He coughs out a choking sound.Wasn’t expecting my comment, obviously. “Is someone getting married?”
“Fuck off.”
“Who’s the lucky lady?”
“As I said before . . . fuck off.”
“And you think this will get me to help you?”
I laugh. “Hi Rafe, how was your day today?”
He hums. “Much better.”
“Good, now get me a priest. Someone who won’t ask questions and make sure no one outside the house finds out.”
“On it. I’m very efficient when I want to be.”
I end the call and slip the phone into my pocket as the front door creaks open behind me.
Her scent hits me first. Soft. Familiar. Still my favorite smell, but I digress.
She steps out slowly, barefoot on the marble like she’s afraid someone might hear her as she sneaks around the house tonight.
“So we’re really doing this?” she whispers.
I turn to look at her over my shoulder. “We are.”
She wraps her arms around herself. “You agreed to my terms.”
“I did.”
“You’ll honor them?”
She looks fragile and fierce and heartbreakingly naive, all at once.
“I’ll honor them,” I tell her.
She exhales shakily, nodding. “Okay.” She walks back inside, and I don’t stop her.
Because she doesn’t need to know that her terms were bullshit. The second she said yes, she gave me everything I wanted. That whatever cage she thought she built?
It’s mine now.
And she will live in it. Forever.
She disappears behind the door, leaving me alone with my dark thoughts.
“You have no idea what you agreed to, Little Bird,” I whisper, letting the monster inside me stretch.
“No idea at all.”
30
Victoria
I’m stillhalf asleep when my peaceful morning comes to a screeching halt when a vision of Lorenzo plays behind my lids.
Shit.
