Ruthless Spring

“What are we? Five?”

“Sometimes I wonder the same thing,” Vito quips back. “But then I remember you were much more reasonable at five.”

Maximo doesn’t reply, his hands moving to grip my chin so sharply that it catches me off guard. The room goes sideways from the sudden movement and I take a sharp breath just as Maximo’s lips stop a centimeter from mine. “Rest well, Mouse, I have so much fun planned for us.” His grip tightens slightly and tingles move through my body when he strokes a finger along my cheek. “But I need you conscious for it, at least to start.”

He releases me.

“There. Are you happy now, Vito? We’ll leave as long as you are with us. Can’t have you here trying to charm her when she’s in such a broken state.”

The statement doesn’t sit right with me, but I’d much rather be alone at this moment, so I don’t say anything, just letting my gaze switch between the two men.

Vito opens his mouth but instead he jerks his head. His gaze meets mine. “Rest well, Winter. There will be someone checking in on you hourly, tell them if you need anything and they’ll let me know.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Maximo makes his way over to the door, Enzo behind him. He stops, turning to look at Vito and he waves a hand at him. “Come now, Bianchi.”

Vito pinches the bridge of his nose and I watch as he rolls his eyes before he follows Maximo. He closes the door gently behind him.

I let out a deep breath, tension I hadn't realized I’d been holding rushing out of my body as I relax. I let my body sink into the soft bed, and as I realize I just dodged the sharp teeth of sharks, I drift off to sleep.

***

I come to with a start, popping up in my bed. My heart is racing in my chest, and I pull the blankets close to me as I try to figure out what woke me up.

“I’m sorry.” Vito’s voice startles me and I jump, looking around.

The moonlight is flooding into the room and I can barely make out his form before light floods into the room. He’s standing by the light switch, the door closed as he watches me. There’s something in his hands, but I’m not quite sure what.

“I was bringing you your medicine and I was going to check up on you. Once I realized you were asleep, I tried to quietly drop these off. I didn't mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay,” I tell him, relaxing slightly. I watch as he puts the medicine and a bottle of water on my nightstand.

He turns back around, looking at me and I watch as he licks his lips before stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants. He looks unsure, something I’m not used to seeing.

“Is there something else?” I ask, pushing a hand through my hair. I can already feel that the curls have tangled up, but I try not to pay attention to it as I continue watching Vito.

He remains silent for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. After a second, he raises his gaze to mine, letting out a soft sigh before asking, “Did you lie?”

I blink, my blood running cold. “About what?” I already know the answer but it’s best I pretend to be ignorant, I decide.

“About what happened at the club.” His voice isn’t exactly sharp, but it isn’t friendly either, more puzzled and maybe a bit frustrated.

“No,” I lie once again.

I don’t hate Vito, as much as I wish I could. He’s not a good man and I’m aware of that, but he’s always treated me with a level of respect and kindness that the others haven’t. And I can’t ignore the way he got into a fight over someone else putting their hands on me.

My cheeks warm at the thought.

Don’t get too fucking happy, Winter. Your standards have fallen drastically if you think one of your captors fighting another man for you is romantic.

“I don’t think I believe you,” he tells me, bringing me back to the present conversation.

I pull my knees up to my chest, resting my arms on them. “Well, I’m telling you the truth.” Another lie. “So, I don’t know what else to say.”

He shakes his head lightly. “Soon, Giovanni is going to notice holes in your story, just like I did. He already seems skeptical but there’s so much other stuff distracting him at the moment that he hasn’t chosen to dig further,” he explains. “But when he comes to the same conclusion that I have, he’s going to press, he’s going to push and dig until he gets an answer. And he’ll be relentless with it.”

I don’t doubt him.