Page 57 of A War Around Us

“Come, I’ll walk you outside to use the restroom before dinner.”

Vino’s white ears twitched as if he agreed. Wex sensed our departure and stood tall before me ready to lead the way.

Before I took my first step, Wex’s black fur moved forward, setting the pace with dominance and full awareness of our surroundings. I almost shook my head. He reminded me of his owner as his paws and strut claimed control and authority. Vino didn’t mind staying behind; he preferred my side.

Abruptly, Wex stopped, fully alert as we approached the front door. Vino sensed his change, and his wolf-like teeth shone while his body leaned closer to mine.

Lucca had men staged by the gates, and throughout the property, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. When I took a step closer to the door, they didn’t stop me or bark. They just stood close in attention. This was new.

With one hand ready to slip under my dress for my knife, I pulled the door open, and a piercing shriek stunned me.

A female with her hand on her chest and terrified features stood inches away from me.

“What are they doing here?” she exclaimed, taking a step back and removing her hand from her body to wave down at the sweet four-legged creatures.

What aretheydoing here? What wasshedoing here, and who was she?

“Excuse me.” I peered down at her without letting my hand fall away from the outline of my blade.

“Who areyou?” Purple-stained lips curled and narrowed blue eyes asked.

Who am I?

I almost laughed. Almost.

The dyed blonde-haired woman straightened her posture, but my height combined with the heels I wore wasn’t something she could stand up to.

“Katia Vitelli.”

Her eyes fluttered and widened. That rang a bell, and today, I enjoyed the weight and burden my name carried.

She tried to hide her hesitation, but she was a fool to the game of confidence and a stranger to class.

“The question is who areyou, and what are you doing outside my home?”

This allowed her to gain an inch of the lucid power she believed to have. Her hand rested on her hip.

“Anna.” No last name was given. Therefore, no one with power. An afterthought. “Lucca is expecting me.”

“Luccaisn’t here.”

“I’m aware.” She shrugged. “He said I could wait in his study.”

Where my knives were? Where I knew made-men spoke openly? The place not many stepped foot inside without him?I think not.

“You can wait outside.”

Anna’s mouth opened, and her chest puffed, choking her boobs against the skimpy and classless green dress she wore.

“I don’t think you—”

“No.” I stopped her before my blade came out to play. Vino and Wex recognized my warning tone, and both let out a heavy warning of their own as their throats snarled quietly enough to cause panic in her eyes.

“You can wait outside or leave.” I gave her no room to defy me, and I shut the door in her face.

She didn’t attempt to open it on her own, but I waited a second longer. Trying to piece together what had just happened and who she was before I walked away with Vino and Wex to the back side of the property.

While they ran away to take care of their necessities, I hoped the woman would take the second option, but if Lucca was expecting her, I couldn’t intervene in business matters.

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