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Mrs. DiNardo’s chatter sent another wave of panic through me. My mother was long gone, and I didn’t know how to handle the wave of female attention that was bearing down on me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Hailey and Clara following, their heads bent together as they whispered to each other.

“Tomas, stay here a moment,” Don DiNardo said as I was led away. My heart sank in my chest. I would have felt much better staying with Tomas.

Gio followed after Hailey and Clara into the hallway, a silent protective shadow. There were other men, throughout the house. Guards. Not that I was going to try to escape right now. For the moment, I was safe. Eventually, I’d learn the people and their patterns… and this time, I’d wait for the right moment before I made my move.

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy

“This room should do nicely. At least for tonight. You’ll join Tomas in his room once you’re married, of course.”

My mouth dropped open as Mrs. DiNardo lead me into the nicest room I’d ever seen in my life. It wasn’t as large as Don Bianco’s had been, but it was brighter, cleaner, and far more beautiful than his ever was. The soothing sage green of the curtains and matching bedspread made my chest loosen at the sight of them. The furniture was all honey maple, delicately carved with scrolls that somehow made it appear feminine. On the wall above the head of the bed was a large painting of a house with a garden in bloom around it; creeping up the sides of its walls were long tendrils of ivy.

Looking at it, how peaceful and beautiful it was, made my heart ache.

“Yes, that’s why I thought of this room for you,” Mrs. DiNardo said, sounding pleased as I took an involuntary step toward the bed, my gaze fixed on the painting. “Such a lovely name.”

She patted my hand and released me so I could look around the room. The cream-and-dark-green rug was soft under my bare feet, and it was all I could do not to laugh – or cry – at my very sudden change in circumstances. I wanted to go to the window and look out, to see how close to freedom I was, but I resisted the impulse. I didn’t want them to think that escape was the first thing on my mind – they were likely smart enough to know that, but I was going to play the game as best I could.

“It’s beautiful, thank you,” I said, slowly turning in one spot.

Which meant I was facing Mrs. DiNardo again. Clara had stepped into the room and was standing beside her, watching me with interested and alert eyes. She acted like a ditzy blonde, but at the same time there was something about her expression that gave me pause. There might be more to her that originally met the eye. Gio stood at the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, watching me carefully.

Hailey appeared beside him, dresses draped over her arms and a pair of shoes in one hand.

“I have clothes for her,” she announced as she stepped past Gio, ignoring him like he wasn’t even there – which was quite a feat with a man his size. I wondered if she did the same with Tomas. “I think these dresses might fit you, and I thought you should try on my shoes as well, at least until we can get something for you in your size.”

“Thank you,” I said again softly as she moved over to set things down on the bed.

Clara turned and shoved her husband out the door with both hands to his chest. “Out!”

He growled, but she shut the door in his face and locked it with a smirk on her lips as she turned back around to face us.

“There. Some privacy.” She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “The men can be so overprotective sometimes.”

Or perhaps they were just better at spotting danger than the women were, but I had to admit, my desire to hurt any of them was very low. If I did have to use my skills when I escaped, I would do my best to ensure none of them were harmed. Not after they were being so kind to me.

“Let’s see if one of these dresses fits,” Mrs. DiNardo said, walking to the bed to inspect the offerings Hailey had brought. “Take off that… I hesitate to call it a dress, Ivy.”

“Um… I’m not wearing anything underneath this,” I admitted, which caused another flurry of exclamations before Hailey ran back out of the room to fetch underthings for me.

No, I would certainly do my best not to harm them when I escaped.

Tomas

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Don DiNardo asked as soon as the door closed, leaving me alone in his office with him and Jack.

Jack looked worried too, frowning at me as he crossed his arms over his chest.

I shrugged.

The don gave me a stern look.

“This isn’t the time for silence, Tomas. I need to know what you’re thinking.”

Frustration gripped me, and I clenched my jaw as I struggled to think of the right words to make him understand. The right words never came easily to me.