What choice, I wanted to scream. The second I stepped onto my father’s plane, my ability to choose had been taken away from me. I bit my tongue to keep from shouting out and nodded.
“You should feel privileged that Mr. Salvatore is allowing you to go shopping let alone select what you desire.” Leo’s hard eyes met mine.
Privileged, my ass.I didn’t bother responding out loud. It was a clear waste of time that getting my way would never happen as long as I stayed under this roof. If anything, I had to keep my wits about me while I figured out a way to escape.
“I’ll tell Julian your decision, Gianna,” my father’s words pulled me out of my reflection. “I’ll leave after the engagement.”
“Don’t bother staying,” I scoffed. Not waiting for him to respond, I gestured for Rosana to lead the way.
Upstairs, I expected to be taken to Salvatore’s bedroom but was surprised when Rosana ushered me into a huge suite. “Wow,” I breathed. “So, no dungeon then?”
Everything from the carpet to the curtains, the bedding and even the closet doors was white. The only splash of color belonged to a huge pastel painting above the bed and the chrome finishing’s of the handles on the drawers, door and the chandelier fitting. Admittedly it was far more stunning than being handcuffed in the dungeon I’d been expecting.
“I’m glad you like it,” Rosana whispered. “I chose it for you. Out of the seven bedrooms, this is the prettiest for oursignora.”
“Thank you.” I smiled. “Have you worked long for Mr. Salvatore?”
“Twenty-five years. His father brought me here from Italy when I was twenty as a favor to my father.”
“Wow. So, you must know everything about this place?” I asked, admiring just how good she looked for her age. She nodded. “How old is Mr. Salvatore?”
“He’s thirty-five.”
Okay then. “Can I ask you something?” At her nod, I continued, “why did Luis jump?” Her eyes glazed over, her bottom lip trembling like she was about to burst into tears at any second. I neared her. “It’s okay, Rosana. Whatever you say will stay between us.”
She looked at me for a moment then dragged in a deep breath. “WhateverSignorSalvatore says, goes in this house.”
“I understand that but how could Luis just jump? Has that happened before? Is Mr. Salvatore always such a bad man?” Catching the wariness in her eyes, I rubbed her arm giving her an encouraging smile. I was itching to ask her more questions but refrained, for the moment.
“All the people working forSignorSalvatore come because he gives our families money,” she explained.
“Gives money?” I asked, confused.
“He lends money to our families and when they can't repay it in time, they come to work for him,” she explained in rapid Italian.
“Oh.” I masked my surprise with a quick smile. “That means you work for no pay, no salary?”
She shook her head. “We still get paid.”
I scratched my head, biting my bottom lip. “I don’t understand. If your family owes him money for the loan, how do you still get paid?”
Her laugh was soft. “BecauseSignorSalvatore is not a bad man. He saves people, people who do bad things and need help to get better just like his father.Egli chiede rispetto.” He asks for respect. “So, they do whatever he asks.”
“Even jumping to your death?” I scoffed. “Killing a man is not asking for respect. That’s murder.” Then I had a light-bulb moment. “Wait. Are you saying Luis did something bad?”
Rosana nodded. “All the people who work for Mr. Salvatore will, how you say...put their life down for him, yes?”
Regardless, who was he to play judge and executioner at will. I rolled my eyes, wondering who’d want to lay down their life for a man like him. Definitely not me. He was a dictator. A Hitler wannabe. Still, I was stuck here, so name-calling didn’t help. “Did you also do...” I trailed off realizing I was prying. “Please, don’t answer that.”
She gave a small laugh. “It’s okay. I did nothing wrong. But my father did, and he was old—”
“So, you took his place?” I finished for her. She nodded and I sighed, wondering what I could do to make a difference if it would. “Will he ask others to jump, if I ran away, Rosana?”
Her eyes grew round quickly. “Please,signora, don’t run away,” she gripped my hand, her voice pleading. “There is more to...” she trailed off and my pulse quickened.
“There is more to what?” I coaxed. Was there more to just a simple arranged marriage?
She bit her lip, her fear palpable in the way she squeezed my hand, her eyes imploring me not to ask. “He will make us jump and he will kill you when he finds you,” she rushed on, not answering my question and I didn’t push, for now.
