“Did it ever occur to you I’m acting strange because of your stupid, oppressive rules?”
“I wasn’t expecting you to follow them so quickly.”
“You threatened to gouge a man’s eyes out in front of me! Of course, I started following them.”
I scoff. “Oh, come on. That’s only if he sees you practically half-naked.”
Her face shifts from anger to pure disbelief. “You think that’s actually reasonable, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I shrug. “You’re my wife.”
“Don’t call me that.” She points her finger at my face.
I grab her forearm, not hard enough to hurt her but enough to prevent her from pulling away and to get her finger out of my face. Then, I push her onto her back and crawl on top. My heart races as she lies under me.
“This whole situation is disgusting. Your family is a fucking disgrace, trying to pull that scheme today.” She laughs without humor. “You guys didn’t even manage to kill anyone important, and yet your brother got shot.”
She flinches before I even realize she shouldn't know that.
I grab her other arm and put them both over her head, pinning her even more so there’s no chance she can get away. I can feel her soft body beneath me, her warm breath on my face. She isn’t struggling now; she knows she’s messed up. She found a way to get information. Out of Antonio, I’m assuming.
“How do you know that?” I hiss.
“Je parle français.”
I search her eyes, wondering how her speaking French has any applicable meaning to this conversation. Then it dawns on me, I spoke to Elena in front of her, assuming she wouldn’t understand anything.
I think back to that phone call, trying to figure out if I had revealed anything else to her. But this day was so insane I can’t recall that conversation.
I release her and roll onto my back. “If there’s any other information you’re concealing from me in hopes it will help you escape, it’s in your best interest to tell me now. Believe me,” I growl.
She shakes her head, still lying on her back and not looking me in the eye. “There was nothing else.”
“Good.” I turn the lamp off. “I won’t forget this little outburst tonight.”
She jerks to her side, facing away from me and says nothing.
I lie in bed with my eyes wide open. I know I will not get a minute of sleep tonight after all of that drama.
Chapter 11
Sofia
Asusual,he’snowhereto be found when I get out to the kitchen after my morning shower. I thought that these first few days of captivity—it’s been nearly two weeks since the wedding—would be anything but boring. That first night in his place, I suppressed so much fear to seem defiant, but I realize there isn’t anything to be scared of. I’ve kept quiet around him as he’s instructed, which is strangely easy to do seeing that any time we try to communicate with one another, it’s either an annoying or combative conversation.
He’s allowed me to talk to my family at least, although these are very short and infrequent calls that leave me missing them more than anything.
I pace around the island of the kitchen, more stir-crazy than usual. The boredom of having absolutely nothing to do is slowly eating away at my mind. Initially, I was fixated on figuring out a way to escape. But I’m not left with many options here.
For one, I’m confined in his home with all the electronics, cutlery, medication, and anything else useful locked away. There are guards outside the main door all the time. Any attempt at small talk has failed. The balcony rests over a deadly drop, so there’s no climbing down.
I’ve even snooped in the spare bedroom that Alessandro hides himself in when we share his home together. But there was nothing much of use. It’s just a large room with a ton of books and hobby things, and it seems like he dabbles in everything imaginable: drawing, computer programming, chess, reading physics textbooks for fun.
I meander out towards the balcony where I’ve been spending a good portion of my time. Aside from watching TV shows and movies, getting some sun is my only other form of entertainment.
The morning sun hits my skin, and I realize that the weather is the only thing I can be grateful about in this situation… and that I’m not being tortured in the dungeon.
Before sitting in one of the lounge chairs, I pace the perimeter like a caged zoo animal. If I try to zone out enough, I can forget that I’m walking in a tight circle on a balcony and instead, going for a morning walk. But there’s one thing I keep noticing with every lap: our neighboring balcony.
