eri

bast

e reminder of the last few moment

quiet menace in his voice, the unyielding way his eyes pinned me like

did

etrayed me. The silence in the dining room was heavy though Luca had long si

hings interesti

lling the rush of heat

e, Ca

ow in the mess of emotion

ed ans

d the door. A dark skinned man stood just outside the door like

emo

ed, lifting my chin as though the sl

said curtly. "

es within re

try to

ught aside and gave the man a clipped nod before stepping into the hall. The mansion opened up

autiful. I'd giv

unfamiliar corridors. I took in every detail as I moved... memorizing win

would be able to

ed men who were Luca's ancestors, no doubt. Grand staircases,

dne

ssive and suffocating, mu

rought me to the kitchen. The sound of cl

open th

ovement coming to a screeching halt. A room full of wary

," I said dryly, stepping

, and plates were arranged with meticulous precision. The air smelled of herbs and roasted

e?" I asked loudly,

ng her hands on her apron. Her face

arp-eyed, capable.

said evenly,

ca?" I kept my tone casual, though I

y ye

he a good employer? Or are you al

ut Maria's gaze didn't falter, though s

s fa

how how I didn't believe that one bit. "The man who kidnapped me

giggle broke thr

ding near the far counter... a girl who looked no older than eight

funny?" I demande

tammered, her eyes darti

a said n

was a small thing... soft-spoken and jittery, wringing her hands in

s your

fia

when people bring up L

y, her eyes wide and fear

tilted my head, st

k to me. She opened her mouth, closed

rest

g my voice. "You're hidin

r shoulders tense, her entire body l

le talk," I said, gripping her

er expression panic

argument. I turned to Maria, who was watching the ex

ofia out of the kitchen and into the hallway, the

ive click. Sofia hovered near the centre of the room, h

d her, gesturing to

the material of her apron in h

over her. "Tell me, Sofia.

what you mean,

back there. Why? Does Luca terrify you? Are y

hen winced as though

yebrow. "So i

ke she might bu

n the edge of the bed, facing her. "I'm not

t me, confus

but insistent. "I need to get out of h

nt pale. "I

, fixing her with a poin

ands trembling. "What

to pretend

snapped u

nkets up, pretend to sleep. I'll sneak out. If anyone c

. "They'll know. They'll find

e. "Listen to me, Sofia. I have to get out of here. Do you understand? I can't st

her eyes. "And i

forced you," I said sim

rumbling under my eyes. After a long

she wh

art pounding as I listened for any sig

od

otioning to the bed. "A

and curling into the pillow. Her small form looked ridicul

y hands shook slightly as I approached the door. The weight of what

was wa

en, peeking into the

st time. Her face was pale, he

said softly. "

the hallway, the door