Page 43 of Ruthless Beast

“Well. Do me a favor, Dominick. Please tell your boss I’d like to have a word with him when you see him, will you?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

He’s unexpectedly polite. I guess it’s pointless taking out my frustration on him. It’s Lucas I’m mad at.

I follow the man-mountain up a flight of stairs, and I’m utterly gobsmacked when we reach the landing leading to a large living space. This must be the inside of Lucas’ home. It’s spacious and opulent. Not the kind of show-offy opulence of a gangster, but rather that of a man with excellent taste.

I wonder where in this mansion I’ll be staying now that I’ve been upgraded from prisoner to houseguest. I don't have to wonder for long.

“This is where you’ll be staying from now on,” Dominick says as he leads me into a cottage adjacent to the house.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was a luxury chateau where I’m to enjoy a free, yet unplanned, holiday for a while.

“I take it; I can move around freely in here.”

“Of course. Just don't go outside until the boss has spoken to you.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I answer, my words dripping with sarcasm.

Dominick smirks before he leaves me to explore my new digs. The first thing I notice is that the external doors are locked, and there are no keys in sight. So much for the don’t go outside speech. The cottage has two en-suite bedrooms on the far side, away from the kitchen and living room. It’s all very modern, with the finest decor and finishes that gangster money can buy.

The interior designer should have painted the walls red. It would be more fitting than the soft green and white trim it has now, seeing as this place was no doubt bought with blood money.

How long before Lucas makes his grand appearance? Am I going to have to wait another two days before the mob boss graces me with his presence? I hope not. I have to talk some sense into him. Convince him to let me go, or I’ll go crazy. I hope to at least talk him into allowing me to call Dannie and tell her that I’m not lying dead in a ditch somewhere.

The sound of footsteps on the tiles in the entrance yanks me from my internal dialog. I look up expectantly, but once again, my hopes are dashed. Instead of Lucas, a young woman enters, carrying the clothes that Lucas bought me. Hot on her heels follows a young man carrying art supplies in bags.

“Good morning, ma'am,” they greet me politely.

“Hi.”

“Have you decided which bedroom you prefer?” the young woman asks me.

“Uhm, yeah. The one overlooking the ocean. Thanks.”

I assume that’s where she takes the clothes.

“I’ll put this in the studio for you,” the young man says.

“Studio?”

“Yes, Ma’am. There’s a large room upstairs.”

I follow him up a staircase into a large open area with a large window overlooking the ocean. I don't know how I missed it. I assumed the closed door was a guest bathroom. This is a nice surprise.

“Is it okay if I put it over here?” he asks.

“Yeah. That’s great. Thank you.”

I feel like a bitch for having been so snippy with the staff. It’s not their fault that I’m here. They’re just doing their job. I make a mental note to cut the sarcasm with them. I am nothing if not a polite human being.

“My pleasure,” he says with a bright smile before leaving the room.

It’s beautiful up here. The view of the ocean is spectacular. It’s the perfect place for an art studio. I wonder what Lucas had in mind when he built this room.

Lucas. Where the hell is he?

“Do you like the view?”

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