“No.”
“A gym?”
“Yes, but you’re not using it.”
“But I’m all bored and restless. I love sitting on my backside and doing nothing but read, but that’s a treat, not a lifestyle. If I have to sit in silence for much longer, I’ll forget how to speak.”
“If only,” he muttered.
“Don’t be mean. Other than when I called your accountant a kidnap-facilitating bastard, I haven’t said a word since lunch.” Francesca had made it a point of principle to deliver sweet abuse to Gino’s armed guards whenever she saw them. She couldn’t bring herself to abuse his domestic staff, but his accountant, aweaselly scrotum, definitely deserved it. “Why don’t you teach me poker like you promised?”
“I didn’t promise that.”
“Okay, but you didn’tnotpromise. Come on, you employ an army of people who run the mundane side of your business and…”
“Hold on,” he interrupted. One of his phones had begun to buzz. He lifted his stare to her. “It’s your cousin.”
“Answer it then.”
“Can I trust you to keep your mouth shut while I deal with him?”
She smiled. “Promise to play poker with me when you’re done, and sure.”
He pinched the bridge of his strong nose and closed his eyes. “Fine.”
“Great! If he asks to speak to me, how do you want me to play it?”
“However you see fit.” Bringing a smile to his face, he jabbed the screen. “Mattia! Good to see you, man. How are things?”
It was fascinating, Francesca thought, how Gino was able to turn his joviality on like a switch. Look at how his mouth widened as his whole face loosened! But… No. His face had loosened, but the crinkles around his eyes weren’t as prominent as when he smiled properly. Admittedly, she hadn’t seen him smile properly many times, but definitely enough to judge. And though his features had loosened, his shoulders were still tight, and as all these thoughts zoomed and swirled in her head, she suddenly realised what a dangerous game Gino was playing. Of course, she’d already known this, had even pointed it out to him, but this was the first time she’dfeltit, on a human rather than a matter-of-fact intellectual level. His body language proved that he felt it too.
He wasn’t just taking a risk. He was gambling with his life, and it was a gamble that would follow him for the rest of his life. He would never sleep soundly again. Never feel safe again. Gino would spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, waiting for the bullet or knife that would turn his lights out for good, because her cousins would never forgive or forget.
So deep was she in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Gino addressing her, not until he rose from his desk.
“Your cousins wish to speak to you.” His tone told her it was something he’d already said.
Gazing at him, her heart suddenly beating in a whole new way that was nothing like the beats of desire she’d been enjoying, she had a sudden vision of the deeply golden skin that wrapped his muscular body all cold and pale, the beating heart contained within it lifeless.
Her chest plunged into a coldness that spread through her skin before she’d finished nodding her assent.
Gino held the phone’s screen in front of her, and she found herself looking at Mattia and his brother Tommaso.
“How are you?” Mattia asked without any preamble. “Has that bastard hurt you in any way?”
Still so cold from that awful image of Gino lifeless, she shook her head and rubbed her arms for warmth. Her throat felt incredibly tight. “He’s treating me well,” she croaked.
Both of her cousins’ eyes narrowed. “You are sure?”
“Yes.” Realising her demeanour might be telling a different story, she followed her instinct and swallowed. “Please, comply with his demands. He hasn’t laid a finger on me, but he scares the life out of me, and I’m scared if you don’t comply, he’ll…” She burst into tears. “Please, give him what he wants.Please. It’s the only way I’ll get home.”
“We’re working as hard and as fast as we can.” That came from Tommaso.
Not daring to look at Gino, Francesca wiped her eyes. “I have to believe you are,” she sobbed, “because it’s the only thing keeping me going.” As an afterthought, she quickly added in her most pathetic voice, “Please don’t tell my parents that I cried. I know how upset they must be at the situation. Tell them I’m keeping strong and positive.”
“We will get you home to them,” Mattia said tautly. “You have my word.”
Putting her fingers to her lips, she then put them to the screen as a kiss. “Thank you,” she whispered as the screen was moved away from her.
