Page 265 of The Devil's Fire

“You did?” I asked in surprise, and she nodded.

“Yes, darling. A few years ago, my mother passed away in her sleep. It was the worst thing I have ever gone through.” Morella clutched the pearls around her neck.

I tried to see if she was taking a piss on me, but the sadness in her voice said otherwise. I was completely stunned, unable to utter a single word. How in the world could she think it was the same thing?

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” I muttered, holding my tongue back. Losing a parent was hell, but I would prefer my mother passing away peacefully in her sleep over being murdered in front of me.

“Thank you, my darling.”

“So, is my dad around?” I asked before she could continue.

“He will be here shortly. Do you want to grab a cup of coffee while you wait for him?”

“No, thank you. If I have any more coffee today, I won’t be able to sleep.” I forced out a chuckle. “I will wait for him in his office.”

“All right, darling.” Morella’s high-pitched voice went an octave higher, and I hurried to my father’s office before I lost my hearing.

I grew restless waiting for my father for thirty minutes. Rising from the couch, I wandered around his office, scanning the bookshelves, but nothing caught my interest.

Sighing loudly, I plopped down on his desk chair and began spinning around in boredom until the idea struck me to find blank papers. Since I had to wait anyway, I might as well kill time by drawing.

“That looks familiar...” I muttered, looking at the necklace that was in the drawer. It was a necklace that looked awfully like the one I had lost.

I grabbed it, turning it over in my hands, only to gasp loudly when I realized it was mine.

“What are you doing in here?” Carlos’ voice rang out by the door, already glaring daggers at me.

“Waiting for my dad. What else does it look like I’m doing?” I replied, not caring if it came out bitchy. After all, he didn’t deserve niceties after backhanding me across the face.

“It looks like you’re snooping around.” He snatched the necklace out of my hand.

“It’s mine.” I reached for it, and he tried to push me away, but I quickly grabbed his arm before he could.

“Touch me and see what happens to you.” I warned him.

Carlos made the smart decision to back away from me.

“What is going on here?” My father’s voice boomed, frowning as he looked back and forth between us.

“Nothing’s going on. I was just waiting for you, and Carlos was about to leave.” I said, as neither of us showed signs of backing down.

“She was being a nosy bitch and snooped around.” Carlos held up the necklace to show it to my father.

“I dare you to call me that one more time, and you might just accidentally drop dead to the ground.” I took a step closer to him, ready to remind him just how precious his balls were.

“Enough!” My father roared, grabbing Carlos by the shoulder.

He forced him away from me and spoke to him rapidly in a low tone in Italian. Whatever my father was saying to him, it didn’t look like Carlos was very happy about it. He walked out of the office without saying another word.

My father let out a sigh and looked at me.

“I’m sorry, figlia. How are you?”

I smiled and went in for a hug.

“I’m doing better.” I said, closing my eyes and enjoying the comfort of my father’s arms wrapped around me.

“You do look better. Are you being taken good care of?” He leaned back to look at me.

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