“My PI says they’ve probably microchipped you. Do you know if they have?”
She nodded.
“Right. We’ll get that dealt with as soon as is feasible. So I wanted to make sure you weren’t in a hurry to get back to Alaska. I don’t want you to think of yourself as being in prison. We can sort things out for you; I’ll help you get on your feet and eventually, not sure how long it’ll take, but eventually you’ll be able to get on with your life. It’ll probably mean a new identity, you might not be able to go back to Alaska, but we have to wait and see what happens. You say there’s no family there but are you okay with that?”
“I could live the rest of my life and never step foot back there,” she said softly.
“So you’re okay to stay here for the time being?”
She nodded. Then she looked like she wanted to say something else. She didn’t.
“Anything you need, you tell me, okay? De-stress, detox, whatever, and we’ll figure things out as we go. I know you’ve probably been through hell so if you want counseling I can arrange that for you but it’ll have to be done carefully for confidentiality. I can arrange counseling over the computer, privately. You wanna go out, I’ll have a driver take you, keep you safe while we sort everything. You can’t tell anyone where you’re from, what’s happened to you. We’ll come up with a cover story. I’m in the loop, though, on everything with you until I say different. You’re not my prisoner Felicia, but you keep me in the loop. I’m accountable for your actions as long as we’re on Kruna radar. Got me?”
She nodded.
“Help me out, here, angel. I need to know you get me, that you’re not nodding because you’ve been trained to. This is serious shit we’re talking about here.”
She stared at me for a beat, just blinking at me, then took a deep breath, “I understand, Dare. I’ll be good. I won’t try to leave. I won’t contact anyone from my past. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” Her lower lip quivered. I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She dropped her head to the side so that her cheek was resting on the top of my hand. I snatched my hand back. Her expression dropped.
“Good. Thank you. It’s the best way to make sure we’re safe. So, uh, help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Watch TV, whatever. Mi casa su casa. I’m working from here today and I’ve got a lot on the go the next few days so I’ll be in and out. Anything you want, need, lemme know.”
I headed to my closet and grabbed clean clothes and then headed for a shower.
** ** **
As it got dark I emerged from my den where I’d been working and found her sitting on a stool at the island staring at the blue sapphire necklace. Zack and I had left it there with her bag. Suddenly hunger clawed at my gut and I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. And although I’d told her to eat I suspected she hadn’t either.
“I was thinking of ordering take-out. You like Chinese food?” The second it was out of my mouth I winced, realizing how idiotic it was, “Wait. Shit. I know that’s not the same as Thai but it’s probably too close. How about we order some pizza, get you some fettuccine alfredo?”
She smiled. It wasn’t one of her fake ones, I don’t think. It was beautiful.
“My family owns an Italian restaurant; I’ll have food sent over. Anything you don’t like to eat?”
“I could go the rest of my life without plain rice but no, not particularly.”
“Have you had anything to eat today?” I asked.
She shook her head, not making eye contact.
“Sorry for not taking better care of you,” I said, catching her eyes, “I get working and time slips. Don’t wait for me, okay? Make yourself at home here. If I’m here we can grab something at night together but if I’m not, help yourself. You can also get food delivered from the restaurant whenever. I have a tab. I’ll leave you a menu.”
“Thank you.”
I almost w
anted to take off back into the den to avoid her. This was awkward. But I’d left her by herself all day and thought it’d be rude. Besides, I needed to gauge her frame of mind, too, so I’d know how alert I’d have to be here in my apartment.
“So you wanna watch a movie or somethin’? We can throw something on to watch while waiting for food.”
“That sounds good.”
I motioned toward one sofa and took the other one.
Felicia
He was in faded jeans and a soft-looking gray t-shirt. He looked good in jeans. He looked good in shorts. He looked good in a suit, man he looked good in a suit. And he looked damn good in those low rise track pants. It took a lot of hot for a guy to look good in sweats and Dario Ferrano owned hot in those sweats. But most of all, he personified all that was hot in those boxer briefs in the mornings. He was buff. He also had this way, this intensity in the way he carried himself. He drew attention. He had to get female attention wherever he went.
It was a weird day. I was used to being alone. At the resort I’d spend hours alone waiting for an assignment. There was a little socializing with the other slaves but Cleo hated me so much that the others generally avoided me so they wouldn’t get lumped in with me and face her wrath. So I was used to my own company, something I would never have said before Thailand but since becoming Felicia I was used to being alone. Not alone with the freedom to change the channel, not able to eat whatever and whenever I wanted, and so forth. I still hadn’t fully wrapped my brain around my new circumstances. It was a lot to swallow. Today had been really weird.