“A tree?” Adriano rams the gun into my head. “A fucking tree?”
“A-A hollow that was being expanded. They were going to install a biosafe then plant something over it. It was high up. Like fifteen feet in the trunk.”
“And Parker said this in front of you?”
I think back to that frosty winter afternoon, my red mittens and my excitement at choosing my own Starbucks order—a Venti caramel with whipped cream. That girl feels so stupidly young, like a little sister who’s gone away to boarding school.
“Mr. Parker thought I was an idiot,” I say. “He drugged me in front of my whole family. Do you really think he was afraid to take business calls in front of me?”
Adriano lifts the gun. “You were still going to marry him though.”
“Yeah, I already told you I’m not smart.” I raise the grappa and drink. This time I barely choke.
Adriano watches me swallow. “What do you think of Parker now?”
“He’s a creepy asshole.”
Adriano smiles.
I would’ve said whatever I thought he wanted to hear but the insult comes out sweet as caramel. I want to do it again. “He’s a perverted, disgusting criminal.”
His smile vanishes. “You’ve told me what you know and I told you about your Zia. You’ll go back in the cage until we repair your bedroom door.”
“Wait!” I reach out to him, and almost stagger sideways. “Sorry, this grappa is crazy-strong.”
Adriano’s face softens. “So, stop drinking, Pryntsesa.”
The nickname—whatever it means—gives me strength. “Adriano, please take me to see my Zia?”
His gaze falls from my mouth to the front of my dress. It’s ivory lace. Whoever is dressing me still favours white. I push my shoulders back. “Please?”
He huffs. “You trying to seduce me?”
“I…”
“Let’s get something clear. You’re a dog, January Whitehall. A yappy little dog. And if it were up to me, I’d put you down like one.”
I stagger backward as though he shoved me, dropping the grappa so liquor glugs all over the floor.
Adriano grins and the scars on his face twist like lighting. “You’re going back in your cage.”
The cage. The small dark space where I sang and practiced ballet alone. “Okay.”
Adriano heads for the door. My limbs are loose as I stumble after him, my chest a raw tangle of nerves. He presses a thumb to the panel sensor, and I remember how he used to wait for me at the ballet studio. Whenever I walked past him, I held my breath, wishing I could disappear. His gaze seemed to follow me through locked doors and around walls, as if he was everywhere I went.
My head is rushing like it’s travelling down a freeway. He was there at my studio watching me dance. He was there when they gave me Orchard, competing to be my first.
Adriano Rossi islying.
I tug the straps of my dress down and it falls to the floor. I’m naked except for my cotton panties. I thought I had nothing to lose, but I do. My virginity.
Adriano turns. His face morphs into a grotesque patchwork of pain and lust. My legs go weak, and I’m barely able to hold myself up but I trace a hand across my shoulders, down to my breasts. “You loved watching me dance. Would you like me to dance for you now?”
The silence is so loud it stings. I cup my breasts, running my palms over my nipples. Heat zaps through me and I let out a surprised little‘oh.’
Adriano’s jaw tightens. “What do you want?”
“Promise to take me to my Zia and you can be my first.”
