“Just go with them, it’s fine. The guards will keep you safe,” he says. “I have to get back to work.” A man screams in the background, and the phone goes dead. It was definitely Dominic.
I hand Arianna her phone back with a small smile. “This is very kind of you, thank you.”
“No stress at all. If you have to stay with my asshole of a condescending brother, then the least I can do is take you out.”
We climb into the back of the car. It’s more spacious than I thought, with two sets of seats facing each other. I sit opposite Helena, but Arianna sits next to me.
“I admire your defiance,” I say with a smile. “Your brother can be a bit of an asshole. I hope you don’t mind me saying so,” I say.
“Not at all,” Arianna smiles at me brightly. “We’ll train him, though, don’t worry.”
We sit in a comfortable silence as we join traffic, driving through the city with ease. I can’t remember the last time I did something fun like shopping. It feels like I’ve been a prisoner for months, not days. I turn to Arianna.
“Thank you so much for thinking of me. I didn’t even think I could leave the house.” I blush slightly.
“You’re not a prisoner,” Arianna says with a look of shock, “You’re welcome to go where you please. You just need protection when you do.”
“It’s been a rough few days, I know,” Helena says softly. “But you’ll get used to it soon enough.”
We arrive at Fifth Avenue and get out, the guards staying close.
We spend the whole day shopping, and the Sorvino women won’t let me spend a dime of my own money. They insist on buying me clothes, jewelry, and perfumes. We have lunch nearby, and we laugh as we eat. I tell them about how grumpy Dominic gets and how frustrating he is, and Arianna is not surprised. He’s been that way since he was a child.
We sip on large glasses of red wine and settle down for a moment, letting our food digest.
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Arianna smiles. “Maybe you just need to unwind some more. My family owns a club here in New York called La Club. You should come out tonight with us. We’re going in a group to get absolutely wasted.”
“It’s not ladylike to get wasted, Arianna,” Helena chides her daughter, but Arianna doesn’t seem to notice.
I blush. “You’ve done so much already for me. I feel so spoiled.”
“Come, we’ll talk to Dominic when we get back to the house and let him bring you. He also needs to unwind and believe it or not. He can be fun.”
I snort. “No way. I don’t believe it.”
“Then I’ll have to show you,” Arianna says as she calls for the bill. “He should be home by now, and he’ll never say no to me.”
“Because you’re impossible like your father,” Helena smirks.
Arianna pays the bill, and we go back to the car with our shopping. The guards help us pack it all away while two of them stand watch. Soon we’re driving back to the estate.
True to her word, Dominic’s car is parked outside the house, and he is in the living room when we come in. I dump my shopping in the entrance hall, for now, I’ll take it up later. I follow Arianna into the living room.
“Dom,” she says, grinning brightly and kissing both his cheeks.
“What do you want?” he asks immediately. “You’re only this sweet when you want something.”
“You’re coming out with us tonight,” Arianna says. She shushes him as he protests. “You’re bringing Sofia to La Club, and we’re all going to have a ball.”
Dominic rolls his eyes. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Too bad. You’re coming, and you’re drinking with me, or who knows what mischief I’ll get up to.” It almost sounds like a threat.
Dominic shakes his head. “Fine, I’ll bring Sofia to La Club, but I’m not promising I will drink.”
Arianna grins. “You will.”
She turns and hugs me. “See you in a few hours. Eat something hearty because we drink a lot.”