erle

y eyes open. Disoriented, I blinked against the brightness. How h

ed. I tensed, bracing myself for the "Don". The one whose nam

curtly. "I'm Helen. I've been

younger, with a face that seemed capable of a smile, unlik

airs. He's expecting you," she cont

almost too loudly. "Wh

m," she corrected quickly, then adde

time to earn her trust. For now, I needed to keep my thoughts to myself,

ed toward the bathroom, He

reached the doorway. "I don't need you

ombined. I caught myself comparing the two spaces and immediately pushed the thought away

It was delicate, soft. Strangely beautiful, given the circumstances. I changed silently and followed her downstai

er sat at the end of the room, reading a newspaper,

ting for hi

newspaper. He lowered the paper and glanced at me.

y. "You'll go with my sister and Enzo to the

wedding? In ni

Kimberley, You're here

o dark water. I was about to be bound to a man

ster?" I as

e here by

his sister, then I will plan an escape or

t like him. But I can't stretch

nt slow, deliberate. "Don't play s

air as he walked out, leavin

knowing where I was, how this house work

, I found Helen waiting by

ou worked here?" I aske

am," she said, bowin

rvant would know every

asked, feigning interest. Desperation edged

'am. It would

ircase, my eyes darted to the windows, the doors. Eve

ion was enormous, each turn more extravagant than the

he mansion was big and we were soon tired. I don't kno

have to try to find

to my room after I had a shower. But the

y even buried him? I didn't know. Was anyone mourning him? And here I w

ouched food, my min

n thought until Helen returned to call me for lunch as Mr Fiore requested for my presence. Her eye

said, my voice qui

the food," I tried assuring

eat alone,

gishly, looking scar

, the door cre

fr

e, taking in the sight of me wrapped in only a towel as

and something in his expression shifted. H

Each step he took toward me felt deliberate, like a predator circling prey. My hand

outburst. His movements slowed, the

aid coldly. "My sis

bruptly as he came,