My breath shakes as he remains perfectly still. Seconds extend, feeling like minutes. He grabs the ends of my hair, twirling it between his fingers as his other hand grips tightly on my waist. His large hands make me feel small.
I look down at him as he pushes himself closer to me, our lips inches from one another. I could kiss him. But I can’t. I will not allow myself to view him differently. The moment I do that, everything will change.
An eternity later, his hands release me, throwing me back into the spot on the couch he snatched me from.
I am at a loss for words.
Utter silence fills the room, making me feel uncomfortable. My mind is filled with so many thoughts, but none at the same time.
Not a goddamn thing in my head makes sense right now.
“Your father’s phone,Donnina.” Giovanni’s voice sounds like a threatening whisper. “I want it by tomorrow.”
He gets up from the couch and grabs his drink off the table. He takes a couple of steps before he stops, turning his head toward mine. A manipulative smile masks his face as he continues to walk out of the room, leaving me feeling like an object on the couch.
Perhaps it’s a good thing Giovanni didn’t smile. Each time he smiles, he acts on it. He was right though, no matter how much I wanted to deny it. He does get under my skin. I have never had someone feel my skin the way he does.
Why does Gio think he can have his way with me? Why does he think I will just act on everything he tells me to do?
I didn’t plan on taking Papa’s phone, but I will now. I want to know what’s so special about it.
Does Papa have something on Gio? Maybe it’s the other way around, and that’s how he was able to get Papa to put a hold on sending me off to Kirill.
Curiosity overwhelms me.
A part of me wants to do everything he demands, but that will only make me seem weak.
I let out the breath I’ve been holding for what seems like forever.
He is starting a game he won’t be able to win.
14NINA
“Well, good morning, sunshine.” Ana’s voice waves over me as I’m still waking up. “Rough night?”
I look at the time on the stove, and it’s noon.
I wasn’t able to go to sleep easily last night after everything Giovanni did as we sat together on the couch.
“Something like that,” I tell her as I walk over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. I was right to assume I would be hungover from all the alcohol I consumed last night.
“You went to Carlo’s?” I take a long overdue gulp of water.
My body absorbs the water almost instantly.
“Yeah, I did.”
“And how was that?”
“What’re your plans for today?” She’s trying to deflect my question. Her cheeks begin to turn a bright shade of pink.
“Jesus, Ana.” I laugh, already knowing what she did last night. My sister is obsessed with her husband.
I walk toward the living room and grab a book off the shelf and hold it up to her. “I am going to read and relax by the pool.” I raise my eyebrows. “Why are you still here, by the way? Shouldn’t you be staying with your husband at the house?”
She lets out a mutter as she presses her palms into her forehead. “Yes, but Carlo is gone all the time, so I get his men to drive me here so I won’t die of boredom.”
I roll my eyes at her as I walk toward the sliding glass doors. “And how much longer will he let you do that?”