Page 29 of Cruelest Contract
Learn my way around the ranch
Out of ideas, I end up staring at the empty line for number five while tapping the pen against my chin.
Mel dropped no hints about what the Tempestas might have in store for me today. Pleasant as this room is, I can’t hide out in here indefinitely.
My priority is securing my brother’s safety. The Tempestas have the authority to make this happen. It’s my job to convince them.
Using all caps, I fill in the fifth bullet point.
GET TO KNOW THE TEMPESTA BROTHERS.
I stare at the words while polishing off the remainder of a scone.
These men are brash and formidable and intimidating. But they are still human. And while we are very different in many ways, we do have some things in common. I’ll need to tap into this if I’m going to beat them at their own game.
My phone dings and I snatch it off the desk. I don’t mean to be disappointed when I see the message is from Alice. She’s my best friend and she’s worried. I know she deserves better than a texted response with a vague promise to call her later.
I’m still feeling guilty about brushing off Alice when I scroll through the unanswered messages I’ve sent to Gabe. Angelo swears that Gabe is safe for the time being, still hiding out in San Diego.
While my faith in Angelo ranks somewhere on the level of my faith in gas station sushi, the two of them are close. When push comes to shove, Angelo will do what it takes to defend Gabe.
Even if ‘what it takes’ means handing me over to the Tempestas forever.
On impulse, I press the call button. My heart begins to sink after six rings and I’m expecting voicemail to pick up again but then there’s a click, followed by Gabe’s sleepy voice. “Yeah?”
Air leaves my lungs in a whoosh and my soul lightens. “Gabe, it’s me.”
He yawns. “Hey, Cici.” Bedsprings creak on his end. A woman’s voice whines something unintelligible. Gabriel mutters, “Shut up, it’s just my sister.” He coughs and returns to the line. “What’s going on?”
“Well, I’m here. In Wyoming.”
Another cough. And a long pause. “So how is it?”
The effort to keep my voice upbeat is almost painful. “So far it’s been kind of interesting. The ranch is enormous. Remember how we used to wonder about the kind of wild lives the Tempesta boys must lead?”
“Uh, sort of.” There’s the sound of a door closing, and then a faucet is switched on. “Are they being cool?”
“They’re being…polite.”
This is sort of true. They were mostly polite at dinner and they left me alone all night. Could have been far worse.
“I can handle the Tempesta brothers,” I say. “But how are you? I’ve been so worried.”
He sighs. “I’m kind of going stir crazy but Ange says I’ve gotta stay put here for a while.”
“As much as it pains me to say it, you should listen to Angelo.”
“Fuck.” He sniffs and clears his throat. “I hate this, Cici. All of it.”
“I know. But as long as you’re okay, I can deal with anything else.” I feel my lip tremble and shut my eyes for a few seconds until the wave of emotion passes. I’m glad my brother can’t see my face. “You know what I was thinking about the other day? How Daddy was always so hopeful he’d pass along his love of astronomy to us. That giant telescope he had was practically NASA-worthy. Sometimes I’ll look at a night sky and try to pick out the Gemini constellation. That’s us up there, Gabe. Twins born under the Gemini sign.”
I’m still talking when I hear him get distracted, murmuring to whoever was sharing his bed last night. “Just give me a minute,” he snaps, then says, “Sorry, Cici. Look, I know you’ve probably got plans today so I won’t keep you. But you be careful out there.”
“I will. Like I said, I can handle them.”
