Page 109 of The Billionaire's Pact

My hands grabbed the folding chair….

I clutched my stomach and gagged, rushing to the bathroom in time to vomit in the toilet. The hatred and anger stayed. Judge Colby should’ve died. Did Mr. Marini really plan to buy me? To what end? Was he always pretending?

I fell down to my knees and sobbed as my world was upended. The sense of being lost, of not knowing who to trust or where to turn, was suffocating. What had changed his mind? My thoughts journeyed back to meeting Luca Marini on that bench behind my grandparents’ estate near the Croton Reservoir….

I crossed over to walk on the stone stairs leading down to the bottom of the hill. On this side of the mansion was the reservoir. At the bottom, a male voice was singing opera not too far ahead, and from the light of lamps, there was a seating area near the dock. My eyes shifted around the path. Behind me was no trail; I had to pass him to reach the main road. I shivered and set off.

The crunch of my boots on approach had the man on the bench turning his head. He waved beckoning me and called, “Hi there, little one. What brings you out on a chilly night?”

“Just going for a walk.” I wasn’t sure who he was, but there was no anger in his eyes. And after the night I’d had, I didn’t think I could take more anger and yelling. And blood. But still, I was cautious.

“I don’t speak to strangers,” I said and swallowed.

“That’s wise.” He smiled. “Let me tell you who I am. Luca Marini.” He paused like I should know him, but I didn’t. “I live in the house next door and know The Belfiores. We share this area and I come here when I’m in town. Now, your turn.”

I bristled in a gust of cold wind and eyed the seat again. My pocketknife was in my jeans in case I got in trouble. I just wanted to rest, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place. But….

There was a bag next to him with seeds, and he tossed them on the ground. He seemed like a nice man. A few birds were near but hadn’t taken them. “They’re waiting for you to relax, and I didn’t catch your name?”

“Uhm…I didn’t give it. Stranger Danger and all that,” I said and shrugged.

“Yeah, you never can be too careful,” he quipped and went back to singing.

The heat lamps were warm, and I stopped shivering. My shoulders dropped, and I rubbed the back of my neck.

Then, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a paperback. A glance at Mr. Marini and his expression had softened to sympathetic but quickly changed back to amusement.

“What’re you reading?”

“Mother’s Night by Kurt Vonn….” When I didn’t know how to pronounce something, I spoke the part I was sure of.

“Vonnegut,” he said and frowned. “That’s a dark satire and inappropriate for a young lady your age. How old are you?”

I bit my lip and didn’t answer.

“I’d guess no more than twelve—”

“I’m fourteen,” I said abruptly.

The corners of his mouth turned down. “You look a lot younger. It’s too cold to be outside without a coat. It’s going to snow tonight.” His tone was admonishing.

I shrugged and hummed The Frozen song, “Let It Go.”

“You sing the Frozen song? I’m old, and I know that one. My grandchildren watched the movie every day. Drove me insane.”

I stifled a giggle.

Mr. Marini let out a belly laugh, and I joined in. He dug into his pocket, pulled out a ball of wrapped candy, and held it out for me to take.

I shook my head, refusing. “I don’t eat sweets. Mama says sweets will make my teeth rot and think of things impure.”

“That’s the same thing my Mama used to say. Are you Catholic? You went to Mass today?”

I nodded. “I go every day.”

I wasn’t strong in faith, but the cathedrals were warm, and I loved the smell of incense and singing. The prayers made me believe in a life that wasn’t as bad as mine. But I kept those thoughts to myself.

He sighed heavily, threw more seeds on the ground, and the birds chirped. “I go every day, too. You could eat it and still confess, you know.”

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