Collateral (Collateral Damage 1)

Rafa picks a strip of bacon out of the platter on the buffet and stuffs it into his mouth. I see how his eyes move to that bruise. Does he recognize his own handprint?

“I’m going to go shower, Stef,” he says.

“Good idea. Losing makes you stink worse than usual.”

Rafa flips him the finger and walks out.

“So he can flip you off but I can’t? Seems like a double standard when the rules come to me.”

Stefan refills his glass and comes to sit in the chair beside mine.

“You’re in a mood.”

I glance to the arched entry of the dining room. “Waking up with a guard at my door will do that. Not to mention having my iPod confiscated along with my passport.”

“Fake passport. And not a very good one.”

“Still mine.”

“What do you need it for?” he asks, picking bacon off my plate.

“I don’t. I just want it.”

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

He shrugs a shoulder. “Fine. I don’t have it on me,” he says, leaning back in the seat. “But you can have it back if you want it. I have no use for it.”

That’s it? I can just have it? “What about my iPod?”

“How old is that thing?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. It works just fine.”

“That too. I’ll get it back to you.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to isolate you,” he says, using my own words. “You have shitty taste in music by the way.”

“You listened to my music?”

“Only as much as I could stand.” He grins, takes the last piece of bacon off my plate.

I slap his hand away. “Get your own.”

“I like yours,” he says, watching me and I don’t know if it’s that he’s more relaxed now than usual or the fact that he’s half naked, but it’s hard to focus.

A sound interrupts us and a moment later, a sleepy Clara walks into the dining room wearing a nightie that’s so short and so see-through, I don’t know why she bothers. She’s barefoot and I’ve never felt anything like this against any woman ever, but Christ, even her feet are perfect.

When she sees us, she starts to say good morning but yawns and makes her way to a cup of coffee.

I look at the wall just beyond Stefan’s shoulder as he makes a comment about too much champagne and she laughs. I’m relieved when she leaves with her cup of coffee instead of sitting down with us.

“Did you sleep well?” Stefan asks when she’s gone. Is he taunting me?

“Not really,” I lie.

“You have a cute little snore.”

I feel my face heat up. “I don’t snore.” I don’t know why I say it. How would I know if I snore and why would I care?

“You’re sweeter when you’re asleep, too. All soft when you curled up into me and even reached out for me when I got out of bed.”

“Shouldn’t you go shower?”

“Does it bother you that I’m not wearing a shirt?”

“No. It’s not…” I clear my throat. “I hadn’t noticed,” I lie badly.

“Right.”

“I’m not interested in you, Stefan.”

“Don’t be so defensive, Gabi.”

“Then don’t make fun of me, Stef.”

“I’m not making fun of you.”

“Did you slip out of bed for that?” I ask, gesturing to where Clara was just standing.

His eyebrows knit together and a moment later, he exhales. “Is that what this is about? I already told you—”

“That you’re kissing cousins. Got it.”

“I don’t think I said that.”

“You didn’t deny it either.”

“Well, we’re not so don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not being stupid. And you shouldn’t have slept in my bed last night. You took advantage—”

“Enough. I did not take advantage of you and you know it.” His expression hardens, and I can see him growing angrier as he speaks. “I’m a man of my word. I realize you haven’t had many of those in your life but do not ever accuse me of taking advantage of a vulnerable girl. And for your information, last night was me making sure you didn’t do anything stupid and force my hand.”

I swallow, unable to answer.

I’ve poked the bear and now he’s awake and hungry.

“Do you remember the morning I came to get you, Gabriela?”

I’m not sure where he’s going with this but yes, I remember. How could I forget.

I nod.

“That’s good. Do you remember what happened when you mouthed off then?”

I narrow my eyes at him, thinking how different this version of Stefan Sabbioni is to the one of last night. How this is the real Stefan. The one I need to remember.

“Did I make a mistake not punishing you last night?”

I swallow and it takes all I have to hold his gaze. But I can’t show fear. I can’t show weakness.

I clear my throat and push back from the table. When I move to stand, he clamps a hand over my knee to stop me. I look down at it.

“I asked you a question.” I hear the warning in his voice.