you didn’t kill the caretaker. You can’t expect him to stay confined to his apartment. He’s going to run.”
“He won’t run,” I tell him. “He knows if he runs, he’s dead. Besides, he can barely walk on his own at the moment. So I don’t think he’ll be a problem. But let’s talk about you, now. Have you found someone for me?”
“Not yet,” he replies. “Also, I won’t be able to hold Rosa here for much longer. She’s getting suspicious. So don’t be surprised if a visitor interrupts you two while you’re playing house.”
I bite my tongue, holding back all the names I want to call him in that moment. Instead, I say: “Do your best. I’m counting on you, Luciano.”
“Counting on me to keep Rosa occupied, or to find you another captive?” my brother taunts.
I have to bite back another nasty response.
“Just kidding,” Luciano says into the silence. “I won’t let you down. I’ll find someone. Where are all the skinny college-aged girls when you need them? At this rate, I’m going to have to hit the Sicilian mainland. Talk to you later, brother.”
He hangs up.
I rub my eyes and shove my phone back into my pocket.
Angela looks up when I enter the kitchen. She already has the pot simmering.
I thought for sure she might try to run away this time, especially after what she saw me do to the caretaker, but she’s still here. I’m relieved and yet troubled at the same time.
She cares about me. Really cares.
