I saluted him. “Whatever you say, Sir Dante, sir.”
He relaxed before winking at me. “That’s my girl. Okay, I’ll let you go now, but I’ll be around.”
He took off into the dark, Eddy and I watching him until he disappeared completely into the night.
Eddy let out a low whistle. “Holy fuck. My panties are seriously wet right now.” Her wide brown eyes met mine, and she looked a little flushed.
I grinned. “Dante has that effect on chicks. They’re always hanging off him.”
Eddy fanned her face. “Is he yours?” she asked. “Just say the word, and I will remove him from my vibrator spank bank.”
I was already shaking my head, laughter bubbling from me. “Nope, Dante and I are just friends. Best friends. There’s never been anything romantic between us.”
Except the recent “lingering looks” had caught me off guard. And that damn new tattoo. It almost felt like he’d gotten my name on his ass or something. We probably needed to have a chat soon, establish those boundaries again, but right now I had too much other emotional shit to deal with.
“I better get inside,” I said, gesturing over my shoulder to the open gates. “Debitch doesn’t strike me as the patient type.”
Eddy snorted. “She’s been way worse since Oscar. He was her pride and joy.”
I felt a sliver of sympathy for her then, having suffered my own loss recently. Had she gotten me back just to fill the void Oscar’s death had left in her life, or was this about needing another successor? I mean, surely, she didn’t need a child that badly to inherit the money. Give it away to a charity or something.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said to Eddy.
“Wait!” she called. “What’s your number?”
I actually had no idea, since this was a phone Dante got for me. “Just put your number in here,” I said, handing the screen across to her.
She took about eight seconds, clearly familiar with the device. “Okay, awesome. Send me a text and we can catch up. School starts Monday, and I’m guessing you’ll be going to the same school as me. Catherine doesn’t strike me as the type to send her child to public school.”
“As long as I have one friend there, I can deal,” I said. School was school. And I was almost done, thankfully.
“I’ll show you the ropes,” she promised before she gave me a wave, and I closed the passenger door. Her engine revved, and she took off in a rush, tires slipping on the soft grass for a beat before finding traction. When the tail lights disappeared, I let out a low breath and faced my new home.
As I took the first step inside, it almost felt like I was walking to my death. I’d barely made it five feet from the gates, when they slid closed. I looked up into the trees and hedges nearby. It took me a minute, but I eventually found the cameras, hidden away and covered in greenery.
Baring my teeth, I raised my good hand and flipped her off.
Of course, it could have just been some overworked security guard watching, but I sensed it was Debitch herself. She had that psychotic air about her—particularly when she’d smacked me across the face.
Touching two fingers to my bruised cheek, I winced. It was a long trek back up to the main house, and I didn’t see anyone hurrying down to collect me in one of the ridiculous golf buggies that I’d seen parked by the front door. Why were rich people so lazy?
I folded my arms across my body, hugging my plaster cast close and gritting my teeth at the twinge of pain I was feeling. Somehow in my failed race, I’d cracked the plaster between my thumb and forefinger so it was no longer limiting movement like it should.
Stewart was waiting at the door when I finally arrived, and he politely held it open for me to enter before shutting and locking it.
“Did you have an enjoyable evening, Miss?” he enquired with a totally straight face. Was he fucking with me or actually serious?
Unsure, I responded with a tight smile. “Delightful.”
“Splendid,” he murmured, following me as I made my way up to the room I’d been assigned. Just as I was about to enter, I paused, staring at the door opposite mine. The door with an intricate, twisted gold “O” on it.
“Stewart?” I started, chewing my lip as I stared at that letter. “What happened to Oscar?”
The gray-haired man grimaced, glancing at the door in question. “I suggest you don’t say that name again, if you value your skin, Miss.” His lips pursed, and it was clear he wasn’t saying anything more on the subject.
I sighed and pushed open my door. I’d try getting more information out of Eddy at school on Monday.
“I do apologize, Miss,” Stewart murmured as I sat on the edge of my bed to take my shoes off. “Madam Deboise gave me clear instructions. You’re not to leave your room until she returns from her business trip.”
