“That’s all? That doesn’t sound like all, Gabriel.”
“Sometimes I forget how brave you are. Standing up to me like this.”
She sets her hands on her hips. “What happened?”
“I told you. I got shot.”
“Yes but by who?”
Giovanni’s face flashes in my mind. “It doesn’t matter. I have to go deal with this.” I nod at my arm. “So be a good girl and stop asking me questions.”
“As your wife, I have the right to know.”
“And as my prisoner, you don’t.”
She flinches. “Will I have to be your prisoner forever?” Her question makes an intense guilt hit me in the stomach. Only Aurora can make me feel this way.
“I have to go,” I mutter, leaving the room before she can read my face.
Aurora
Gabriel keeps his distance from me but that’s not surprising. Days go by since he came into my room bleeding and put his mouth on me and I’ve only seen him in passing.
He’s not home when a visitor arrives.
Ginevra.
Charles opens the door for her and she waltzes right inside, straight to me. I have the unfortunate timing to be coming down the stairs at the exact moment she shows up.
“Gabriel isn’t home,” is the first thing I say.
“I know. I’m here to see you.”
“How do you know he isn’t here?”
Ginevra flips her hair over her shoulder. “Because I have friends who are wives to men Gabriel works with. They know he’s spending time with their husbands.”
“So why did you want to come see me?”
“Because I thought we could go out shopping today. Since you’re a mafia wife now. It only makes sense.”
I stare at Ginevra, trying to see if she’s being sincere or not. “The last time you were here, you tried getting Gabriel to have sex with you. Why would you want to spend time with his wife?”
“Because I am willing to let the past go. Now, do you want to come out with me or not?”
My eyes flick to the door. A chance to leave this house. Gabriel won’t be happy but if I’m with Ginevra, then he’ll know I didn’t leave to see my father. That I’m not trying to escape.
But this is my one chance to get out of this mansion and possibly get ahold of my dad.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll go with you.”
She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Great. Let’s go.”
Charles, who had been silently standing by the door, steps forward. “Aurora, I’m not sure Mr. Romano would be happy if you left.”
“Does she have to listen to her husband?” Ginevra asks. “She’s her own person. Come on, Aurora. Let’s go. We’ll put the past behind us.”
I don’t trust Ginevra one bit but I don’t care. I want out of this house. Gabriel’s emotional mood swings are going to be the death of me.
