Page 25 of Sweet Retribution

“Is Sebastiana joining us?”

A furrow deepens between his brows. “No.” He doesn’t deny they’re sleeping together.

“I figured, since you’re not hiding your affair with her we should all go together.”

Stone clenches his teeth. “Mywifewill be joining me.” He stands, the patio chair scrapes across the flagstone quite loudly, and leaves.

My wife.I’m for show. I knew I would be from the beginning, but that was to get Lorenzo’s attention. Now it’s to get Antonio’s. I don’t have to ask Stone about protection. He’ll keep me safe. He’ll have extra men watching my every move.

Still, I’m not ready for this. It’s only been two weeks since Antonio kidnapped and nearly raped me. I trust Stone has researched and scouted the area, that he has a plan in place. It doesn’t make this any easier though.

I pick up the game and carry it inside, tucking it away in a cabinet in the never-used living room. The three black leather couches look like they’ve never been sat on. The plush white carpet never tread upon.

When I return to my room, I take out my tablet and call my mother. We video chat for over an hour, until she says she’s tired and needs a nap. It happens a lot lately. Mother was never a napper until we ran away.

The need came partly as a recovery from the head trauma Lorenzo caused, and partly, I’m sure, from the stress of being on the lamb. She’s aged and slowed significantly in the past eight years, however, I’ve seen more light in her since Stone set her up in his estate in New York.

Living in the Finger Lakes region of New York had brought her so much life and energy. For that, I owe Stone my gratitude.

I’ll play the part tonight as I did a month ago. I’ll dress up, pretend to be happy and in love with my surly, yet handsome husband, and not speak until spoken to.

I snort as I strip out of my bathing suit and turn on my shower. The latter was a rule when I first arrived. Stone should know better by now. I have every intention of speaking whenever the hell I feel like it.

I’m not here to make friends or earn brownie points. I’ve held up my end of the bargain, and then some. The water tingles my tanned skin. My shoulders got more sun than I realized. After lathering up and shaving my legs, I wash my hair and let the conditioner sit for a few minutes while I enjoy the eight massage shower heads.

Once clean, I wrap myself in a robe and go to the closet in search for something to wear. Stone filled my closet with the finest clothes before my arrival. I snort.Arrival.Kidnapping is what it was. Maybe not to the extent of what Antonio did to me, but drugging me and putting me on a plane and holding me hostage in this gilded cage is still illegal.

I skim my hand across the fine fabrics. Should I go for long and formal, short and cocktail style, or something in between? There are elegant dresses, subdued dresses, and slinky, sexy dresses.

Flaunting my assets isn’t my style, but maybe I should take a page out of Sebastiana's playbook. Not that I’m trying to compete with her or even garner Stone’s attention. My hand stops on an emerald green satin slip dress.

I pull it out and hold it in front of me. It’s quite risque for me, but Sebastiana would consider it perfect for Sunday church. Not that I can picture her ever attending a service.

The thin straps will make it necessary to wear a strapless bra, or no bra at all. The material is thin yet high-end, of course. On the hanger, I can’t tell how deep the loose neckline will hang.

It’s a beautiful, simple dress. I turn it around and gasp. The back plunges low. Cripes. My butt crack is going to show in this. I toss out the idea of wearing a strapless bra. I’ll have to go braless tonight.

I worry my lip with my teeth unsure I can pull it off. If Iwantto pull it off. I neatly drape the dress across my bed and go back into the bathroom to work on my hair and makeup. I just finished drying my hair when a knock sounds on my door.

Since the person waits on the other side, I figure it can’t be Stone. He lets himself in, welcomed or not.

I pad across the room and am surprised to see Maria. “Aren’t you off the clock now?”

“I came by to see if you needed help getting ready.” She sets a tray of champagne, fruit, and vegetables on my sideboard.

“I’d be honored. The only thing I know to do with my hair is a ponytail or messy bun.”

“Hmm.” Maria assesses my hair, then spots the dress on the bed. “You’re wearing this?” She picks it up and holds it in front of me.

“Contemplating. Not sure I can pull it off.”

A mischievous smile fills her face. “Oh, sweetheart, you most definitely can pull it off. Stone is going to have a heart attack when he sees you.”

“I wouldn’t mind that,” I mumble.

We go into my bathroom and I sit at my vanity while Maria puts most of my hair up in a fancy twist. She leaves long strands around my face and curls them before setting it all with spray.

“Have you picked out shoes?”

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