Then I leave, only nodding quickly at the women before exiting the apartment.I doubt Codelli lied to me about all the ways in which he tried to protect me.I had no idea he did that, and I wish I didn’t know now.It makes it harder to hate the guy.His grandfather was close to Eddo, my great-grandfather.By all accounts they were as close as blood.He should’ve done more to protect my family.
And now’s his chance to repay that outstanding debt.
As long as I think of it this way, I don’t have to worry about having betrayed him.
Because he’s never getting his daughter back.No matter how hard he fights for me now.
Chapter13
GIANNA
As soon as he left,I rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower, even though not taking your time in the white marble tiled bathroom that adjoins this room should be a crime.The view is of the ocean and the shower alone is about the size of my whole bathroom back home.As for the bathtub, it’s practically a swimming pool.
But there was no time.As soon as I was done, I put on a pair of black sweats, rolled up my wet hair into a bun at the back of my head and went to work clearing up the bedroom.
The sleek black dress I wore last night is ruined and I got serious rush of desire and need for Matteo’s touch, or his cock more like, as I stuffed it under the bed.As for the rest, between all the clothes and the boxes, bags, and packets they came in, the room really does look like a bomb went off in here.
A soft knock on the door comes and I’m not even halfway done putting everything right.
“Come in,” I call out and turn to the door, a big strand of my wet hair hanging down the side of my face because my makeshift bun came undone in my haste.I manage to release the rest of it before a woman walks in.
She’s about sixty years old, her long, almost black hair laced with grey and there’s stark surprise on her face at seeing me standing there, holding a pair of pumps in one hand, and combing out my wet hair with the fingers of the other.Then she smiles, which makes her already beautiful face gorgeous.She walks to me and offers her hand.
“You must be Gianna,” she says.“I am Maria.”
I shake her hand, cringing as I realize mine is all soggy from touching my hair.
“Yes, Matteo said you would be coming,” I say, belatedly wiping my hand on my pants.“I’m sorry about the mess.”
“Did he also tell you I don’t like messes?”
I nod.
A very bemused smile stretches across her face.“That’s his little joke ever since I made him clean his own room that one time.But you don’t have to worry about cleaning all this up.I’m here now.”
“It’s no trouble,” I say and put the pumps I’m still holding into one of the boxes by my feet—the wrong box.“Have you worked for the family long?”
She nods.“A very long time.Since before the madam…”
The madam what?What madam?
But she doesn’t finish her sentence, and I don’t ask.She takes the box with the shoes from my hands and produces a phone from the pocket of her wide beige skirt.
“Matteo said you might like to call your sister,” she says, taking all my air.I can’t believe he’d think of that.I thought I was going to have to wait until whenever I see him next and ask him to let me do that.Even though I told him I’d never ask him for anything.I told him that over and over last night.Just so I didn’t have to feel so damn guilty for enjoying his company and the way he makes love to me so much.
“But I’m to take the phone right back after you do,” she adds apologetically, pity in her eyes as she gazes into my face.
I reach for the phone.“That’s OK.Do you know the number I should call?”
“Apparently it’s saved in there under your sister’s name,” she says.“And it’s not OK.He shouldn’t keep you locked up here like a pretty bird in a cage.”
“It’s fine—” I can’t believe I was just about to defend him and apparently neither can she, the shock in her dark eyes practically palpable.
“I mean, it could be worse,” I say and look around the room.“At least I have all these pretty clothes.”
I meant to be sarcastic, but I don’t think it came out that way and I have no idea why not.
She gives me another sad smile then points at the balcony.“You go out there and have a nice chat with your sister.It’s a lovely day today.And I’ll finish clearing up in here.”
