Page 2 of The Monster's Mate

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding when Ms. Higa walks Jeb Johnson back outside.

The pretty lady watches me carefully. “Was he bothering you?”

I shrug and straighten my shoulders. Suddenly, I want to appear older and as self-poised as this woman. “We’s have to not be alone with him. Ever. I was called in here and I was alone right before he came in.”

“I see. Well, I’ll take care of it. I have an uncle—he’s your father actually, though it’s a secret, so don’t tell—who can make sure he’s fired. I’ll probably have to work for him,” she rolls her eyes, “but it’ll be a small price to pay to see the old lech get away from children.” She taps her forehead. “I can’t let him know where the gardener works, of course. Because no one can know I was here. I’ll have to make up some other story, but don’t you worry. I’ll figure it out and get the creeper away.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Samantha Merende. I’m your cousin.”

My hand feels so much smaller in hers. “I-I’m Lucy.”

“I know,” she says, and sits on the sofa next to me. “Last time I saw you, you were just a toddler. Two years old. Prettiest little thing.” She tucks my hair behind my ear. “I couldn’t come before today because I wasn’t old enough. But I turned eighteen last week and now I can sign myself in to see you.”

“Are you going to take me?” Would I live in a real house?

Samantha shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. Remember your father? He doesn’t want anything to do with you. Allowed your name to be changed and wants to pretend you don’t exist. That means my mom, who is his sister, also pretends. Besides, the best place for you is right here. You get free education so make sure you study hard! And when you’re my age today, ten more years from now, I’ll be back to pick you up. Probably in a limo, like you’re a queen.” She smiles at me, and I smile back.

“Where will I go?”

“I’ll hide you someplace safe. You don’t have to worry. And you’ll be smart from all that studying in school, and we’ll get you lots of clothes. You’ll have a job and a new life in no time!”

I can’t help but grin right back at her, showing the gap between my teeth that I’m quite proud of. The gap means myadultteeth are coming in and I’m that much closer to being like her.

An adult.

Then the grin falters. “Will I see you again?”

She looks at me for a few moments without answering, like she’s thinking about things. Then she makes up her mind.

“Yes, you will. I’m going to find a way to visit at least once a month, sweetie.”

Chapter One

“Lucy!”

Samantha’s voice screams out before the slam of the front door to the house registers through my brain fog. I jump up from where I’m hiding in the basement and scramble up the stairs just as she flings open that door.

“What? Are you all right? What’s wrong?” I bark out.

“I found you someplace to hide,” she says. “A stroke of luck that I was on duty today.”

My cousin works as a chauffeur for a limousine service. She’s beautiful, talented, strong… but at the mercy of Duke Milinazzo.

Just as I am.

His coalition, who are preparing him for political office, have nudged him toward tying up loose ends. I’m a loose end and he’s been scouring the Earth for me.

I’m at the last place he ever thinks I’ll be.

His sister’s house.

Patricia Milinazzo Merende is the spitting image of her brother, and not only in looks. She’s just as mean and spiteful as he is on the inside.

My aunt helped him name me when my mother died when I was the tender age of two, right before Patricia dumped me off at the home. I have no idea what my birth name was and didn’t find out my legal name until my withdrawal records from the home at eighteen. Fortunately for me, Aunt Patricia’s daughter Samantha was twelve and was fascinated with her baby cousin, though she couldn’t go against her family. When she turned eighteen, Sam came to visit me, and told me she was my cousin. Explained that right now, the home was the best place for me since there was free schooling, but when I was turned out at eighteen, she’d hide me at her home and help me find someplace to live.

I’ve been hiding in her basement with Aunt Patricia living upstairs.

“I took a woman home today from Duke’s party.” She’d told me this morning about being hired to chauffeur people back and forth for his party, held at his friend’s house.

“Who was she? One of his floozies?”

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