Page 10 of Deception

When I woke up, I was warm and comfortable. I’d once again been moved into the bed. I was usually a light sleeper, especially while I was the guest of knife- and gun-wielding lunatics. Jumping at every sound had become my new normal. But once I was asleep here, I seemed to stay that way. Which was good, since I only got a few hours’ rest a night. But also bad because it meant anyone could come in and I wouldn’t even know it.

But last night I’d woken briefly as I was being carried. My suspicion that it was Lucius who was moving me was confirmed, though I’d been too tired to do more than rest my head on his chest and fall asleep again as soon as I was lying on the mattress.

There is something seriously wrong with me. Who in their right mind would feel safe in the arms of their captor?He was the second-in-command of this whole operation. Yet he’d never harmed me. Well, not directly. Hedidhelp abduct me, after all.

My morning started the same as always. Santino walked me to the kitchen, where Mariana was waiting to greet me with a warm smile. “Cariña. ¿Dormiste bien?”

“Good morning, Mariana. How are you today?”

“Estoy bien, bonita. ¿Tienes hambre?”

I spotted a stack of pancakes next to the stove, and my mouth watered. Mariana smiled at me again and handed the stack over.

I ate nine of them and would have eaten more if my stomach hadn’t protested. I was unable to move for at least ten minutes. Santino glared at me the whole time I sat down longer than necessary. But one stern look from Mariana and he didn’t complain. Instead, he accepted the second cup of coffee she poured him and drank it while piercing me with his gaze.

Mariana happily puttered around the kitchen and kept up a constant chatter. I smiled at her and tried my best to understand what she was saying, but I was a lost cause. When she looked at me expectantly and all I did was grin back at her, Santino jumped in, taking pity on me once again. Maybe he was warming up to me after all.

“She asked if you like strawberries. She wants to make you dessert for tonight.”

“I love strawberries. But tell her she doesn’t have to go out of her way. I’ll eat whatever she puts in front of me.”

Santino frowned at me. “She likes you and wants to cook for you. Don’t tell her no.”

He said something to Mariana, and she nodded at him.

“Santino?” I asked, my voice wobbly.

He ground his jaw in annoyance and fixed his laser eyes on me.

I nearly lost my courage but went on after he didn’t lash out at me. “Are you going to kill me?”

His face lost some of its fierceness, and he looked almost sad. I took that as a bad sign, and my heart dropped into a free fall.

Note to self: find a way out of here sooner rather than later.

He avoided my eyes and looked over my shoulder instead. “You need to get to work.”

He stood up, and I followed without argument.

“Hasta luego, Mariana. Gracias por la comida.”

I thanked Mariana and hoped I didn’t screw up the Spanish phrase I’d been practicing with Santino who’d reluctantly told me how to say good-bye and thank you for my meal during our short walks. Judging by her expression, I must have done something right, because she clapped her hands in delight.

“Hasta luego, guapa.” She put her hand on my arm when I walked past her. “Todo va a salir bien.”

I nodded at her and followed Santino out of the kitchen and back to my cell, aka office.

Chapter6

Lucius

I was finally sleeping morethan a few hours every couple of days. The relief I felt at being able to close my eyes and drift off was enough to make me lie down next to Everleigh every night. We both stayed on our sides of the bed, and I was gone well before she usually woke up.

“Your aim is off.”

Santino’s voice cut through my thoughts. The still body of the dummy stared at me mockingly. I’d missed the center of his chest by an inch.

I flipped Santino the bird. “Fuck off. He’d still be dead.”

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