“Where are we going?” I ask, trying not to trip in my heels.
“Sitting room.”
My pulse jumps. Am I going to be touched or killed? Allowed to choose my future or given to someone for reasons I don’t understand? Or am I wrong about everything? Am I about be used and sent back to the basement?
We move through a dark set of double doors into a room where the only light is coming from a roaring fire. It splashes orange over leather couches. I see the backs of four men. One blond, one glossy black, one boyishly brown, one with shaved sides. My mouth dries over. They’re all here.
The hand on my elbow tightens and Mr. Gretzky drags me toward the fire. I keep my eyes on the carpet as heat washes over my body.
“Good evening, Miss Whitehall,” Eli drawls.
I know better than not to respond. “Good evening, Mr. Morelli.”
“Look at us.”
My head feels like it’s made of concrete, but I meet his gaze. He and Adriano sit in winged armchairs, Doc and Bobby are at opposite ends of a couch. The air seems to thicken around me and my chest heaves as though I’ve been running.
Eli is wearing a dark blue suit and his pristine white shirt is open at his throat. He looks like a magazine spread. Why does he have to be a murderer?
He raises his tumbler to me. “We have news for you,bella. Your time at Velvet House is almost over.”
My heart stops. “Are you going to kill me?”
He smiles indulgently. “No. But you’ve been in that basement long enough. We’re sending you to Naples.”
My legs wobble as if the floor beneath me is moving. “Naples?”
“Yes. My cousin Gio lives there. He can find you a job and a safe new home. Would you like that,bella?”
“Of course,” I say automatically. What happened to my choices? Is this part of the plan to mess with Mr. Parker? Will any of them go with me? Or are they lying, and I really am about to be strangled with string after all?
I look across to Bobby. My insides squirm. He’s wearing a black T-shirt and I can see a big tattoo inked into his right bicep. He looks different tonight. Older, I guess. I didn’t know he had tattoos. God, why doeshehave to be a murderer?
Eli smiles. “Have you been missing Bobby? Were you hoping he’d come visit you again?”
I drop my gaze to my hands. I did think he would visit me again. I thought they all would, but aside from Mr. Gretzky, I’ve been alone for days.
Doc shifts on the couch. “She’s disappointed, Morelli. She doesn’t wanna leave.”
I glance up at him. His blond hair is falling into his pretty blue eyes as usual. I remember his tattooed body arched over me, his mouth drawing on my nipple and a surge rolls through my body. His lip curls and I’m sure I know what he’s thinking.Should have chosen me, Tesorina.
Maybe I should have. Stripping can’t be scarier than going to Italy alone to live with Eli’s mafia cousins. Why does Doc have to be a murderer? And a psychopath? And a jerk?
“Don’t be disappointed,bella,” Eli says. “Just because you haven’t chosen any of us, doesn’t mean we’re angry. We’re… Doc? How would you put it?”
Doc’s eyes are bright and cold as a dying star. “Proud of you.”
“Yes,” Eli agrees. “Proud of you. In fact,bella,we’re so proud of you, we’d like to give you a goodbye present.”
My heart pounds so hard I’m sure it’s about to come crashing through my ribs. “What… what kind of present?”
Adriano shifts in his chair. I refuse to look at him. Wherever I’m going, be it Naples or into the ground, at least he won’t be there.
“On her knees,” Eli says lazily, and Gretzky pushes my shoulder making me tumble to the floor.
Eli waves a hand at him. “Thank you, Gretzky, that will be all.”
He leaves and then we’re alone. The four of them and me. The only sound is the hiss and crackle of the fire. I look to Bobby for reassurance, but his face is set. My stomach tightens. Sex or death. I can’t be here in my underwear for anything else. But surely, they won’t make me… in front of the others. That would be gross. It would be wrong.
