Page 31 of Monster

10

Mateo

After handcuffingCharlotte’s other wrist back to the bed, I made my way upstairs. She hadn’t put up a fight, so there had been no reason for me to flex. Which was odd, I had to admit. Charlotte Pettigrew was quickly becoming the billboard definition of ‘strong’ to me, so it didn’t make any sense why she’d go with me without putting up a fight.

Had she been that disarmed by the art room?

“What? A man can paint, can’t he?” I asked myself.

“Mr. Emiliano?”

I looked up at the sound of my best friend’s voice. “Rupert! When did you get here?”

The two of us embraced as my maid started maneuvering around the house, cleaning up the blood trails Charlotte left behind. She had been the first call I placed, especially since this house needed cleaning anyway. And since it was the weekend, I offered her double what I usually paid her.

After all, there was no reason to treat innocent people like dogshit all the time.

Rupert placed his hands on my shoulders. “You look rough. You sleeping enough?”

I snickered. “Asshole.”

He grinned. “Dickweed.”

We kissed each other’s cheeks before I led him out to the back porch. I walked over to the small outdoor kitchen I had out there and poured us each a glass of red wine before we took a seat overlooking the ocean. The waves lapping against the shoreline were easily my most favorite sound in the world. And as I sipped wine with my childhood best friend, I felt his eyes on me.

“What is it, Rupert?”

He set his wine glass down. “Is Miss Pettigrew still here? The woman you purchased from the auction?”

I slowly looked over at him. “Spit it out.”

He sighed. “I came over because I just caught wind of a ransom on her head.”

“Let me guess: the ransom was put out by the Lucchese Family.”

He shrugged. “That’s my best guess, yes.”

I paused. “Your best guess? You mean you don’t know?”

“No one’s talking right now, Teo. It’s like everyone has reason to clam up. And I’d bet my life on the fact that it has something to do with the woman you bought a few nights back.”

My eyes fell back out towards the ocean as I mindlessly sipped my wine. Rupert was the only friend I had in this lifetime, and I cherished that greatly. But, the fact that he didn’t have any other information from me really boiled my blood. My hope was to keep Miss Pettigrew under lock and key until I could win her over and have her on my side. Especially with her particular set of talents.

But, if someone had a ransom out on her head, that made me a prime target for collateral damage.

I drew in a curt breath of air. “I appreciate you coming to tell me.”

Rupert picked up his wine. “You’d do the same for me.”

I held out my glass. “Here, here.”

He clinked his against mine. “Here, here times two.”

I sipped my wine. “That Lucchese mutt brother threatened me before I left that auction, you know.”

I felt Rupert’s eyes on the profile of my face. “You think he’s the one putting out the ransom?”

I nodded. “Especially with the kind of threat he gave me. He said something to the effect of, ‘I’ll get my chance with her whether she’s yours or not’.”

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