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Again, he’s quiet, as if he’s assessing my statements. I’m worried I’m not sharing enough.
“If your father died right now, who would take over?”
My stomach clenches as I think about Niko gunning my father down. I don’t want to go back to my family, but he is my father.
“I don’t know who he’s named. TJ would likely try?—”
“TJ Rialto?”
I nod. “He’s technically my father’s oldest son. His mother was one of many mistresses. But I know my father worried about his impulsivity. Plus he’s my age… a little young?—”
“I was about your age when I took over.” He slants a glance at me.
“Yeah, well, he’s not you.”
His lips twitch upward. “No. No one is like me.”
It’s conceited and yet, I’m beginning to realize it’s true.
“My dad has acapo, Cal, who might make a move. I’ve heard him talking sometimes about how he thinks my father is weak. My father still has respect in the family, but if he died, I see him trying to take over.”
“Cal isn’t blood.”
“He’s like you were. My father’s nephew. Well, my uncle’s son by a mistress. My uncle is gone, so Cal is all that’s left except for my mom and me and Lucia. But well, as you know, women don’t generally become the heads of Families.”
“Would you like to be the head of your Family?”
“No. I told you, I don’t want this life.”
We turn the corner of the path, and the angle gives us a view of the bay. I stop, taken by the beauty of it. The vastness of the water. My world has always been so small. Views like this remind me of how much there is. It makes me ache to know it.
In the next few days,a new routine forms. Each morning, I walk with Niko. Then the day is my own—well, as long as I stay at the house. Mostly, I read and nap.
In the evening, Rosa dresses me, and I have dinner with Niko and sex usually follows. On the second night, he took me to a room with a library, telling me I could read any book here, and then he stripped me and we had sex on the leather couch. The night after that, he took me back to the garden, where he had me suck his penis… or dick, as he told me to call it.
Last night, he escorted me to my room. He made himself comfortable on the window seat and told me to strip. Then hehad me straddle him. It’s always pleasant, but I have to admit, the position with me on top has been my favorite so far. Maybe because it puts me in charge.
Today, we’re on our walk, but he isn’t asking me about my father.
“What do you do for fun?”
“Here? Read?—”
“No. In life. What do you enjoy?” he asks. He’s walking closer to me than usual. Sometimes, our hands brush together, and I wonder if he wants to hold my hand. Maybe it’s wishful thinking because I find myself wanting to hold his.
“I don’t have hobbies, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You like computers, though, right?”
I glance up at him, realizing he knows about my studies. “It’s okay. I wanted to learn something practical. Something I could use to support me when I left.”
“Smart.” He keeps his gaze ahead, so I don’t know whether he’s patronizing me or not. “Is there something you’d like to do? Learn about?”
“I don’t know.”
“Just reading, huh?”
“That’s all there is to do around here.”
