Page 52 of The Mob Boss' Pet

Chapter Fifteen

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Stephania

There’s a small knock on the door of the bedroom. I flip off the television; it was so soft, maybe I didn’t hear it.

Another rapping against the door.

I slide off the bed and pad over to it. Vincenzo’s left it unlocked for me but told me not to leave until he gets back this afternoon other than to check on Roberto.

“Hi. Stephania, right?” Sarah smiles at me when I swing the door open.

I glance down the hall to see if anyone’s with her.

“Yes. That’s me.” I return her smile. “Is everything okay?” Sarah’s been helping Roberto with his medication, not that he needs the help.

“Oh, yeah.” She waves a hand in the hair. “Roberto’s fine. He’s in the shower.” Her cheeks redden. She hasn’t even alluded to anything worthy of blushing, but in her mind she probably has. If Roberto’s anything like his older brother, he’s not letting a gunshot wound stop him from taking what he wants.

“Good.” I nod, doing my best to ignore her discomfort. Bringing attention to it would only make it worse for her.

“I just... well, I thought maybe you’d like to get out of here for a little while,” she says.

My mind goes blank.

Is she offering to help me leave? Set me free?

Is this a test?

“Out of here?” The question comes out in a little squeak.

Her gaze drops to the collar. Vincenzo took the little bell off this morning, but it is still every bit a kitten collar. The soft blush on her cheeks deepens.

“Seems they have more in common than I realized,” she says softly then gives me a small smile. “I meant maybe you’d like to get out of the room. I was about to go down for lunch. Roberto’s going down to meet with Vincenzo and Anton after he gets dressed.”

I curl my toes inside my shoes. Getting away from these four walls sounds amazing.

“It’s okay if you don’t, I just thought I’d ask.” She starts to turn away. I touch her shoulder.

“That’s not it.” I look down the hall again. He’ll be in a meeting with his brothers, and who knows how long all of that will take. I’m hungry, and it’s not like I’m leaving the house.

“Vincenzo,” Sarah says with a firm nod. “I get it. He still scares me a little, too.”

“I’m not scared of him,” I clarify, too quickly. “I mean, he’s not so scary once you get to know him.” By the look of disbelief crossing her face, I realize how crazy I must sound. She’s known him a lot longer than I have.

“I’ll come down with you,” I say. It’s lunch, Vincenzo will get over it.

Or he won’t, but this room has lost its luster.

“Great.” Sarah steps back so I can follow her.

“How long have you and Roberto been together?” I ask as we make our way to the kitchen. I check over my shoulder several times to be sure Vincenzo isn’t jumping out at me ready to catch me not following his order.

“He’s in his office,” Sarah tells me when we get to the kitchen.

“Am I that obvious?”

“Yeah.” She nods with a smile. “There’s lunch meat in the fridge. Sandwiches sound okay?” She opens doors and pulls out a tray of deli meat.

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