It’s been two weeks since I’d found her, and she’s finally well enough to try to find her a home. Sandro’s going to get his driver to take us to put up flyers in the pet stores. I just have to make sure we go when Mom wouldn’t be looking for me. She’d have a coronary if she knew I was leaving the hotel with him.
Suddenly I feel her feathery weight lift from my chest and a dark laugh breaks the silence.
“Well, what do we have here?”
I jerk up and stare in horror at Milo Zerilli as he grasps the kitten in his fist and holds it up in the air. “I do believe this is a pet-free hotel, Red. Naughty fucking girl, breaking the rules.”
Slowly, I slide off the chair and stand to face him. I know I can’t show fear. He feeds on it. So, I school my expression into one of nonchalance and putas much bravado in my voice as I can. “Give her back.”
His eyes narrow dangerously as his gaze crawls lazily down my body.
I wrap my arms around my stomach, wishing I wasn’t standing here in my bikini top and jean shorts.
The kitten mews in distress, her tiny feet scrambling for a foothold on his hand.
“Ouch,” Milo hisses. He grabs the kitten by the scruff of her neck with his other hand and lets her dangle in the air while he examines his hand. “Little fucker scratched me.”
Good. I hoped it gets infected.
He glances over to the edge of the roof and a deadly smile spreads. “They say cats have nine lives. Should we test that theory?”
My resolve to not show fear crumbles as I take a few steps toward him. My words come out breathless. “Please, Milo. Don’t.” My insides are trembling. I know what he’s capable of. He isn’t bluffing.
“Don’t?” He licks his lips. “What are you willing to do to stop me?”
The kitten lets out a long, pitiful mew.
Fear kicks me in the chest. “What do you want?”
He smiles. “You finally got some tits this year. Take off your top. Let me see.”
I immediately begin to shake my head.
He shrugs and begins to walk toward the edge of the roof.
“Wait!” I cry. Tears are burning my eyes, and I feel more helpless than I ever have. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
He turns and waits, his gaze pinned to my chest. “Well, go on then. I don’t have all fucking day.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I reach behind me and untie the knot in my top. As I let it fall, I hold the front tight, gathering the courage to let go.
Just then the roof door opens and a gruff voice calls, “Yo, Milo, your dad’s looking for you.”
My head whips around to see one of the hotel guards walking toward us, his gaze traveling back and forth between us with a dark frown.
I scramble to retie my top, thanking God for this man’s timing.
Milo’s nostrils flare as he glares at the guard. Then he marches over to me and shoves the kitten in my chest, brushing his fingers along an exposed curve of flesh. Leaning into my ear, he whispers. “Next time I catch you alone, Red, that won’t be the pussy I grab.” He runs his slimy tongue up my cheek. I squeeze my eyes shut. His voice is back in my ear. “And if you say one word about this to Sandro, it’ll be him I toss over the edge.”
The sun warms my face as his presence disappears.
The heavy metal door slams behind them.
I collapse onto the lawn chair, holding the kitten to my chest, trying to comfort itas I sob.
Taking a deep breath, I wipe angrily at the tears the memory brought and click on the TV.
The only problem is that the mindless TV leaves my brain free to wander back to Sandro. To the feelings that, over the years, have settled like sediment on the bottom of a deep lake, feelings his presence stirred up and sent floating to the surface, dancing and swirling in my mind. And with dawning irritation, I realize the reason it hurt so much to hear about him marrying Giada is because, deep down, Ihadwaited for him. Deep down I held onto hope that one day things might change.
