Buttons and Shame (Buttons 4)

She glanced down but didn’t make a remark.

My gesture was more due to possession than affection. It was a form of a leash, keeping her close by so she couldn’t run off somewhere.

Or so she couldn’t be taken.

I rang the doorbell and was quickly greeted by Lars.

“Good morning, Mr. Barsetti.” Lars gave a slight bow but kept his nose upturned at the same time. He’d never forgiven me for what I did to Pearl. He never voiced his dislike, but I noticed the difference in his mannerisms. He’d been working for my family since I was a child, and I knew his body language better than he gave me credit for. “This must be Miss Adelina.” Lars bowed to her, this time genuine and full of kindness. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Lars, the butler.”

“The pleasure is mine,” she said with a smile. “You’re so cute.”

Lars immediately blushed, and I swore his ears twitched. “That’s…uh…very kind of you to stay. Right this way. Follow me.” He walked in front of us and guided us to the dining room where Crow usually took his meals.

I pressed my lips to her ear. “I’m jealous. You never call me cute.”

“Because you aren’t.”

“Ouch.” I brushed it off with a smile and guided her into the dining room. Pearl and Crow were there, sitting across from one another with lunch on the table. Tuscan sandwiches along with a bottle of wine garnished the surface.

Pearl stood up to greet Adelina with a hug. “I’m glad you came. I figured Cane would have kept you cooped up at the house.”

“He tried.” Adelina shot me a glare before she walked around the table and greeted Crow.

Crow stood up and preemptively stuck out a hand before she could hug him the way she just hugged Pearl.

She took his hand and shook it. “Thanks for inviting me into your home.”

Even the handshake made my skin prickle with unease. My brother was just as good-looking as I was, and he put on quite a display with his fancy house and cute butler. The Barsetti blood was full of attraction. My mother was a model in France before she met my father, who was ruggedly handsome like the two of us. I couldn’t tell exactly what I was jealous of—him or her.

I pulled out a chair for her. “Sit.”

Adelina stared at the chair then gave me a cold look.

The only time she seemed to be responsive to commands was when we were getting frisky. The rest of the time, it was like telling a solid wall what to do.

Pearl pressed her lips together tightly and tried not to laugh.

Crow didn’t hide the smirk on his face.

I cleared my throat and looked at Adelina again. “Please.”

Adelina finally took a seat once I said the magic word.

I took the seat beside her, where Pearl had been sitting before. I didn’t care about taking her seat since I wanted to be beside Adelina and have her nowhere near Crow. If he wanted to get his revenge for what I did to Pearl, I wouldn’t blame him. I doubted he would hurt her, not while Pearl was still breathing, but I couldn’t be too cautious. “Pearl, this was your idea. How do you want to start?”

Crow and I didn’t even say hi to each other when I walked in. He and I never embraced each other because we saw each other too much as it was. It was hard to believe Pearl and I were close since she was so distant now. The second I’d picked up Adelina, she turned her back on me. I hated to admit it, but I missed that relationship. It felt like I lost Vanessa all over again.

“Maybe this was my idea, but we’re all in this together.” Pearl spoke to all of us, but her eyes were directed at me. “We need to figure out a way to get Adelina out of this nightmare. She’s an innocent person and deserves to be free.”

“I’ve never argued the contrary.” I couldn’t stop myself from being cold. I’d repeated myself a hundred times to Pearl, but she never listened to what I said. I didn’t agree with Adelina’s treatment. But I was going to stick to the deal I made with my client. Business always came first.

“Nor have I,” Crow added. “But there’s only so much we can do. You know that, Button.”

“Button?” Adelina asked.

“That’s what I call her,” Crow explained. “A pet name.”

“Ohh…” Adelina glanced at Pearl’s ring and seemed to make the connection.

Pearl leaned over the table and focused her attention on Adelina. “Do you have any idea where Lizzie could be? Have any information at all?”

“No,” Adelina answered.

“When was the last time you saw her?” Crow asked. “What happened?”

Adelina stared at the table in silence, taking her time before she could utter a response. “Two men jumped into the back of the taxi and pulled sacks over our heads…” Her voice was nothing like I was used to. It wasn’t deep and powerful. It wasn’t beautiful. It was just broken. “I couldn’t see much then, but I was punched until I was knocked out. I remember Lizzie screaming, but that’s it. The next time I woke up, Lizzie and I were in a room together on a moth-eaten mattress sitting on the floor. Our wrists were handcuffed together. We tried to find a way out, but with our hands bound, we couldn’t reach the window. That’s when Tristan came in with one of the men and looked at us. His eyes moved to me first, and he said he liked what he saw. So he dropped his pants and went after me… Lizzie tried to protect me.” She closed her eyes and went silent as if she couldn’t go on anymore.