CHAPTER THIRTEEN: WINTER
Aweekpassesand I can't force myself to relax, no matter how hard I try. I feel like death is breathing down my neck as I anticipate Maximo jumping out of every corner I turn. I see the blood lust in his eyes, a promise of retribution and torment for something that isn't even my fault. And while nothing has happened so far, I know it's only a matter of time.
If he said he's going to break me, he means it; and the only thing I can do is prepare for it and hope he kills me quickly.
A shiver runs down my spine and I walk over to my window, staring outside. It's early morning, the wooden floor cold against the bottom of my feet. The sun is barely peeking through the clouds and I'm waiting for one of the maids to bring my clothes for the day. They’re taking longer than usual, and Enzo should be here soon to take me to the shooting range.
I’ve been waiting for almost an hour since I finished my breakfast. For the last seven days, I haven't had to entertain Giovanni's presence while I eat. My food has been brought to me each morning. Today’s meal was bacon, pancakes, and eggs.
I honestly don't care what they serve me, as long as I get to enjoy my time alone. We're supposed to go to the gun room like we've been doing every morning. After just a week, I can already see improvement in my marksmanship. Enzo is a surprisingly good teacher, firm and strict, but with no unrealistic expectations.
His moods have remained surprisingly stable. No lashing out or pretending to be concerned about my wellbeing. He’s been strictly professional and detached.
I fold my arms over my chest as I peer outside the window. There're two cars parked in the circle and a handful of people moving around. Some of the faces are familiar, while the others aren't.
My gaze stops on the most recognizable person, the way her body moves, smooth and easily, catching my attention.
This is my first time seeing Lucia since the incident. I haven't seen her around the compound since she told Giovanni there was no way in hell she'd ever let him sell her. But I've thought about her a few times, especially after the night Maximo came into my room, beaten and bruised.
If Giovanni did such terrible things to his beloved brother, what in the hell did he do to his cousin?
I can't see any wounds from a distance and I’m sure that if she has some, they've probably healed. Not that they would have fazed the strong woman.
I continue to watch her, wondering what she does for the family. I can't imagine that a woman holds a high position of power, but I also can't see Lucia Costa at the bottom of any totem pole.
There's this confidence in her walk that says don’t fuck with me. The dangerous glint in her eyes leaves no doubt that she's a strong, tough ass woman who doesn't take any shit from anyone. And from the way she stood up for herself to Gio, I'm not surprised.
It's clear that she and Maximo are close, which means she can't quite be in her right mind, all things considered.
She's wearing all black today, a turtleneck and pants despite the fact that the cool air of Winter has lifted, leaving a more temperate weather.
She totes a big, black suitcase as she jogs down the stairs before throwing it in the trunk of one car. She pauses suddenly, spinning around so quickly that I don't have time to jump away from the window before she spots me.
Her gaze locks on mine, harsh and unmoving.
My heart goes wild in my chest, as if the woman can fly through the window and kill me in seconds. Which is ridiculous, starting with the fact that Lucia doesn't seem to dislike me. From our few meetings, she seems to find me interesting and there's always a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.
She raises her hand slowly, wiggling her fingers at me even though her facial expression doesn't change.
Like an idiot, I give a quick wave, watching as a grin breaks out on her face.
She turns back around, and even without hearing it, I can tell she's barking orders at the men. They all scurry to comply.
A firm knock at my bedroom door makes me jump and I step back from the window.
I wait for Enzo to throw the door open the way he usually does after his useless knock. But instead, there's another knock and I frown, moving over to the door and pulling it open.
I'm startled when I find the doctor standing outside with a light smile on her face.
"Hello, Winter," she says cheerfully, as if we're old friends.
“Hello." It sounds awkward, even to my own ears.
"Can I come in?" she asks, gesturing to the doorway.
I pause, "Oh um, yeah." I step out of the way, hesitating for a moment before closing the door behind her.
“I was just here to make sure Vito's healing okay, and I wanted to check in with you."