Page 9 of Ruin
“Yes. We’ve got two different groups in the basement with Kresta and Sabrina, but nothing out of the ordinary.”
I’m curious about what he means by groups, but this definitely isn’t the time or place for me to be asking questions.
I doubt it will ever be the right time.
From what I saw in Sydney, the clubs are all about privacy for both those who work there and the clients who enter the doors, and as I’m neither, I will just have to remain curious.
Connell strides off along the front of the mansion, moving towards the side of the building where another man stands with a guard dog. I’d not noticed him before, and wonder just how large the security team is. There had been guards stationed at the front gates, opening the opulent wrought-iron gate when they’d spoken to David and Sebastian.
For the first time in three months, the tightly coiled knot of fear in my chest loosens. Not by much, but enough for my shoulders to lower a little. My body has been aching from how tense my muscles have been, but I’ve become used to it. The fear I’ve been feeling lately has been only slightly different from the fear I’ve been living with throughout my marriage, after all. Like when I’d wondered what version of my husband would appear each day. Or what unconscious actions of mine might set him off.
“Come on, let’s get you settled,” Sebastian says, pulling me from the painful memories.
I follow him, silently taking in the interior of the mansion as we step inside the doors. The floor of the foyer isone large marble slab with a grand staircase, made of dark wood, leading up to the first floor and ending just metres from the door. I half expect a princess to float down the staircase.
From what I could tell from the outside, there’s another story above that one. Which means, along with the basement Connell mentioned, this place is a total of four stories. And it had spanned quite a distance when I’d studied the front. I can’t even fathom how big it must be. This place makes the home I used to live in seem like a hovel, which I’d not thought possible. Joseph always needed to have the best money could buy, but there is no way he could have afforded a property like this. Not many people can.
No one would ever imagine this place was a den of sex, and if I didn’t know there were unspeakable acts most likely occurring beneath my feet at this very moment, I would think this was a place fit for royalty.
Although, from what I’ve read in the tabloids, the royals would most likely partake in those unspeakable acts with great enthusiasm.
“I’ll give you a tour tomorrow. I’m sure you’re tired and ready for bed,” Sebastian says as he leads me up the staircase.
“Okay,” I say quietly, certain that I won’t be going far from the room he has had set up for me.
I barely left the suite I’d been staying in at the Sydney club, and I doubt that will change here. I’ve become comfortable in my little bubble, and I’m not ready to change that.
A short way down the long hall on the first floor, he opens a large wooden door to reveal another staircase. Holding the door open for me, he waits while I walk cautiously past him, careful not to brush against him in the tight space.
This staircase is steeper, and I feel slightly claustrophobic in the enclosed space. But it opens into a wide hall, and the feelingdissipates as I take in the long hallway with at least ten doors leading off it on either side of the staircase.
“How many people live here?” I ask, and he seems surprised that I’ve spoken.
Given that I’ve barely uttered a word unless asked a question since he blazed back into my life, that’s understandable.
“There are seven of us here in the mansion at present. There were eight, but Daniella just brought her own home and has moved out. We have other staff accomodation elsewhere on the grounds. We’re having Daniella’s suite renovated, and that will eventually become yours if you are still wanting to stay here when it’s finished.”
I stare at him, unable to fully comprehend his words. He’s already made plans for me to stay here long enough to have my own suite?
“You want me to stay?” I ask, my voice wavering.
Sebastian’s expression softens a little, the mask slipping once again. “You’re family, Lily. You have a home with us as long as you need and want it. However long that may be.”
Home.
I’ve never felt like I had one. Not really.
I should have known that if I ever found one, it would be because of the DeLuca brothers. But I can’t allow myself to get comfortable here. Because as much as they claim I’m family, I know that I’m nothing more than an inconvenience. And I need to find my own way in this awful world at some point.
But for now, I’ll accept the roof over my head and hope I can finally feel safe enough to work out how to no longer be a burden on these two protectors. And on this man especially.
Sebastian shows me into his suite, taking my suitcase into the first bedroom near the door.
“This is your room. My bedroom is right next door if you need anything,” he says, standing in the open doorway while Ilook around the room, taking in the neatly made bed, piled with throw pillows on top of a pale purple bedspread.
My favourite colour.
“Feel free to make this as homely as you want,” Sebastian continues, swallowing hard as he watches me.
