Page 36 of Mafia Kings: Dario

He reallywasa monster.

I was suddenly more terrified than any point since the murder last night. Even the snake had not filled me with such fear.

Lars saw my reaction and tried to backpedal.

“Just stick to the house and the nearby grounds, Alessandra,” he said quietly. “Do what you’re told, and you’ll get to go home soon enough.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. Just be careful,” he said, and this time he didn’t smile. “There are vipers everywhere.”

I knew he wasn’t just talking about animals in the grass.

With that, he climbed the stairs to take up his post again…

…and I went back inside, too afraid to do anything else.

11

Iwas too stressed out by my talk with Lars to eat lunch, so I was ravenous when 6PM finally rolled around and it was time to get ready for dinner.

I took a shower and used the amazing scented soaps and shampoos lining the tub. I thought about using the blow dryer on the countertop to dry my hair, then decided against it. It could just dry naturally, though that would probably take hours.

After all, I wasn’t going to a beauty contest.

I was going to dinner with a bunch of criminals and killers…

One of whom would apparently murder me if need be.

I was about to slip on one of my own dresses, then saw the one the servant girl had left while I was sleeping.

It was still draped over the chair. No one had moved it.

I wondered if Dario had commanded the servantsnotto move it until I had worn it.

Part of me rebelled and wanted to throw it out the window –

But I also remembered Lars sayingNot mewhen I asked who would kill me if the time ever came.

“Don’t make the monster any more angry than he already is, Alessandra,” I cautioned myself.

I slipped on the dress, though I gritted my teeth while I did it.

It was actually extremely nice, far more luxurious than anything I had ever worn before.

The blue silk was like a constant caress on my skin… and it was cut modestly, revealing no more than my own clothes.

But I resented it.

It felt like a shackle around my neck, one more chain binding me to this beautiful prison I couldn’t leave… and to the jailer who held my life in his hands.

Still, my fear was enough that I wore the dress down to dinner.

I didn’t know where the dining room was, but I found it by listening for Niccolo’s animated speech as he talked and laughed with his brothers.

When I walked through the doors, everyone in the room looked at me and fell silent.

That is, until Niccolo said,“Madonn,”under his breath.

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