“Um…Andy?” I ask. “Where the hell are we?”
She gives a rueful grin, then shrugs. “My dad’s place,” she answers. “Well, one of them, anyhow.”
“Yourdad’splace?” I repeat. I didn’t even know Andy had a dad. Well, okay, that’s not entirely true – obviously, she has a father, we all do…but not one she’s ever spoken of. I just assumed she was like me. The daughter of some sleazy lowlife. But this…
“We’ll be safe here,” she says. “Private, I mean.” As I clamber out of the vehicle, I realize that a patrol guard has just moved silently behind us, a dog padding at his side. He’s gone before I can even turn to greet him. If Andy notices him, she doesn’t acknowledge him at all. It occurs to me that my best friend has facets I’ve never been aware of before.
And that’s a good thing. If I have no idea about this side of my friend’s world, there’s a good chance it’ll take a while for Dario to figure it out, too.
Because he’s going to come for me. I’m almost certain of it. But I can’t think of that now. Now, I’m following Andy as she leads me up wide stairs to a huge door that leads into a room that wouldn’t look out of place as the foyer of a hotel.
“Holy crap, Andz!” I breathe out, my eyes wide as I stare around the place. “What the hell does your dad actually do?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Calls himself a ‘venture capitalist.’ Though mainly he fucks blondes half his age and jets around the world being an asshole,” she says. “But enough about him. Let’s get you settled.”
The front door faces a staircase that looks like it was inspired by “Gone with the Wind.” I’m almost waiting for a Southern Belle in a ballgown to come swooping down dramatically. But instead, I’m trudging up the gleaming marble, feeling like I’m dragging my bleeding heart behind me. Andy leads me to the landing at the top of the stairs. Two hallways extend from it, one to the left and one to the right.
“That’s my dad’s side,” she points to the right. “You’re welcome to pick a suite down there, but I’d advise you not to. You might get a freaking disease from one of the skanks he’s had around. I generally stay down here when I use the place. Which isn’t often.” She heads down the left-hand corridor. Everything is plush and understated but clearly expensive. She opens a door to a room and guides me in. “This one’s really pretty.” She sweeps out an arm, and I feel myself gaping like a goldfish. “Pretty” barely describes it. There’s a chandelier over the king-size bed, for God’s sake. The suite could be featured in an interior design magazine.
What the hell?
Do people actually live like this? First Dario’s place, which is next-level luxurious, now my own best friend’s dad’s place is a flipping mansion too?
Scratch that…oneof her dad’s places. If I wasn’t nursing a shattered heart right now, I’d be bouncing on the bed like a kid. I slump onto it instead. Andy sits next to me.
“I think you need some sleep, hon,” she says soothingly. “Then, in the morning, we’ll get you fed and find you something to wear.” She pulls my head against her shoulder and gives me a squeeze. “Though it might be a bit of a challenge to get something that goes with the crown jewels you’re wearing.” I frown slightly, then lift a hand to my neck. The stones around my throat are rough against my fingertips.
“Oh, fuck!” I gasp. “Fuck…fuck, fuck!” I’m still wearing the diamond necklace.
“You alright?” Andy asks.
“The diamonds…fuck…Dario’s necklace!” I clamp a hand over my mouth, my eyes wide. Andy glances at the gems around my throat, then back at my face.
“He gave it to you?”
I nod like a crazy person. “It was his mom’s.”
Oh, my God!
“Babe…that’s some serious ice you got there.” Andy’s leaning closer to get a closer look. “I’m no expert, but that shit’s real. And there’s a heap of diamonds there.”
I fumble for the clasp. I need to get this thing off me.
“Calm down,” Andy says, reaching for my shaking fingers and releasing the catch for me. “I’m going to get you into something comfy to sleep in and get you tucked in, okay? I’ll lock this someplace safe. We’ll figure it out in the morning.”
I nod, but I’m pretty certain sleep is going to be a long time coming. Until Andy slips out of the room, then returns moments later with a soft satin nightdress, a couple of small tablets, and a glass of water.
“It’ll help you sleep,” she says, watching as I palm the pills, then wash them down. I’m so wired, I almost doubt anything short of horse tranquilizers will take the edge off right now. But oblivion, when it comes, is a blessed relief.
Chapter 8
Dario Caraldi
Watching her leave had nearly killed me last night. Feeling her eyes on me, the way she’d lingered. Yet how could I stop her? I’d told her she was no longer a prisoner here. It had been a test of sorts. A test she’d failed.
No, you’re the one who failed, asshole.
Failed by not being the man she deserves in her heart. Failed by beingme.
