“I won’t. I promise.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Your chin is getting stubbles.” She ran her hand over his chin.
He laughed. “I’ll take care of that before tonight.”
She yawned. “Daddy, if you don’t want me to make you feel good, can I take a nap? My head keeps spinning off, and it’s making me tired.”
“Of course, Ariana. Get under the covers. I’ll sit here until you fall asleep.”
She slid off his lap and climbed into bed, kicking her Mary Janes off as she did so. Daddy picked up her shoes and lined them up beside the dresser before sitting back down.
“Close your eyes, Ariana,” he directed with a pointed finger when she kept staring at him.
She smiled, snuggled further into her quilt and let sleep carry her away.
Costello checked his watch again. They’d be bringing the medicine around to the girls in a few minutes. He had to time everything perfectly.
He’d spent the entire afternoon smoothing out details and getting things set up. If it went bad, they’d both be in danger of losing their lives. But he would do everything in his power to keep her safe, to keep her from facing any more abuse at the hands of the Romero family.
One last check of his watch, and he took a deep breath. Now or never. Making sure his gun was still nestled in the holster beneath his jacket, he went to the door.
“Hey, Costello.” Gianni met up with Costello on the stairs headed down to the girls’ floor. “Visiting your girl?” he asked with a smirk. “Me too. With the party tomorrow night, I want to make sure she’s completely ready.”
“How are you going to handle seeing her taken away by one of those assholes?” Costello asked as they started walking down the hallway.
Gianni stiffened.
“Don’t worry. I’m not saying anything to anyone.” He assured him. “Are you going to be able to do it?”
They stopped outside Ariana’s door.
“What choice to do I really have?” He frowned. “I don’t have the cash to buy her, and even if I did, Frank probably wouldn’t allow it. If he lets any of these girls go unsold to outside clients, it makes the House look bad. These jackasses who come to these parties aren’t looking for sloppy seconds. They want a girl who’s not attached, who’s going to be their sweet little plaything. And if she’s got feelings for her Daddy here, they’re ruined.”
All true.
“If she doesn’t get adopted?” Costello pressed. He didn’t need anyone to help him and Ariana, but it would be good to have an ally during the fallout.
A black shadow covered Gianni’s face. “That won’t happen. I’d kill her myself before I let Frank take her,” he said, his voice cold and firm. “A mercy killing.”
Costello stared at him. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen then.” He slapped Gianni’s shoulder.
“Yeah. Let’s hope.” Gianni’s lips pinched together with worry and fear. “I’ll see you later.” Gianni walked off to Shelby’s room a few doors down.
Costello took another long breath before opening Ariana’s door. There would be no turning back. No second chances. If he failed, they’d both die.
Nancy was in the room already with Ariana sitting on the bed holding a book. She looked up and smiled at Costello.
“Good. You’re here,” Nancy said in her typical bitch tone. “She won’t take her medicine. Even after I promised her a solid punishment from you if she didn’t listen.”
Costello held up his hand to shut her up. It would be satisfying to put a bullet between her untended eyebrows, but he wasn’t looking to start a war.
“I told her to wait until I got here. I wanted to give it to her tonight. She did exactly what I said.” He pointed to the sippy cup in Nancy’s hand. “I want a bottle tonight.”
Nancy’s shoulders dropped and her lips pinched together creating little wrinkles all around her mouth. “I wish you would have said something sooner. I’ll get one.” She huffed and left the room, shutting the door behind her harder than necessary.
“I have to have a bottle? But, isn’t that for babies?” Ariana whined.
“Don’t worry about that,” he said, dragging the chair toward the bed again. They needed to give these girls bigger beds. A regular sized twin bed could hardly fit two grown adults, much less the narrower ones built specifically for the girls in the House. Just because the girls were drugged back into their early years, it didn’t change their body sizes.
He shook off the idea. None of it mattered anymore. It wasn’t his problem. His concern was only for Ariana.
“Here you go.” Nancy breezed back into the room and held out the bottle to Ariana.
“I’ll take it,” Costello said, stepping forward and snatching it from her hand before Ariana took it.
Nancy gave him a curious stare. “Well, if you’re going to feed her, then I’ll leave you to it.” She went back to the door, pausing before leaving. “I’ll admit there’s been a nice change with her. And you, Costello.” She held a civil grin on her wrinkled lips. “Maybe the extra medicine helped.”