Page 45 of Unveiled

“I understand.”

“I have a rule with the women I bring home… well,had. While in their roomonly, they could remove their blindfolds. I was much stricter with them than I was with Isabelle, for obvious reasons.” I glimpsed at my reflection in my laptop’s black screen. Running my fingers through my already tousled hair, I sighed. “There was a night I came home, and her mask was off since she was in her room. I thought nothing of it at time because I knocked before entering. She didn’t put her blindfold on, but I told her she could leave it off if she didn’t turn around.”

“So, how do you think she knew?”

“I wondered that myself at the time until later that evening. You know that bedroom is mostly windows on the back wall.”

He shifted in his seat, nodding.

“The curtains were open, and the lights in her room were on. I stewed over thewhat-ifthat night when I was alone but convinced myself she wouldn’t have been smart enough to look in those windows. But I’m now one hundred percent positive, she saw.

“What makes you think that now?”

“After that night, she turned up the dial on her infatuation and started telling me she was in love with me and wanted children with me.”

“I’m guessing you terminated the contract after that?”

“Mm-hmm. Falling in love with me, telling me they love me, or anything involving breeding fetishes were frowned upon and grounds for immediate termination of the contract. At that point, they were escorted by security to their front doorstep, and the blindfold could be removed after they were through their own front door. I wasn’t mean to them and made sure they got home safely. I just didn’t want love. If I had wanted love, I would have openly dated them.”

“It makes sense. I guess she’s returned for some sort of revenge then.” He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and gnawed on it.

“It was so long ago. Her hair is a different color and length now, but it’s definitely her.” I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my desk drawer and meandered to the back door, opening it. “I recognize her voice now.”

Noah followed me to the porch.

Pinning the cigarette between my lips, I lit it. As the smoke drifted from my mouth, I continued. “I guess I never thought any woman would actually come back. It meant nothing to me, so why would it mean anything to them? After Isabelle came around, I—” I let my voice trail off and I did not finish my sentence.

“You thought it was over with the girl?” He held his palm out.

“I didn’t know you smoke.” Suspicious, I crinkled my forehead, passing him the pack of cigarettes and my lighter.

He shrugged as he took one and ignited it. “I smoke when I have a lot on my mind, or I’m stressed out. That’s a good indication something is up.”

“You saved our asses, Noah.”

“I did my job, that’s all.” He mumbled as he deeply inhaled. “So, what happens now?”

“Well,” my gaze lowered to the ground, “she will pay for this, obviously.” I brought my eyes back to his. “I haven’t quite figured out how I will handle it entirely, though. I rarely kill women, but I’m definitely not opposed to killing one who fucks with my family. What I do know is that—”

I stopped when I heard the door inside open. We both peeked through the glass to see William return, gripping Lindsay’s upper arm. He shoved her into the office and closed the door behind them. She tripped on the sizable black and gold area rug but caught herself. She cowered over, trembling in the middle of the room. I handed my cigarette to Noah, who snuffed them both out in an ashtray. He trailed me inside then stood next to me when I came to a stop in front of Lindsay.

My eyes darted back and forth between Noah and William. “Will you both excuse me for a moment?”

William cocked head.

“I need to go handle something else upstairs really fast.”

“Ah,” he chuckled, “yes, we’ll be happy to wait.”

“Don’t worry.” I winked at Lindsay. “I’ll be back soon to deal withyou. For now, you can wait here and think about what I’m upstairs doing to the woman I love.”

Her eyes dropped to the floor and tears spilled down her cheeks as I exited the room. She knew she was not leaving my estate alive.

Lying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling feeling confused. I needed and wanted more answers from Valentino. I was unsure if I was upset with him right now because I did not know or understand anything that was happening. All I knew was the woman who was hired to protect our name, had been tarnishing it.

Taking my necklace between my fingertips, I zipped it back and forth through my lips. The door opened. I sat up with wide eyes as Valentino entered the room. Rolling my eyes, I looked away.

“Ciao, amore.” He took a deep breath as he approached and sat on the edge of the bed next to me.

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