As we walk by the workers, I’m aware that I’m not wearing any undergarments, but as soon as we approach, they either look back at what they are doing, or if Vito talks to them, they look directly at him.
He asks me for my opinion on different colors and styles for each room we enter, and I feel so special. Like my opinion really matters to him. Part of me still feels like this must be a dream.
Vito’s mouth between my legs earlier, making me scream, also feels like a dream. Then it was his teeth and the whole Daddy thing. Ripples of pleasure tremble through me even now at the thought, and I wonder what exactly this is.
He could have a hundred women, for all I know. Babies. Or even a wife. Who knows? I know nothing about him...but my cheeks still burn at the thought of what he did to me just hours ago.
“Excuse me.” The same man who met us in the hall comes into the massive kitchen, where a group of workers are taking down what looks like perfectly good cabinets.
The man doesn’t look at me and seems nervous when he continues. “Sorry, boss, I have a question about the contract and payment you made...I’ve got a copy of it over here, I just need to be sure I’m understanding everything you emailed over.”
I look over to see some papers spread over a long kitchen table. Vito looks at me, and I give him a little shrug. “That’s fine. I want to go see the pool if that’s okay?”
“Of course.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right out.”
I stroll through the kitchen and onto the stone patio outside the expanse of sliding glass doors, then head toward the enormous swimming pool surrounded by manicured shrubs and flowering planters. I love the water but never learned to swim, so what I feel is a combination of fascination and fear.
I glance around to see Vito through the window with some papers in hand and the foreman pointing at things as they both talk.
When I turn back around, I yelp out a little scream of shock to find a man standing right in front of me, smiling.
Or smirking.
“And who might you be?” He doesn’t look like a worker. He’s wearing a suit, and there’s something about his manner that immediately sets me on edge. “I’m Esme.” I swallow hard and take a step back as he steps forward.
He grips his nose on a sniff, grinning. “And what is an Esme doing here?” He licks his lips and eyes me up and down as I take another step backward, wrapping my arms around my chest as he looks directly at my boobs.
“I don’t think that’s your business,” I snap back, drawing my brows together.
“Oh?” He raises his eyebrows. “That’s what’s wrong with this situation, you’re thinking. Dangerous business, thinking, especially for little girls.”
He reaches out to touch my hair when I hear footsteps from behind.
Before I can spin around, Vito has his hand around my waist, pushing me behind him.
“How the fuck did you get in here?” Vito growls, and the man smiles.
“Just a friendly visit. Concerned when you re-scheduled our meeting.”
“Our meeting? I wasn’t meeting with you, asshole. Your boss knows you’re here?”
The man grins, showing yellowing teeth. “You know, the workers are a bit careless about buzzing people through your gate. I’ve had a nice look around.” He leans around Vito to glance at me, then back at Vito. “Could be dangerous. Especially with some prime pussy like her wandering around unattended.”
A split second later, arms are swinging, and a patio table goes crashing into the pool. I yelp and step back, my hands flying to cover my mouth as Vito swings and connects with the man’s face, then again and again, knocking him back so he’s barely able to stay on his feet and blood starts to pour from his lip and nose.
The violence comes out of him like a force of nature.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Vito seethes as the man wipes the blood with the back of his arm, impossibly still smiling despite the beating he just took.
“And you'd better watch your manners.” He glances at me again. “Seems you have a new soft spot. Maybe not such a good idea.”
Vito lunges forward, but the man sidesteps, spinning around closer to me as Vito’s arm snaps outward, grabbing him by the shoulder and cocking back.
The man does the same.
Next thing I know, an elbow slams into my shoulder, knocking me off balance. I see Vito’s eyes on me, madness flickering, and I flail but can’t hold myself upright.
There’s a splash, and cool water takes my breath away. Everything is happening so fast. I move my arms and legs, trying to stay above the surface but failing. I’m drifting down under the water, sinking. My feet hit the bottom of the deep end of the pool, and I look up with wavy vision through the water, the surface so far away.