I crouch in front of her so we’re eye to eye, my forearms resting on my knees. She doesn’t move but sits perfectly still. “I hope you were comfortable in here, sweetheart.”
Her brows draw together, though she tries to look brave. She juts her chin out, but can’t hide the way her voice wobbles.
“I-I was. Why?”
I rest my hand on her thigh. I’ve barely touched the woman except to drag her to her imprisonment. I haven’t punished her, not yet. That will change now.
“Because you won’t be comfortable for long.”
I stand and don’t even give her the chance to stand for herself. I reach for her. My hands fit around her waist. It’s the most physical contact I’ve had with her. She’s slight and warm, soft in all the right places, but I don’t dwell on that. It’s important she know exactly who she’s dealing with.
I won’t go soft like my brothers have. I fucking won’t.
I lift her off of the stool and plunk her down in front of me. If she’s afraid, she hides it well.
She’ll learn.
“Hold my hand, Elise,” I say quietly. I won’t cause a scene. Not here, not now. “And come with me.”
CHAPTER 4
Elise
I didn’t mean to hide that long.
The sun’s set outside the windows as we walk to the stairway.
The Castle’s huge, but I’ve only seen a part of it. As prisoner, I’ve never gotten the tour, and can only mentally sketch the layout of the parts of The Castle I haven’t been in from what Angelina’s told me. I have a blueprint of it in my mind, though, from what I’ve gathered. That’s how I knew the coat room was here.
I know I’m in trouble. I know I damn near asked for this. And even though I didn’t plan on getting in trouble, I did want to rattle him a little. Remind him that he isn’t omnipotent like he thinks he is.
But I decided I would handle whatever he did to me for the sake of showing him he doesn’t own me.
I wonder, though, if my plan was faulty. The imbalance of power between the two of us is nearly laughable.
As we walk hand in hand, staff parts and nearly hides, walking as far away from us as they can get. Two stern, uniformed guards wait for his signal, and when he nods—a sharp jerk of his head—they flee as well.
If I could, would I?
Or would I rather face the tempest and know what I’m dealing with?
We don’t walk toward the Great Hall but to the front of the house, and I stifle a sigh of relief. I’ve spent time in the cold, dark dungeon, just like a medieval torture chamber, that’s still fully functional and reserved for what one might call special occasions. Angelina’s visited there herself and told me it’s at the back of The Castle, so we’d have to walk toward the courtyard and kitchen.
Tavi hides his anger well, but I know by the way his nostrils flare and his grip on my hand that he’s furious. I’m not surprised.
From the coat room, we walk toward the lobby and reception room and the large, ornate main entrance where Tosca greets her guests. Here, in the main entry hall, there’s a spiral staircase that takes us to the second floor.
Each of the men in the inner circle of The Family has private chambers on the second floor. Though they all have homes elsewhere as well—Boston, Tuscany, and a few other places—all call The Castle their home.
I’ve never been to his private chambers.
I’m going to be married to this man. We’re going to take vows in four weeks. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him, and I’ve never even seen the inside of his room.
The irony isn’t lost on me.
It’s no surprise, though. We don’t have a relationship. I’m only a check mark on a list of to-dos for him—no more, no less.
I’m used to it, though.
I didn’t mean anything to my father or mother. You get used to lowered expectations after a while. Piero, however…
I shove the memory away, stuff it into a box, and slam the lid shut. I won’t raise those ghosts, not now.
I blink away tears and turn my head so he doesn’t see. Instead, I try to observe our surroundings and add it to the mental map I have of The Castle.
My feet are noiseless on the carpeted stairs, like muffled hiccups. Each step brings me closer to whatever it is he’ll make me face.
The second floor is home to the private rooms, elegantly outfitted with thick, luxurious carpet. Everything’s immaculate and stunning, like a mansion centerfold in a home and garden magazine. The smell of spring flowers lingers in the air. At the landing, I see why—a huge vase overflowing with flowers sits on a gleaming tabletop.
When I catch a glimpse of his face, I’m not surprised he looks impassive. He holds his temper better than most men I’ve known. I wonder if it’s because Tavi’s so angry all the time, it’s almost his default. He rarely smiles, and when his family’s gathered together, he’s the quietest of the bunch.
“Where are we going?” I ask, not because I really care, but because I don’t like the silence.
“Quiet.”
Well, that was super effective.
I wonder where everyone is. It’s so still here. Is anyone else home?
They must be. I know Angelina and Orlando are spending the night before traveling back to Boston, his sisters Marialena and Rosa are here, and Romeo and Vittoria as well. Tosca and Nonna have their own rooms somewhere, and staff resides on the first floor. But it’s silent here, like a church when everyone’s gone home. I hear nothing but the gentle ticking of a clock somewhere on another floor.
At the top of the stairs, I get a view of the ground floor, and my heart leaps with excitement. I can see the entryway, the reception room, a hallway that leads away from the main entrance to another part of the house I’ve never seen before. Someday, I’ll be more than a prisoner here, and I’ll explore every inch of this magnificent castle. Even though I didn’t choose to be here, I’ve always harbored a few romantic notions, and a little part of me now can’t help but imagine I’m Beauty, locked in the Beast’s chambers to pay her due, but soon I’ll be mistress of this castle.
My imagination never did help me. It only ever got me in trouble.
I grew up with a father who had a furious temper, so Tavi’s anger doesn’t worry me… that much. I suppose the unpredictable nature is what unnerves me more than anything, but I’m still determined to make the most of this.
I’m going to be his wife. He can’t hurt me too bad. I mean, the others all seem pretty happy here? No one smiles as much as Marialena, unless it’s Mario. The two of them are like rays of sunshine wherever they go.
Surely Tavi inherited some of that warmth and light.
Maybe?
“Those flowers are gorgeous,” I murmur to myself. In an instant, I’m pressed to the wall in front of me. His hand is at my throat, trapping me in, my whole body caged by his as if I’ve flicked a switch and brought on his wrath.
“I told you to be quiet,” he says.
Oh. Right.
I draw in a deep breath, reluctantly inhaling his clean, masculine scent. My pulse races against his fingers. His rough hand gives me an inexplicable sense of protection, which makes no sense at all because he’s basically threatening me. And yet… it does. Maybe it’s because I can feel the restraint in his grip. A girl could get lost in his embrace.