“Yeah…I’d tap that for sure.”
“Like he’d look at you, honey. You’re too young.”
The two women giggle. “I heard he’s been papped with that actress, you know, the one who won an Oscar for her role as a woman who shoots her husband before taking a young male escort on what should have been their wedding anniversary road trip.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. She’s attractive, but, like, fifty?”
I smile to myself. A movie where a poor woman loses her shit and shoots the dirtbag she married sounds fun. I shouldask them for the title so I can rent it. Feminine rage is my new aesthetic.
“Pretty sure Luka isn’t fussy.” Cecelia laughs before checking to make sure Angelo’s office door is still closed. “He seems to like older women.”
My lungs stop functioning, and I freeze while staring at a magazine I can no longer see.
Luka hinted this morning that he wanted an older woman. God, I’m so stupid. Of course he does. Older women come with less baggage. They’re not usually married to a psycho, for one thing. Sure, they might have a few wrinkles, but older actresses and celebs these days can afford the best beauty treatments and are in better shape than some twenty-something women. Hell, Kris Jenner looksdecadesyounger than her biological age.
When I finally look up, the brunette has vanished and Cecelia is busy talking to someone on the phone. Angelo’s office opens and Kane walks out. Cecelia smiles coquettishly at him, but he barely looks at her.
“Ready?” he calls to me. I drop the magazine and stand, still numb. He slants a curious glance at me when I reach him, but I fake an exhausted yawn. It does the trick. We head downstairs to the basement car park, and to my relief, Kane turns the radio to a country music channel, letting me wallow in misery.
When we arrive back at my luxurious prison, I mumble something about needing to see Felix and dash upstairs. My cute little boy purrs his little heart out at my arrival, which takes away the sting of knowing Luka has been stringing me along. Even better, my bed has new sheets on it, so I can lie down and not smell Luka’s deliciously intoxicating scent.
As I cuddle my purring cat, I resolve that there will be no more sexy time with Luka. He might be funny, gorgeous, and charming, but I need to focus on my escape plan, not let myself be distracted.
Luka isn’t my friend.
I have no friends in this cursed place.
The sooner I get my head around that, the better off I’ll be.
43
Chiara
“Ineed a phone.” It’s infuriating not being able to look shit up or take photos of Felix. My cat trots across the kitchen and meows at me. He now has the run of the place, much to Horatio’s disgust. The miserable fucker sneers every time he sees Felix. I half hope my cat pees in his room. I’ve been manifesting it all week, but Felix is a good boy, and very clean, so sadly, it’s not happened yet.
Angelo doesn’t bother looking up from his tablet. He’s started spending more time here. Most mornings, when I drag my corpse into the kitchen in search of coffee, he’s already here, sipping his espresso and looking like the world’s sexiest mafia boss.
“No.”
“Why not?” I despise the whiny note that slips into my voice.
“Because you haven’t earned my trust yet.”
I swallow a molten sip of coffee and manifest the fuck out of Felix peeing inhisshoes.Go, Felix. Be a good boy for your mommy.
Felix gives up pestering Dominic for food and struts over to Angelo. I watch as the little traitor hops onto the table and head-bumps him while purring. Angelo scratches his chin and murmurs something gooey.
My mouth falls open in shock.
Is my scary husband now a devoted cat daddy?
I shake my head, forcing my brain back on track.
“What do I need to do toearn your trust?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Be more submissive and let me put a baby in you.”
