But when she began to draw, I was transfixed.
I watch every movement of her body. It’s beautiful the way she draws in quick, short motions, shading and sketching. I’m not surprised that she can draw so beautifully. Everything she does is impressive, and this is just one more thing that makes me believe how special she is.
Initially, I have to wonder what she’s sketching. It doesn’t look like much, and I think maybe it’s just doodles until she begins to sketch landscapes of the outside world. I catch her staring at the walls, probably imagining what the world is like outside of her prison.
I smile to myself. Duke curls up at my feet, and I reach down to rub his head. I hope I can let her outside one day, maybe even let her play fetch with Duke on my property. I bet she’d love it out there, and I have so much land. We could ride dirt bikes or horses, or go fishing if that was something she liked. Or maybe she'd be more into picnics and wine.
I laugh to myself. I realize I'm daydreaming about taking her on a date on my property.
What a fool I’m becoming. Maybe I’m going soft for her.
I watch her draw for another hour. I’m completely happy and content just marveling at her body and her beauty when there’s a knock at my front door.
That jolts me back to reality. I remember my father saying that he’d be back today, and a nervous anger lodges itself in my gut.
“Stay,” I murmur to Duke before leaving the control room. I shut the door, then let my father inside. He struts into the kitchen as always, not even bothering to say hello.
The arrogant bastard is getting on my nerves.
He needs to show some respect.
I follow him. He sits down at the table this time.
“You’re back,” I say.
“Like I told you I would be.”
He seems angry and agitated, so I'll just get right to the point. “What’s going on? You mentioned some fucking meeting.”
“Yeah,” he grunts. “We got to give the Romanos something.”
“Well, give them what you have. Since you’re taking care of it.”
He glares at me. “I can’t get an angle, and you know it.”
“You can’t?” I act surprised.
“Don’t push me, boy,” he warns.
I clench my jaw. “Fine. What are you going to tell them?”
“Like I said, I can’t get to Toni. The fucking Rossis know there's a contract on him, I don’t know how.”
“Tell them that. We need more time.”
“I have another way.”
I cock my head at him, already not liking where this is going. “What is it?”
“Toni’s mother.”
I stare at him for a second. “The old woman? What about her?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“If I kill her, that’ll draw that Rossi fuck out. It’ll set him off balance.”
I have to ball my hands into fists to keep from jamming my foot down his throat. He knows that I hate fucking with women, and especially hate killing them. Grace is bad enough, and I wish I didn’t have to put her through all of this. But I can’t abide another woman.
“No,” I say.
