A carved image of a skull. It’s small, but the dust surrounding it is fresh. She did this while I was showering. It has been imprinted in the wood vanity, and it looks just like the skull on Draco’s ring.
I look towards the door, and then back at the window.
Gooseflesh rises on my skin. My heart pounds much harder.
I rush to the closet for something to wear and get dressed quickly. I toss my hair up into a bun while pulling the door open and pacing my way out.
Draco is standing in the dining room when I make it there. His hands are in the front pockets of his brown slacks as a younger man in a white button-down shirt speaks to him.
When I meet the unknown man’s eyes, a sharp gasp escapes me and both of them look my way when they hear it.
Kevin. Toni’s driver.
I freeze solid in my tracks and Draco turns fully to look at me, pulling his hands out of the pockets. Kevin is sporting a casual smirk, his eyes mellow as if he’s never done any wrong.
“Gianna,” Draco calls, cocking a brow. “Have a seat. Breakfast will be served in a minute.”
I barely nod my head, walking around the opposite side of the table to reach my chair. I feel Kevin watching me.
Draco continues talking to him in Spanish, and I’m surprised to hear Kevin exchanging responses in Spanish as well.
He’s an all-American man. Blonde hair and a clean face. I asked him once if he could speak Spanish when we were in a fender bender with a Hispanic woman and he flat out told me no. He lied. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to know that.
He’s a liar. And a conspirator.
Sweat beads up on the back of my neck and my forehead as I look towards Mrs. Molina. She’s knitting away as she waits, but she glances up once before looking away. She doesn’t want to be involved today. Maybe she knows I slept in the galería.
Is she against it now?
The idea of Draco and me…?
“Don’t worry about it right now. Come join us for breakfast.” Draco’s voice fills the dining room as he caps Kevin’s shoulder.
“I am pretty damn hungry.” Kevin’s lips stretch to smile.
When Draco turns and walks towards his chair, Kevin comes in my direction and takes the seat right beside me.
Francesca plops down in the chair beside Mrs. Molina moments later and when we are all gathered at the table, the butlers come out with hot food.
I remain quiet as Draco and Kevin continue talking amongst themselves, realizing that Francesca is now the least of my worries.
With my fork clutched in hand, I breathe as evenly as possible, staring down at my omelet and the coffee on the side.
As they speak cordially, I focus on the knife inside my cloth. It’s nestled there, and I’m sure Draco hasn’t even given it a second thought that I have a knife in reach.
My heart is drumming. My eyes feel tight. My palms are clammy around the silver fork, but I use it to cut into the omelet and then chew slowly, pretending I’m okay.
Something starts to ring and Draco pauses on his meal, looking down.
“You all keep eating. I have to take this,” Draco murmurs as his phone continues to vibrate. He fishes it out, pushes out of his chair, and then leaves the dining room to go down a hallway.
We hear him answer it, but everyone continues eating. Everyone but me.
“So, Gia, it’s been a while. How are you liking it here?” Kevin’s voice booms and the sound of it makes my entire body tense up.
I ignore him, picking at my breakfast.
“Look, I know you’re surprised to see me, and I know you want to hate me,” he chuckles, “but what Toni failed to realize when he hired me is that I’m a floater. I work for whoever pays me the most. No hard feelings or anything. It was just business.” He holds his hands out in a nonchalant gesture. “My orders were to cause a distraction and let his men take care of the rest.” He holds his hands up in the air, carelessly shrugging. “You can’t really be upset about something you couldn’t control.” He chews some more and then picks up his coffee. “The way I see it, you got lucky. You didn’t need to be married to that jackass anyway.”
Before he takes a sip, he says, “Toni was a fucking asshole. Fucking stupid, too. I wasn’t going to last long with him anyway. You should be glad you’re here. Better off with Jefe than that dipshit. I can’t imagine how you feel though. I mean, you hate me and I know it, but you have to hate him more. He’s the one who called the hit.” His lips purse to fight a smile as he side eyes me.