“You borrowed the earrings and necklace,” he says, ignoring my question.
It takes me a minute to follow, and when I do, I focus on sipping my coffee again. I shrug my shoulder. “I have enough jewelry.” He seems surprised by that. “What’s the matter, Amadeo? Don’t I fit the mold of spoiled princess you made of me before you knew a single thing about me?”
He considers. “You donated the cost to the children’s charity.”
“Well, technically that was you since it’s your money. Really, it was a win for me anyway. I still got you to part with a chunk of cash.”
He smiles as if amused, not irritated like I expect. He sips his coffee. “I don’t want the diamond off your finger.”
I glance at it. “It’s too big.”
“You chose it.” He moves to the door.
“Wait. Can I leave the room at least?”
“When I’m back.”
“So I just sit here and do nothing.”
He opens the door. “Do some more reading.” He gestures to the table across the room, and I see that awful book of the Russo family wrongdoings, according to him and his brother. Like it’s their fucking gospel. “If I leave the balcony door open, are you going to do anything stupid?”
“Like jump?”
“Like jump.”
“No. I wouldn’t do that to my sister.” Besides, it’s nice to have fresh air.
“Good. Consider it a test. There are about twenty armed men on the property. You try anything, one of them will bring you back and strap you to the bed until I’m home to punish you. Clear?”
I give him the fakest smile and flip him the finger.
“Clear?” he asks again, eyebrow raised.
“Clear.”
He opens the door and walks out into the hallway. “Do you think I can get some bread and water at least?” I call out.
“I’ll send proper food up,” he says, looking me over.
“How generous of you.”
“It’s purely selfish. I like my women with a little more meat on the bone.”
“I’m not your woman.”
“Something to hold on to,” he continues as if I haven’t spoken.
“Fuck off.”
He does, closing the door behind him and then locking it. I’m not his woman. That wasn’t part of the deal. But then the memory of their hands on me draws up a very vivid image while setting butterflies aflutter in my stomach.
With a groan, I carry my coffee to the open French door, and step outside onto the small stone balcony with its ornate balustrade. It makes me think of Romeo and Juliet, which is ridiculous since this is no romance. I may be in a beautiful villa overlooking a majestic turquoise sea, but the door is locked. I am a princess in a tower. And I have to contend with not one but two dragons.