Page 20 of Vow of Silence

“Not at all.” He holds an arm toward her. “Kim is a quick learner.”

“I didn’t know you needed anyone new.” My suspicion is in overdrive—I know it. But sue me. Some fucker tried to shoot me, so I think I’m allowed to be low-level paranoid.

“Not something we’d bother you with, Miss.”

Harrison’s right; I’m not privy to the day-to-day dealings of the household. Why would I know he has a new staff member? “I’ll let you get back to it.” I smile at the girl and gauge her response.

She continues to stare at me, hard and calculating. I can’t pick if she judges me for who I am or if it’s something moresinister. I duck my head and tear the end of the packet open on my way out of the room and come close to walking smack into Marcus.

“Sorry, Miss.”

I stare into his deep brown eyes and scowl. “Thank you for informing Papa I lost my stomach this morning.” I search his gaze. “Anything else you thought it your place to ‘overhear’?”

His finely sloped features pinch. “Not at all.”

“Good.” I start toward my room, aware he remains close behind. “You’re there to ensure nobody gets into my bedroom, not eavesdrop on everything I do inside.”

“And how am I to tell if an intruder has come into your space another way if I don’t keep a keen ear?”

He’s young, Marcus. From what I’ve seen of him, he’s only been around our family for a few years. Hardened and jaded, he fits right into Aleksy’s brigade. But he has a thing or two to learn about personal space—that much is clear.

I storm into my bedroom and slam the door in his face. This house is my prison cell until they figure out who took Caroline from me. I could scream. Fuck it—I just might. After setting the crackers on my nightstand, I fall face-first into the mattress and bury my nose and mouth into the thick fabric before letting out a frustrated growl. It doesn’t satisfy, so I level it up a notch and scream into the dense bedding as hard as I can. My muted shriek barely breaks the surface, but it’s enough to have Marcus knock at the door.

“Miss?”

I roll to my back and let the tears come as I crack a mad smile. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Marcus.”

He leaves me alone, satisfied since I didn’t recite the phrase I was taught as a child to indicate that I’m in danger withoutthe captor knowing: bright and sunny. I feel anything but. Storm clouds settle over my life, and I don’t even give enough of a fuck to raise an umbrella to the deluge. The hits keep on coming, and I just take it.

Benito doesn’t talk.

I’m not allowed to leave the house.

My irritating cousin will organize my arranged marriage wedding.

Again, Benito doesn’t talk.

The first guy I fell in love with, the man who stole my heart—or should I say the boy who took my virginity—is my betrothed. And I don’t know a damn thing about who he is now.

“Marcus?”

He answers through the door in a heartbeat.“Yes, Miss Nastasya?”

“I need you to do something for me.”

He knocks to indicate he’s about to open the door and then pops his head in the small gap. “How may I help?”

I stare at the ornate plaster ceiling over my four-post bed and close my eyes. “Get me Benito De Santis’s phone number, please.”

I need to know for myself who this stranger is that I marry.

TEN

Benito

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