Page 63 of Ruthless Vow

Then Sabina recounts the details of her recent trip to New York to visit with her friend, who is going to be the maid of honor at her wedding.

“I need to plan the engagement party,” Sabina says. “Immediately. I know I shouldn’t have waited this long. I need the invites out, like, literally yesterday.”

“Nicole can help you,” Leo says. “If—”

“No,” Sabina cuts him off, without sparing me a look. “I’ve already hired an event planner.”

And with that, the topic shifts to something else.

It stings, this loss of trust with the Russo family. But I remind myself that it could sting much, much worse.

For now, I choose to be grateful as I watch Sabina slowly ease into the evening, enjoying herself with her brothers, despite my unwelcome presence only five feet away from her. I’m doubly grateful that Dante sits between us as a buffer.

She’s a good sister, one who loves her brothers with all her heart and soul.

It only makes me miss Sofia even more.

22

Nicole

Another week passesand I feel like I am going to go out of my mind. Not at night—my nights are wonderful, spent in Leo’s bed, in his arms. It’s the days that are driving me mad. The morning after the family dinner, a treadmill arrived and was added to Leo’s home gym. I’m running five miles daily, but that only occupies me for less than 40 minutes a day.

Leo keeps me updated daily on any news about Sofia or Bianca. Unfortunately, those updates are sparse.

Finally, I ask Leo to put me to work.

He studies me for a long time, saying nothing, his obsidian eyes measuring, judging. Then he says, “Okay.”

The next morning, a new laptop arrives along with a cell phone and Leo assigns me a set of tasks. Mundane tasks that allow me no access to anything important… definitely no access to any of his less than legal activities. I’m allowed to schedule meetings, manage his calendar and handle daily business operations for his legitimate businesses, handle low-level communications, and make purchases online. The sort of tasks he would assign to a hired temp.

I’m not allowed to work on anything else and have no access to sensitive information. No access to less than legal operations, key contacts, security, or anything to do with finances.

It stings.

I’ve earned my place in his bed, but I haven’t earned his trust. Once trust is lost, it might never be regained. Worse, I feel the loss pf the respect he had for me as a professional.

Three more weeks pass. I’m less bored but no less distressed. I worry about Bianca planning an attack, hurting Leo or his family. I worry about Sofia constantly. It’s clear that my aunt is constantly having my sister moved because every time Leo gets a lead as to her location, she’s already gone by the time his people arrive. My only comfort is that if my aunt is moving my sister around, it means that Sofia is still alive.

The day before Sabina’s engagement party, Leo comes to find me in his office.

“Come with me,” he says, and offers his hand.

“Is that a request?” I ask with a laugh.

“Is it ever?” A slight smile curves the corners of his mouth.

It’s never a request, always an order. And I always know that I can refuse. We both enjoy Leo exerting control. But I know that if I said no, he would honor it. Except when it comes to my safety. He’s made it clear that he won’t negotiate when it comes to that.

I take his hand and he leads me upstairs to our shared bedroom. There’s a portable garment rack in the center of the room. On it hang a dozen gowns in various shades and silhouettes, separated from each other so the details of each are on display. A dozen pairs of shoes are arranged on the floor next to the garment rack and a variety of evening bags sit on the low dresser.

I look at Leo in confusion.

He settles himself on the chaise lounge in front of the window. “Pick something,” he says.

“Pick something?”

“To wear to the party tomorrow night.”

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