Page 100 of Deception

In a deadly way.

Ero tilts his head to the side, analyzing me, before looking back at his brother expectantly.

“Well, Isabella Rossi, be welcome in our home.”

I almost laugh in his face.

“Ero”—he waves, making a face—“like we practiced…”

“Welcome,” Ero says in a deadpan voice.

“Sorry, again. He likes to think he was the first one out and that means something, like he’s older than me. Anyways, how’s your stay been so far?”

They saunter in, and the family resemblance is startling. Each carries himself so much like their eldest brother, their boss. The swagger, the way they play off one another.

Ciro tucks his hands in his pockets, slouching his shoulders forward, waiting for me to say something. Ero just stares at the wall.

“Oh, I, uh…it’s been fine. For what it is.” I try not to let my voice quiver with fear or anger. “Was there something you needed?”

Get on with it, is what I really mean.

“Yeah. We wanted to see if you would like to go for a walk.”

“A walk,” I repeat, a chill shivering down my spine. This is it. They've come for me.

I stop my hand from instinctively drifting to my belly.

“You know, with your legs. And feet. Outside. We figured you've been cooped up in here for almost three days. You could use a little exercise. Adriano said you worked out a lot in Italy.” Ciro catches himself, his eyes darting away as they begin to scan down my body, still dressed in a simple, somewhat revealing nightgown. There hasn’t been a reason to really get dressed.

“And he said we had to, so.” Ero shrugs.

“Besides, it’s really sunny outside. Maybe it’ll make you feel better; you don’t look so good.”

“Thanks,” I snap, the snarky way Ciro insults me riles something up in me. “My own fault really. I’ve kept myself locked up in here for three days, you know.”

If they’re going to take me away and kill me, the least I can do is fight back a little. Show them that I’ve got spine.

A ghost of a smile flickers across Ciro’s face. He’s fucking with me.

I’m his brother's prisoner and he’s teasing me like I’m a visiting cousin.

“Well?” Ciro asks, pointing his thumb towards the door.

I look down at what I’m wearing and open my palms at him. Ero palms his face.

“Oh! Yeah. Get dressed, of course.” Ciro nods like he came up with the idea.

“In private…?” I point to the door, not just suggesting that he step out. Ero is already in the hall. “I'll be out in just a moment.”

“Take your time!”

“Ciro.” Ero smacks his brother’s arm.

“I mean, not too long, we do have stuff we need to do, so…” The door closes, muffling Ciro’s tirade. “You’re such a nag! What do you have going on that’s better than escorting a pretty lady around? It’s the most action you’ve seen in weeks!”

I explode into motion as soon as the door shuts, pulling out a pair of pants and a blouse, finding some flats. All to buy me some time to find something, anything to use as a weapon. Anything to use to defend myself.

If they think I’m going down without a fight, they’ve got another thing coming.

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