I shake my head. “Not the first time.” Certainly not when we conceived Ashton. I didn’t know anything about Aurielo.
His nostrils flare as he breathes. Aurielo exhales heavily through his nose. “I’m not talking about when we fucked at my cousin’s engagement party.”
“Yes, I knew you were a monster and that’s why I kept my son from you. Ivy was going to take care of him and keep him away from this life,” I say. He has to realize I was doing it to protect Ashton.
Aurielo folds his arms across his chest. His biceps are huge. I try not to stare at his muscles. It doesn’t help that he’s not wearing a shirt. “How long was that plan going to last? You not seeing your son?”
I hate that he’s right, but I would have done anything to protect Ashton. Maybe I should have let Ivy snatch him and disappear today, and I take her place in the vehicle that crashed into the fire hydrant.
Although I don’t know how that would have turned out, except we are twins. But Aurielo can see right through us.
At least I feel like he can. Maybe I’m making more out of what we have than what exists between us.
“I’d do anything to protect him,” I whisper. It’s the truth.
“In case you haven’t figured it out, Micetta. So would I.”
* * *
Every day is the same. I go to work, and when my shift is done, Francesco accompanies me back to the mansion. Ashton is waiting upstairs for me in his bedroom that he shares with Ivy.
I’m not sure whether I’m grateful Ivy is here or not. She hasn’t blamed me, but I can see the resentment in her eyes. She misses home. Although our house apartment wasn’t flashy or prestigious in any way, it was still home. It was ours.
This place is cold. It’s impersonal. My bedroom doesn’t feel the least bit like my own space. That doesn’t bother me nearly as much as Ashton and Ivy sharing a room.
My sister shouldn’t have to share with him.
Maybe Alessandro wouldn’t offer additional accommodations for me separate from my son, but I blame that on the fact we were forced to wed. He probably enjoys locking us into a bedroom together, making us play house.
I haven’t had too many interactions with Don Rinaldi. He seems a million times scarier than Aurielo.
Aurielo and I exchange pleasantries in the evening before bed. It’s superficial. Nothing more than an act of acceptance.
I’ve accepted this as my life.
He’s locked me up inside either Ashton’s bedroom or my own. There’s always a guard standing outside the hallway.
I have no freedom other than the hours that I’m at work. And that is hardly classified as freedom.
I give Ashton a hug goodbye before being whisked down the stairs and out the door for my job. I don’t know when Ivy leaves if she’s even allowed off the grounds.
We haven’t talked about it, and I’m hesitant to ask. No doubt she’s pissed to be mixed up in the arrangement and forced to live under Rinaldi’s roof.
I’m silent in the back of the vehicle, Francesco chauffeuring me to work. However, he’s still hanging out in the lobby all day. Yesterday, I snuck down during a break to see if I could plan an escape sometime and he was seated facing the elevator across the lobby.
One glance at me, and I hit the button, riding the elevator back up.
He’s not a man I want to deal with. Francesco is scary, and knowing that he’s in Alessandro’s ear, I need to be careful.
“Busy day planned?” Jocelyn asks as I meet up with her to get dressed for my shift.
I frown, not understanding her question. “The usual. Work.” I have no idea what she’s asking.
There’s a sparkle in her eye and a grin that she is desperately trying to hide.
“What do you know?” I ask. I can feel the giddiness radiating right off her. It’s not my birthday, or anyone else’s on the unit, as far as I’m aware.
She presses her lips together and shakes her head. Jocelyn is trying to frown but failing miserably. Her bottom lip juts out a little too much. “Nothing.” She slams her locker shut and slings the lanyard with her badge on over her head.