Page 18 of The Devil's Touch
Domenico was an ass.Ever since the complicated arrangement between us took root, he didn’t let me stay at my apartment.I had been staying at his gothic gigantic Chateau with him.While I enjoyed the luxury that came with it, it was a little depressing to be stuck in this house with mean, robotic maids and stone-cold guards.
“This is all my fault,” Adele whispered.My eyes swiftly snapped towards the screen, and I frowned at her.
“Don’t do that.”
“You wouldn’t have had to steal from him if he weren’t for me.”It was useless trying to hide the details of my predicament from her.Adele wasn’t just a harmless curious cat.She’d dig to the bottom of the entire thing if I had lied to her.It was better this way.
“Listen to me,” I started, “none of this is your fault.I’m your big sister and I’m obligated to take care of you.I’d do it all over again if I had to.Do you understand me?”I tried to be confident, wanting to hide the quiver in my voice and the tears that blurred my vision, but I failed.
“On the bright side, you are here now.I’m so happy you are safe.”I murmured.
“You are going to make me cry, too, Vana.”Her voice trembled.
I laughed.“I love you, Adele.Now, you get well soon so that you can return to school.”
“Got it, boss.”She smirked.Staring at Adele felt like looking at a younger version of me, only her blonde hair was a few shades darker than mine.
“So, how’s he?”Her eyes took on a mischievous edge.“Is he as bad as they say he is?”Only Adele would try to make being coerced into an agreement with a mafia Don sound normal.
“Adele!”
“What?”She feigned innocence.“I’m just fishing for info.”
“He’s...”I trailed off, looking away from her.“Annoyingly controlling.Very annoying.Look, I don’t know.He’s just bossy.”I rushed the words out, hating that my cheeks felt like they were on fire.
“Sure, that explains why your cheeks are burning.”Her teasing tone made me meet her gaze.“You totally screwed him again, didn’t you?”
My eyes widened.“What?No!”
Adele rolled her eyes.“We both know you did—but it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”She sounded dismissive, but beyond the surface, I knew she was just baiting me into talking.
“Maybe a couple times.”I bit down on my lips, suppressing a smile.
Adele squealed like a little girl.“I knew it!”
I sighed.
At first, it was easier to convince myself that I was only attracted to Domenico because of how good he fucks me.But it wasn’t just that.It was how he looked at me, like he could really see me.How every inch of me came alive whenever he was near.How I anticipated his touches even when we were in proximity.How I felt utterly safe around him even though I loved to cling to the notion that he was dangerous.
“I think I like him,” I confessed, and it felt like a stone was rolling off my chest—it felt like liberation.
Adele didn’t look surprised.Her deep blue eyes brimmed with understanding, a little smile lingering on her lips.
“I have never seen you more alive than you always are whenever you talk about him,” she said quietly, weighing her words.
My breath hitched.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” I refuted.“Not yet.”A feeling of melancholy hit me because I couldn’t begin to fathom how I got so wrapped up in his world this much—how I let him get under my skin without even realizing it until now.
“Okay,” she whispered.“I’m drowsy.I think my meds are kicking in.I’ll nap now.”
“I love you.”I grinned and hung up pressing the big red button.
The smile on my face faded, but I instantly knew what it’d mean if I didn’t get out of my room.I’d crawl into that dark hole that I was desperately trying to avoid.I grabbed my phone, slipped my feet into my indoor slides and made my way out of the room.
In the past few weeks since I had been here, I already knew my way around the Chateau—a few important places, at least—so I wasn’t exactly scared of getting lost.I took the large dim hallways that had their floors lined with deep red carpets, leading me to the huge vintage spiral staircase that sprawled outward to the vast, opulent living room.
