13
SOPHIA
I pace around the room for what feels like hours, trying not to pull my hair out. Panic rises in my throat. What if I never get out of here? What if he kills me and I never see Rosa again? At first, Agnes won’t let on that anything is wrong. But slowly, as time goes by, Agnes will get more and more concerned and Rosa will see it. She’ll sense it.
My Rosie girl is so smart.
My heart clenches as I see her little face in my mind’s eye, tears burning at the backs of my eyes. I have to do something. I can’t just keep pacing around. I have to fight to get back to her.
After taking a few calming breaths, I put my ear to the door. A scraping sound assaults my ears, and I realize that someone is putting a chair in front of my door. Keeping watch.
“Hey!” I call out.
There’s no answer.
“Helloooo!” I call, drawing out the word and speaking as loudly as I can.
“What?” Luca barks through the door. I can tell it’s him from how low and raspy his voice is. I’ll never forget that voice, the way he murmured in my ear, all the filthy things he said.
I shake my head sharply to clear it. I shouldn’t be thinking about that now. I shouldn’t be thinking about him that way at all, ever.
He gave me Rosa, and that’s as far as it goes.
“I’m hungry. And I have to pee.”
Silence again from beyond the door. I’m not lying. I really am hungry. I’d skipped dinner to fit into this ridiculous dress. And I really do have to pee. I’m crossing my legs and trying not to think about water.
It’s silent for so long I’m worried I’m going to have to go in the corner when the deadbolt clicks.
I stand up straight, or as straight as I can, given I’m still holding my bladder.
Luca opens the door, but he doesn’t give me a chance to speak. He grabs my wrist and tugs me to a small bathroom with only a shower, toilet, and sink. There aren’t even any windows.
I stand in front of the toilet, my bladder aching.
He just stares at me.
“Could I have some privacy?” I ask.
“Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“It’s been a while,” I mumble.
Luca sighs but he turns around, crossing his arms but still standing in the doorway. I don’t know how he thinks I’m goingto escape a windowless room, but whatever. I guess it could be worse. He’s threatened to do a lot of things, but he’s not taking advantage of me when I’m vulnerable. That’s something.
I bunch my dress around my hips and pull down my thong, sighing as I finally empty my bladder. When I’m done, I’m barely finished washing my hands before he grabs me again.
He drags me back to the room, throwing me inside and shutting the door. The deadbolt clicks. Anger rushes over me.
I stand there for a long time, just gaping at the door.
“Hey!” I yell finally, kicking the door. I have been terrified this whole time but now I’m just angry. “I’m still hungry, you sonofa?—”
The deadbolt clicks again and he opens the door, handing me a ceramic plate with a sandwich and chips on top.
“Why are you so angry with me?” I demand to know, snatching the plate from him. I go over to the bed and sit down cross-legged, shoving chips into my mouth.
He barks out a humorless laugh. “Why do you think? I’d be angry at anyone who was trying to mess with my empire. You’re not special.”
