Page 23 of Mafia Kings: Dario

I shivered – and not entirely from fear.

There was a sliver of sinful desire within me, I will admit – but I wouldneverbeg him to dothat.

If he kept true to his word, then I was safe.

…ifhe kept true to his word.

I got up out of bed and walked over to the dress.

It was quite beautiful – and modest, as well. Though made out of blue silk and thus far too expensive for me to ever buy, it was something I might have picked out for myself.

But I wouldnot wear it.

I would not stand for him breaking into my room into the middle of the night to watch me as I slept…

And I would not give him the satisfaction of doing what he wanted.

I put on one of the other dresses I had brought, then brushed my teeth with the toothbrush Filomena had set out for me.

There was a hairbrush as well, and I did my best to tame my unruly locks.

I thought about taking a shower, but my stomach was rumbling. I hadn’t eaten since the previous afternoon. The shock from the murder and everything that had happened after it had blunted my hunger, but now my appetite was back with a vengeance.

I sighed and went over to the door. Perhaps if I banged on the door, someone would come to let me out.

Just to see, I tried the doorknob –

And the door swung open.

I stood there, surprised… and then peeked my head out.

There was no one in the corridor, so I quickly slipped on my sandals and hurried to the stairs.

Though I could hear noises deep within the recesses of the house, there was no one in the foyer, either.

I thought about slipping out the front door and making a run for it – but then I remembered how big the estate was. I didn’t stand a chance of escaping, so I just followed the sounds of voices – and the delicious smell of baking bread – until I found myself in the kitchen.

There was a woman there just a few years older than me. She was cute, with a short haircut, and she sang to herself as she whisked a large bowl of eggs.

I cleared my throat to make my presence known. “Ahem…”

The woman looked over and cried out. Then she clasped a hand to her chest and started laughing. “Oh,signorina,you startled me!”

“I’m sorry – ”

“Don’t be, don’t be! You go back to bed and relax – I’ll bring some food up to you right away!”

But the idea of Dario standing over me in my bedroom was something I no longer wanted to think about.

And the kitchen – with its ancient stone walls but modern appliances – was comforting. It felt more like home than anywhere else in the house.

Not to mention the smell of freshly baked bread was making my mouth water.

“Would you… mind if I stayed?”

The woman laughed again. “If you want – I could certainly use the company! My name’s Cat – short for Caterina.”

“Alessandra,” I said shyly.

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