Page 54 of Blood Debt
Chapter 12 – Cristofano
Bellarosa Estate
"Stop right there."
The sound of her footsteps freezes.
Her figure stiffens by the far corner, barely lit by the thin silver slash of moonlight through the window. One hand still hovering mid-step, like she might vanish into the wall if she could.
I shift in the chair.
The half-empty bottle of lotion rests on the side table. A crumpled tissue sticks to my knee. My other hand drops lazily back to the armrest as I let the silence stretch between us.
She knows she’s been seen.
My voice cuts low through the still air. “You’re here late.”
No answer.
I lean forward slightly, eyes locked on the silhouette of her in her black skirt and pressed shirt, barely uncreased. The obedient little frame that’s been trailing through my halls for seven days.
“It’s not your cleaning hour, Elia,” I murmur. “So what is it? Couldn’t sleep?”
She bows her head low. “I—I wanted to make sure the office was cleaned properly, sir.”
My mouth lifts.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m sorry.”
I glance down at the lotion. The tissue. Then back at her.
“You interrupted me.”
She hesitates. Then her gaze flickers down for half a second—just enough to see it. The evidence of what she’s walked in on.
“I’m sorry,” she repeats, quieter this time.
I rise slowly. Her head stays lowered.
I take one step toward her.
Then another.
She doesn’t move, but her shoulders tense.
“Why don’t you help me finish?”
Her breath catches.
I see her hands clench at her sides.
“It’s not my place,” she says, soft.
“No?” I step closer. “We’ve kissed. Twice. And did more.”
She raises her chin slightly—enough for the light to catch the outline of her cheek, the tremor in her throat.
