Page 96 of Ruins
Santo watches me carefully, then gestures toward the easels set up by the window.
“You should paint.”
The shift is effortless. Like this is nothing. Like he didn’t just remind me how much power he holds.
“I’ll have Winnie send up a snack since you missed lunch.”
“Winnie?” I echo, still trying to catch up.
“One of the staff.”
“Like Lila?”
His lips curve. Something dark. Amused.
“Just. Like. Lila.”
A pause.
“Actually, Lila could use a nice, long vacation.”
Before I can process what that means, he turns, heading for the double doors.
His presence leaves as swiftly as it came.
Chapter 20
Santo
AsIleaveVasilisain the library, my mind is already turning over how to handle Lila.
I never expected her to be a problem. She’s young, working part-time to pay for her education—a favor to Mrs. Keen. I let her in.
And now I regret it.
She frightened my wife. Pressed her about me. About the men she’s been with.
The thought alone makes my jaw clench.
Now, she sits across from me in my office, wringing her hands, eyes cast downward. A bead of sweat trickles down her temple, and she swipes at it quickly, her breath shallow.
I don’t say anything.
Not yet.
Instead, I take my time. I let the silence stretch, let her squirm under the weight of it as I shoot off a quick text to Luca.
Then I check the surveillance feed.
The monitor lights up, displaying the library. Vasilisa is still there, standing near the shelves, admiring the array of paints and brushes I had set up for her. She looks... ethereal. The natural light catches in her golden hair, softening the angles of her face, making her look almost untouched by the world around her. Untouched by me.
She was breathtaking in the garden earlier.
And now, because of Lila’s careless words, she’s wary of me.
My fingers tighten around the phone.
I force myself to exhale slowly before turning my gaze back to Lila. She’s still refusing to meet my eyes, her fingers twisted together in her lap.
