Page 6 of Cold

He slammed the door to the bathroom and I sighed. I sank down into the water until only my eyes and nose peeked over the top and stared at the door. There had to be a way to get through to Vito. He was still being a robot, but I had caught that longing look in his eyes. I was good at drawing that out of people and making them want me.

Sergei called it my best skill set.

When the water turned cold, I gave up and pulled myself out of the tub. I grabbed a thick, white towel and dried myself off before I grabbed the clothes that Vito had left behind. As soon as I tried them on, I knew the pants would be way too big for me. I slipped into the button up shirt he'd gotten me and dressed myself. When I looked in the mirror, I toyed with my curls until they looked better and popped open the first two buttons to show off my chest.

"Okay, Mr. Whiskers," I whispered as I picked up my cat and stared at our reflection in the mirror. "I'm going to have to do this and it sucks. But I've done it before." I kissed the top of his head and frowned. Vito's scent clung to the shirt and I picked it up and inhaled. "He smells good," I muttered.

I can do this. One more time and then I can go back.

Sergei was familiar. I vaguely remembered a time when we didn't get along, but that felt like decades ago. He could be cruel and grumpy, but Sergei loved me. He told me that every single day. It was better to be loved than to be hated and retrained.

I stepped out of the bathroom as my mind went to Sergei and our past. When I was around him, there was no time to think. But being in Vito's quiet house made my thoughts a little louder.

"Come into the living room," Vito said.

I glanced up and nodded. My bare feet padded across the floor and I found a seat on the couch to plop down. I crossed my legs and hugged Mr. Whiskers to my chest as I looked back at the man who had taken me away.

"Where is Sergei?"

I raised a shoulder and dropped it. "He left me."

Vito rounded the couch and sat on a chair across from me. "I find that hard to believe, Romare. Why would someone steal you and keep you close for six years if they were just going to abandon you?"

"He didn't abandon me," I snapped.

Vito raised a brow. Shit. Don't be overly emotional! I have to play the part.

"Then what do you call it?" Vito asked.

I shook my head. "There was no time for him to unlock me. But even if he did try to take me with him, I would have fought. I never wanted to be there."

"Yeah? Then how come you just got so upset I said he abandoned you?"

Shit. Shit. Shit. Sergei's going to kill me!

I buried my face in Mr. Whiskers and stared out ahead of me. It wasn't my fault! I was out of practice when it came to talking to people and keeping my emotions behind a mask. With Sergei it was learned and necessary when he was in a bad mood. But the outside world? I was kept under lock and key unless Sergei sent me out to do his bidding. And it had been a while since he'd done that.

I'm a little rusty that's all. I'll get there.

"Why don't I believe you?" Vito asked, cutting into my thoughts. "There's something about you that I don't trust, boy," he growled. "And you better believe I'll figure it out."

My stomach tightened and I finally met his gaze. The fire that burned in his eyes made me want to break out into a sweat. If I made one little mistake, this man would kill me. I could see it in him as clear as day. Vito would have no issue taking my life.

"I-I don't want to talk about this anymore," I squeaked out.

"Too bad."

I shook my head. "I don't know anything!"

"Lies," Vito shot back. "I can see it on your face. You better start telling me the truth or I'll drag it out of you."

A new kind of panic set in. Not the one from before, the kind that came whenever Mr. Whiskers was taken away from me. It was the uncomfortable kind of panic that sank into my bones and made me feel like I could be seen.

Really seen.

My stomach growled and I placed a hand over it. The noise broke up the tension and I could breathe and think straight again. I glanced up at Vito and pouted.

"I don't feel well. Can I eat? Please?"

Vito stared at me and grunted. He pushed himself up and I watched as he padded into the kitchen. A minute later I heard movement and sighed.

Why is this man messing me up so much? I've never struggled this hard.

I could get in, get out, and do what needed to be done with the best of them. But Vito? He was fucking up my brain. I held onto Mr. Whisker's more tightly and blew out a deep breath.

It's me or him.

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