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Before I could protest something pricked my neck and my legs turned to jelly before darkness filled the inner corners of my eyes.
“Get some rest, wife.”
CHAPTER 4
Nirah
I’ve been locked in this bedroom for seven days
One of the staff members brought me a meal three times a day and was under strict orders not to stay any longer. Not that I wanted them to.
Every single day, like clockwork, she’d drop my food off and immediately lock the door behind herself. Not even Antonio had been up here. So, I’d slowly been plotting ways to escape.
I knew this house like the back of my hand and Antonio knew that, which meant he’d be prepared for everything. Men positioned at all the exits if they weren’t already locked with a passcode I’d die trying to get my hands on.
A knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts.
I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It was too early for lunch.
The door clicked when someone unlocked it and I slid off my bed, watching the door creak open. My heart sank. Rosalia.
Eyes hard with betrayal stared back at me, and I noticed her trying to keep her chin up.
“Rosalia—”
“Mr. Antonio would like to see you in his office.” She cut me off and I hesitantly approached her.
Her dirty blonde hair with streaks of grey was neatly pulled back into a sleek low bun. She wore her usual white button up shirt with a black pencil skirt.
I simply nodded and she turned, making me follow suit.
“Listen, I—”
She halted, turning to face me. “We do not have to speak.” Right…
I swallowed my words, chewing the inside of my cheek as she continued walking.
Silently, feeling like the most awful human being, I followed behind her. I broke her trust. Lied to her. Abandoned her. And now, she won’t talk to me, or even look at me longer than necessary.
As soon as we reached Antonio’s office she knocked and he gave permission for us to enter.
Without looking at me, Rosalia turned, preparing to walk but my words stopped her.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.
With her back toward me she kept her chin up and continued walking. Apology not accepted. Noted.
My eyes fell shut, goosebumps rising on my skin as I mentally kicked myself. She’d been nothing but good to me. She helped me, cared for me, loved me. And how did I repay her? With lies. Lies, lies and more goddamn lies.
I whipped around, pushing open his office door with annoyance, only to find him behind his desk with a cigar between his lips and a glass of what I assumed was Bourbon to his right.
His rich scent smacked me into a haze, but I shook it off and stepped inside, arms folded across my chest.
“Yes, The Godfather? You requested my presence,” I quipped, and he leaned back, puffing out a cloud of smoke then motioned to the chair in front of him.
“Have a seat.”
“I’ll stand.”
