Page 61 of Kings & Chaos

"I don't need anyone to take care of me,” I said. “But the house is very nice.”

Roberto smirked. "That's right, you're one of those “strong independent young women” we’re all hearing so much about.”

“Nothing wrong with being strong,” Neo grumbled.

I cut him a glance that I hoped saidshut up. Any other time I would have appreciated his defense of me, but I had no desire for Neo to make himself a sacrificial lamb to his father on my account.

Now that I knew what Roberto was capable of — what he’ddone— I was tense and on edge around him. I didn’t think he’d lose it with my mom and me there, but we were technically family now, as much as the thought disgusted me.

Who knew what he’d do?

Roberto took a drink of his wine and narrowed his eyes at Neo over the rim of his glass. He set it down and looked from Neo to me. “In my experience, strong women are one hard lesson away from wanting someone to take care of them.”

It didn’t take a genius to hear the threat in his voice. I forced myself not to look away even though my heart was pounding like a jackhammer.

I should have felt the thrill of victory when he looked away first, but it only made me more unsettled. I had the feeling Roberto didn’t relinquish his pawns carelessly, that every one he lost was recouped times ten — with an added pound of flesh for good measure.

And since in this case the flesh was mine, I couldn’t help wondering when he’d come to collect.

“I think it’s time for dessert,” Roberto said, his voice full of forced joviality. He looked at my mother. “Celeste.”

She jumped to her feet. “I’ll tell the caterers.”

“I’m actually pretty full,” I said. Even my boring room seemed enticing compared to this meal from hell. “Maybe we can just take some pie back with us tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” My mom looked stricken. “But you’re not leaving tomorrow! It’s a long weekend.”

“Finals are coming up,” Neo said.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Roberto said firmly. “You’ll stay until Saturday at least. It’s a family holiday.”

Family. Right.

Neo hesitated, but I wasn’t surprised when he finally nodded.

Even Neo Alinari had a boogeyman.

Chapter22

Willa

Being alone with my mom, Roberto, and Neo felt like dancing through a minefield in lead boots, and I was relieved when we finally finished the fucking pie and my mom and Roberto started getting a little too affectionate on the sofa.

They hardly noticed when Neo and I escaped to our respective rooms. I shut my bedroom door with a sigh and leaned against it, then turned to look at the lock on the knob.

I couldn’t think of a time in my life when I’d felt compelled to lock my bedroom door (hostels didn’t count), but I locked this one for reasons I was afraid to articulate even in my own mind.

I changed my clothes and used the bathroom — careful to make sure the door was locked on Neo’s side so he wouldn’t barge in — to get ready for bed. Then I crawled between the sheets and looked at my phone, smiling when I saw that I had a text from Rock.

Hey, kitten. How goes it?

It goes weirdly, I texted.

Unsurprising. You okay?

I hesitated. There was no point bringing Rock into the nightmare of my Thanksgiving. He had nightmares of his own.I’m good. How about you? Are you okay? How is Sophia?

Three dots appeared at the bottom of the screen, then disappeared, then reappeared again. My heart broke a little thinking of him at home, trying to put a good face on things for Sophia.

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