“Just don’t. You don’t want to know what will happen to you if you take it off.”
She studies the bracelet. “Is there poison or explosives or something in it?”
I shrug. “Just don’t.”
“I thought you didn’t lie.”
“I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I have to answer all of your questions either.”
I don’t have to tell her that the bracelet won’t hurt her in any way if she removes it. It will fuck with her brain though to think that there is a possibility that it might. The punishment would come after we hunted her down and found her.
She sighs. “So, what are the rules? I’m tired, and I just want to sleep.”
“Simple. Stay in the mansion or on the main grounds. Don’t take the bracelet off. Stay in your room if you don’t want to be ordered around. Come out, and you’re free game to any of my family members to do what they feel is fair for you to pay back the debt you owe us. Stay away from Enrico if you don’t want to experience any pain.” I pause. “Well, the kind of pain that comes with no enjoyment for you anyway. Rinse and repeat until your time is up. If you follow the rules, then you’ll survive long enough to go back to that husband of yours. Any questions?”
She folds her arms across her chest. “No.”
“Don’t follow the rules, and there will be consequences that you can’t imagine. Including your death. Do you understand?” I say as nicely and calmly as I can.
I don’t want to scare her, but she needs to know that I’m serious when I say she can’t run.
She nods.
“I need to hear you say that you understand.”
“I understand,” she says, willing to give in without a fight because it’s clear she just wants me gone.
I turn to walk toward the door. “Oh, one more thing.”
She exhales deeply, like she can’t take any more.
“If you want hot, can’t-walk-for-a-week, life-shattering sex, then come to me, not my brother, okay? I know you think sex with him was amazing, but trust me, he has no imagination, and all he does is brood. You don’t want that. You want me. I’m much more fun.”
She smiles the tiniest bit, but her smile vanishes so quickly that I’m not sure if I dreamed it or if it was really there.
“I won’t be going to either of you for sex. You kidnapped me, remember? You will have to rape me if you want sex. And don’t forget; I put up a good fight. Just ask your brother about his shoulder.”
I smile, thrilled that she caused my brother pain. I’m sure the asshole deserved it.
“Have a good night, beautiful. My room is three doors down if you need me,” I say with a wink.
I watch her roll her eyes at me.
This is going to be too much fun. She’s the perfect number seven.
17
Nina
I’ve spent the last three days in my room. And, just as Matteo said, I’ve been left completely alone. No one has come to check on me. No one has barged in and demanded sex. No one has hurt me.
I’m completely forgotten about as long as I stay in this room.
It’s the most beautiful room I have ever stayed in. And, if I wasn’t in my current predicament, then I would actually appreciate sleeping in a room like this. I would breathe in every smell, study every stone, and enjoy the gorgeous sunlight pouring in through all the large windows in the room. I would pretend I was a princess in the highest room of the castle and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace while snuggled in Arlo’s arms.
But, instead, I’ve spent the last three days afraid of every sound in the mansion. My body shakes when I hear footsteps outside, seemingly growing closer to me. I tremble and search for anything I can use to defend myself against an intruder, but I don’t have many options. The room has been stripped of anything that might be used as a weapon.
Every time the