Page 68 of The Freedom in Captivity

“Are they necessary? Not like I’m gonna run away.”

While I believe her, Nico would not. With us about to walk in front of every member of the immediate Corsetti family, a role must be played. A role in which the prisoner isn’t allowed to be free.

Ignoring her comment, I drop the chain around her head and over her shoulders, but wrap it looser than last time. Once secured, I grab her chin and angle her face toward me, searching for any signs of the shattered woman from last night.

She’s still there, but the pain is hidden now, shadowed by a fierce determination. That’s new, but I appreciate it.

Holding one end of the chain, I head for the staircase. She puts up no fight and trails along.

Once out of the basement, I first walk her to my bedroom to use the bathroom, a place she hasn’t been in days, and I’ve been thankful for it. Over the days, her scent has faded, which means my room has become mine again.

“Do what you need to.” I release the chain, watching as it hits the back of her leg.

She obeys and even shuts the door this time, but I don’t make a point to comment. A few minutes later, the tap stops running and she emerges, her face damp. The dirt on her skin has been smudged over her cheeks, like she tried and failed at washing it off.

Yet, she somehow looks more beautiful than ever.

I grab hold of the chain again and lead her from my room. She walks beside me this time, instead of behind me, as I lead her toward Nico’s office.

“Who’s all going to be there?” she asks.

“The Corsettis.”

“All of them?”

My eyes slide to her. “Second-guessing your decision?”

“Not at all. Simply curious.”

At Nico’s office, I pause, turning to face her. “You lie, you’re dead. I won’t save you from any one of them, Rozelyn.” Her mouth opens, as if to comment, but I immediately switch to my next point. “Whatever made you finally fucking wake up and realize you’re on the right side, keep reminding yourself of it.”

She only glances at her wrists with a solemn expression. I assume she’s recalling the bruises De Falco put on her as a teenager, and now I wonder, how many invisible injuries are still on her. Within her. Imprinted onto her soul, darkening it.

How much has she truly hidden from me? After today, I might never get to find out. Once we’re finished here, Nico’s already set aside a bedroom for her, as per Della’s request—or demand, more like it. Inside, there’s fresh clothing for her, which means she won’t be stuck wearing my shirt any longer. There will be a bathroom she can clean up in, and this time, stay clean. Besides the items she’ll need and the bed, everything else has been cleared from the room to ensure she doesn’t fashion herself a weapon from anything. A guard has already been assigned, which means very soon, I’ll be free from dealing with her.

My stomach lurches, my heart burns, and a shudder coasts through me, tensing my nerves with an emotion I refuse to name.

“Are we going to stand here all day?” Her voice cuts through my thoughts and she jerks her chin toward the office doors.

Right.Giving her my back, I open the doors without knocking, as per Nico’s earlier instructions.

Inside, the room is lined with Corsettis. People I’ve known my entire life—most of them, anyway—and still, my skin crawls, my dislike for crowds creeping up again. Yet another reason, Lorenzo thought the enforcer job was most ideal. Means not working alongside others.

Against the wall to my right, Rosen stands with Aurora’s hand in his. She leans against him as Rozelyn enters behind me, but looks away the moment their eyes clash. On Rosen’s other side, Della’s sister, Ariella, stands looking more stoic than I’ve ever seen her. Not that my interactions with the woman have been many.

Opposite of her demeanor is Della, standing beside Nico, who’s leaning against his desk, his arms crossed. Della’s mask isn’t in place at all, and at the sight of Rozelyn, she shifts.

Beside the desk on Nico’s other side, Lorenzo and Caterina watch us enter impassively as well. They both meet my gaze for a brief second before focusing on the captive. Beside them and against the wall to my left, Rafael is holding onto a short, brunette woman. Having never seen her before, but knowing Rafael’s current assignment, I assume this is Maurice Dupont’s daughter.

Rozelyn and I stop in the centre of the room, her in front of me. The room’s entire focus is on her—and on Nico, who shoves off his desk and meets us halfway. His gait is slow, a sly smile taking over. He’s a man who’s about to get the answers he’s chasing and has every reason to be pleased.

Then he starts talking.

Rozelyn

Certain things signal adjustment. In high school, it’s a bell, alerting students to the periods changing. At a stoplight, it’s the altering colours, instructing vehicle drivers how to behave.

For me, it’s Nico Corsetti’s slow pace from his desk to the centre of the room, a king in his own right. It’s in that second, with his family surrounding him, his enforcer literally holding a chain around my neck, I wonder why Dad and his true familyeverbelieved they’d be able to obtain Corsettis’ power.

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