The thought comes unbidden and unwanted. The last time something like this happened, Vito had come in my room to check on me, only for it to end with his hands and mouth on me. All while Giovanni Costa watched.
I've done my best not to think about that night and he hasn't brought it up.
It needs to remain in the past.
Now is definitely not the time to be thinking about these things. I pull my lips in before looking away from his hand and getting to my feet unassisted. I pretend not to see the way Vito's lips flicker down for a moment before returning to a neutral line.
He gestures for me to move toward the back hall, and I do. “The office,” he says.
I pause for a moment. I haven’t gone back into the office since Enzo shot Todd, the last manager who was selling drugs in the club, drugs he got from the cartel.
The reason I almost got a bullet in the gut.
“Winter?” Vito peers down at me. He tilts his head, making eye contact.
I look away and resume walking, turning the gold knob on the door and stepping in. I stop again when I find Giovanni sitting in Todd’s old office chair. His hands are crossed on the desk as he peers up at me, his face emotionless.
He’s sitting back in his dark three piece suit, his dark hair slicked back. His dark eyes reveal nothing.
He looks every bit the mafia boss he claims he isn’t.
“Sit, Winter," he says, gesturing to one of the vacant chairs across from him. I obey, sinking into the seat. I know I haven't done anything wrong, but the way Giovanni is looking at me almost makes me believe I did.
"Enzo and Maximo?" he asks, looking at Vito, who's still standing in the doorway.
"I'll send them in," Vito says before stepping out, the door closing behind him with a resounding thud.
Giovanni's gaze returns to me.
I feel like a deer caught in headlights. I know I can't run, it's pointless. I'd found out when I was kidnapped that Giovanni keeps trackers in my shoes. But even if I removed them and ran, he would still find me.
I'm not getting away until my contract is over or until I'm six feet deep.
Silence permeates the room as we stare at each other, but I don't dare say anything. Things have been tenser since my kidnapping. Since I begged Giovanni to release me and he shut me down without remorse.
It'd felt like I was drowning, and he'd cut up my life vest before setting the pieces on fire.
I've chosen not to speak to him since, not wanting to accidentally say something that will have him choking me like he's done on multiple occasions. Willing to make me suffer, but never willing to let me die.
Giovanni’s eyes move over me, breaking me from my thoughts. His inspection unnerves me and I have to refrain from shifting in my seat as his stare moves down my body. I discreetly study him back, trying to figure out what has suddenly become so interesting about me.
I suck in a sharp breath when his eyes move up to my neck, zeroing in. It's where much of the blood from the incident is and as Giovanni continues to stare I can’t help but to wonder if he’s… concerned?
His eyes snap to mine as if he can hear the disturbing thought in my head.
I take a long swallow.
That had to be what he was doing, right? Checking for injuries?
My face warms up and I look away from him even as I feel his gaze still focused on me.
The door clicks behind me, and then there's footsteps, disrupting the heavy silence in the room. I’m thankful for it as Giovanni’s attention is finally drawn off of me.
Warmth touches my arm as Maximo slides by me to sit in the vacant seat next to me. I feel his eyes on me, but I don't turn to look at him. If I do, I'm sure I'll see him smirking.
"What happened?" Giovanni asks, breaking the silence. He's peering over my shoulder, and I turn to find Enzo standing against the wall, his back straight and eyes alert.
Enzo looks at me and a muscle twitches in his jaw before he shakes his head slightly, turning back to Giovanni. "I don't know how he got by the bouncers," he says, stepping forward slightly. "I saw him when he came in, but I didn't think much of it. That was my mistake. When I saw him making his way toward Winter, I pulled my gun and tried to get to them-"