Page 67 of Sin & Secrets

I had barely noticed the change over these last few weeks, but I realize it now. A month of steady food, regular exercise, and without the stress of an abusive asshole lingering over her had done wonders for her appearance.

But in the span of three short days, that progress seems to have faded. Her skin is grayer, her cheeks more taunt. Even her hair lies dully across her shoulders.

“It worked, didn’t it?” I say as I serve up two plates. The larger I push toward her. “Eat.”

I think she might deny me for a moment, but suddenly, she picks up the fork and begins eating ferociously.

At least Donatella will stick around now. I tuck into my own meal slowly—content to watch her consume every mouthful.

I can almost see the color returning to her cheeks as she sits back from her empty plate.

“I owe you an apology,” I begin cautiously. “I jumped to a conclusion I had no right to make.”

She points her nose in the air and looks away.

“And I’m sorry for making you feel like you were a prisoner here.” I take a deep breath. “But…”

She sighs. “But?”

“But what you did was reckless, despite your intentions. You should have told me what you were planning. I would have helped you.”

“And you would have just let me go? Willingly?” She challenges me with a hard glare. “Your sense of male pride wouldn’t have tried to stop me.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “We could have come up with a more sensible plan.”

“We didn’t have time for that,” she counters. “You don’t know him as I do. His moods are…fleeting. If I’d waited until you’d returned, he would have sobered up enough to think twice about meeting me.”

I consider this a moment. “Teo tells me he’s messaged you since.”

She pulls out her phone and slides it over for me to see.

An irrational pang of jealousy overcomes me when I re-read the old message thread:

“I need you. Now.”

Fuck, baby. I’ll try…I’ll be there soon.

Then, the new messages from Lazzaro:

“I’m waiting backstage.”

“Cas, where are you?”

“Are you seriously giving me blue-balls right now?”

“Fuck you. I can’t believe this.”

“Ungrateful slut.”

I try not to crush the phone in my hand.

“I had an opening, and I missed it,” Cas says, seemingly entirely unbothered by the content of the messages.

I give myself a moment to calm down. “Perhaps. But perhaps not.” I gesture to the phone in my hand. “May I?”

She simply shrugs as I begin typing out a reply. I hit send and slide the phone back for her to read for herself.

I’m sorry, baby. He found out and wouldn’t let me leave.

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