Page 38 of Velvet Cruelty

I get up and clean myself as best I can. I wash with water from the bathroom sink and rinse my wedding lingerie, leaving it on the towel rail to dry. I wrap the thin blanket around myself and return to the bed, putting my St. Christopher next to the lamp. My stomach rumbles. If I could only escape with Eli’s necklace. I’d pawn it then go straight to the nearest deli and eat everything behind the counter. Then I’d book a hotel and take a bath. Call Zia and say, “I’m coming home!”

And then Mr. Parker would find me. And we would be getting married again.

My chest tightens. “Don’t,” I tell myself. “You would rather be his wife than stuck here.”

A clattering scrape makes me jump. Extra light floods into the basement and footsteps clang on the metal stairs.

“Hello?” I call out, trying to sound strong. “Who is it?”

“What’s up, Tesorina?”

My heart sinks as Doc emerges from the shadows. He’s still barefoot and in ripped black jeans, but his T-shirt has changed. It’s another sleeveless one that shows off his tattooed ribs. He must be very proud of the sides of his body. I wrap the blanket tighter around myself. “Hello, Mr. Valente.”

“Oh, so well-mannered.” He grips the bars of my cage and tilts himself backward. “You ready to chew through your own arm or what?”

I watch him swing himself back and forth. He’s so manic, like if at any moment he’ll do a backflip or walk on the ceiling. I move right up against the wall. “You never answered my question. Are you really a doctor?”

He grins. “I might be. Does that turn you on?”

I ignore the question. “What kind of doctor?”

“A gynecologist.”

I frown. “What’s a gynecologist?”

He stares at me for a moment then throws his head back and laughs. The sound bounces around the basement, and it’s like a hundred blond Elvises are laughing at me.

My face burns. This isn’t a new situation for me. Whatever a gynecologist is, I’m sure it’s dirty. I wait for Doc to stop laughing. Eventually, he shakes his head and sighs. “Ah… You’re worth every penny it costs to keep you down here, Tesorina.”

“How much can one apple and a little water cost?”

“Don’t go asking questions. It’ll get you killed. Anyway, I didn’t come down here to talk money. I’ve got something for you.”

I remember Eli’s rubies. Somehow, I don’t think Doc’s brought me jewelry. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out an orange packet of Reece’s Pieces. “You want?”

Reece’s aren’t my favorite, but my mouth waters at the thought of peanut butter and chocolate. “Yes please.”

“What’ll you give me for it?”

I feel like a TV camera is zooming out, showing me exactly how bizarre this is. I was supposed to be married and now I’m considering begging for candy in a basement. “I… I don’t know. Just, please?”

With a look that says I’ve ruined his fun, he tosses the package through the bars, landing it in my lap. I pick up the candy. It’s warm and probably half melted from Doc’s body heat.

“It’s sealed, Tits. Untampered.”

I don’t know if that’s true but just like with the apple, I’m too hungry to care. I tear the packet open and pour the chocolate into my mouth. I chew and swallow it before licking every trace from my teeth and cheeks, avoiding Doc’s gaze.

“Want more?” he asks.

Agreeing would be playing into his hands, and even though I’m starving, I don’t want to give him that. I look at him, taking in his thick blond hair and bright blue eyes. “You’re very fair for an Italian.”

He returns to pulling himself back and forth on the bars like he’s doing vertical push-ups. I try not to stare at his arms.

“I might not be Italian. I could just speak it.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t believe me?”

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