Page 38 of Bones

“There’s a bookstore up the street. I thought maybe you’d like to get a few to keep you busy when I’m working.”

For the life of me, I don’t understand why her face turns white as a ghost.

“I don’t really like to read. I prefer TV.”

I nod my understanding, but to be honest, I can’t imagine choosing to not read. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I have time, which unfortunately isn’t often. I assumed it’s something everyone loves, but clearly I was wrong.

“Is there anything else you’d like to do before we go home?”

She shakes her head no, and I kiss her on the neck.

“I’ve ordered a laptop for you.”

Again, the look on her face confuses me, but as always she’s secretive and unwilling to say a damn thing. It’s frustrating. Under normal circumstances, I’d put her in the damn cage until she starts talking, but I can’t do that. Threatening her will not get her to talk. The only thing that will accomplish is driving her away from me. It makes me feel powerless, and that’s not something I’m accustomed to.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

ATHENA

I’m freaking out on the inside, while trying to appear calm and collected. He is asking too many questions, and I’m terrified he’s going to begin to piece things together. Luca has become the man of any woman’s dreams. I never would’ve imagined the man that held me captive, and planned to kill me, would be capable of this. He is good to me. Any other woman would be thrilled to get a brand new laptop. I’m afraid that stupid electronic is going to be the beginning of everything unraveling. I have no doubt Luca is going to question why I’m not using it. I can’t tell him the truth, because he’ll ask why. I can almost hear him now.

“Why can’t you read, Butterfly?”

When he mentioned getting me books, I panicked. I told him I don’t like to read, because telling him the truth was mortifying. Everybody can read. Everybody but me. It’s interesting that I was willing to do anything to get away from him, but now the thought of losing Luca is debilitating.

“I have some work to do. I’ll only be a few hours,” he says as we pull up to the house.

I smile. “That’s fine. I’m sure you have bones to break. Your fingers must be getting twitchy.”

He chuckles loudly. “My fingers have found other things more useful. I’ll be in my office, not breaking bones.”

We walk into the house, and he turns to me and strokes his fingers down my face. “I’ll be down soon, Butterfly. Make yourself at home. My home is yours.”

He kisses me quickly before he walks away and goes upstairs.

I kick off my shoes and settle onto the couch, and stare at the mural on the ceiling. My mother used to tell me stories about Greekmythology. It’s how I got my name. She was fascinated with it, but now as I stare at the pictures, it causes bile to rise in my throat. How could she leave her child in that hell?

Footsteps approach and Jimmy appears. “You have a guest, Mrs. Bonetti,” he says with a sick smile on his face.

A guest? I literally don’t know anyone, so that doesn’t make any sense to me. Penelope, maybe? Perhaps she wants to make sure I’m okay.

I nod as another set of footsteps echo in the distance, until they stop, and all the air in my lungs escapes. I tremble and cannot breathe. This isn’t happening. It’s a nightmare.

“Princess. I’ve missed you.”

My head screams ‘no, no, no,’ but nothing comes out of my mouth. I’m unable to speak.

“Time to go home,” he says.

I shake my head, and finally find the ability to speak. “I live here now.”

He chuckles with a sinister grin. “This entire building is lined with explosives outside. If you come with me, Bonetti is safe, but if you refuse, you’ll die together.”

I glance at Jimmy, hoping he’s going to save us, but he laughs. “Don’t look to me to save you, bitch.”

My father looks at me. “What’s it going to be, Princess?”

I hang my head down. “I’ll go. Don’t hurt Luca. I’ll do anything.”

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