The raging boner I have quickly deflates. I’m filled with a sudden self loathing.
She hates me.
I don’t know what sort of dark thoughts have been going through her head and tormenting her since I left her alone in the room, but something’s definitely changed between us: she’s never fought me this violently before.
“Mia tesoro,” I tell her. “Calm down.”
“Don’t call me that!” she shouts, kicking me painfully in the shins. “Never call me that again!”
When I reach the bare sand of the beach, I’m nearly exhausted from fighting both the water and Angela. When I’m clear of the waves, I dump her unceremoniously onto the sand.
She lands on her hands and knees and gasps for air, just as exhausted as me.
I sit down beside her and study her carefully. I’m ready to grab her if she tries to run again.
She notices me looking at her and returns my gaze with a withering glower.
“What?” she says. “Not going to gloat about how I’m your prisoner again? Or brag about how you’re going to kill my father and the rest of my family? Considering I’ve tried to escape again… that means another two family members, right? That’s gotta be all of them now. You’re going to kill all my brothers. And my sister too! Right?”
Her words hurt. Badly.
“I’m not here to gloat,” I tell her. “I just want to know what’s wrong.”
“Oh, nothing,” she says. “Nothing at all. Maybe I’m just sick of all your lies.”
I look at her and tell her in all seriousness: “I haven’t lied to you. I’ve tried to be honest.”
Angela crosses her arms. “Sure. If you call equivocating not lying.”
“I suppose I should know what that word means,” I tell her. “But I’m not as smart as you.”
“It means being evasive,” she replies.
“Is everything all right?” someone asks from behind. I recognize Rosa’s voice and cringe, because it’s not muffled—she’s not wearing a mask.
I glance over my shoulder and sure enough there stands Rosa, dressed in a bikini. She’s dripping wet, as if she’s just come in from a dip in the sea.
“It’s her,” Angela states.
I glance at her, confused.
“I recognize her voice,” Angela spits. “She’s the one you were talking to in the hall.”
I’m genuinely puzzled. “So?”
She throws up her arms. “Oh, so I’m supposed to be okay with the fact that you’re cheating on another woman?”
Rosa frowns. “Uh, I think you’re confused.” She doesn’t seem concerned at all by the fact Angela said I was “cheating.” She definitely knows I’ve had sex with her now. I’m just hoping she doesn’t tell Luciano, though I probably shouldn’t care. I just don’t want to hear questions from him asking about how “my toy” is doing.
“Confused?” Angela asks. “How so?”
“She’s my sister,” I explain.
Angela glances at me and grows pale. She looks at Rosa again. “Rosa? Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
Rosa shrugs it off and smiles. “It’s okay. It’s been eight years. I barely recognized you either, to be honest. You’re much more beautiful than when you were younger. More pretty than I could ever hope to be.”
Angela reddens. “That’s not true. You’re beautiful in your own right.”
