Chapter 78

All the blood drains from my body, so I instantly turn cold and my body erupts in goosebumps. ‘‘Your mother?’’ I blink at him timidly, reminded that with him I should always have a level of fear and never forget my station. I should get it tattooed somewhere obvious as I have this insane ability to forget.

‘‘Yes, my mother.’’ No elaboration, just a statement and he closes down, which tells me I am getting no more information at all. He lets me go and I automatically rub my upper arm where his cruel grip has left the ache of bruising and just watch him as he walks around the lounge like a pacing lion. He seems more intent on checking our plush surroundings in good old sunny Rich-Ville than arguing this point anymore, and I am too tired for it anyway.

His house is gorgeous. Huge and yet strangely devoid of anything Alexi. It’s not like his apartment over the club that reflects his sinister side and masculinity. This seems showy, family orientated like it was professionally designed to be light, airy and homely, and he just doesn’t fit.

Neither do I, it’s not to my taste and feels a bit like play pretend to be a normal person in this normal world of housewives and happy lives. Something I will never be.

‘‘I’m leaving you with security and Mico, I’ll be back in a week or two, and I’ll see where I will put you on a more permanent basis. Gino knows you’re here. He will keep an eye, from a distance. Try not to get yourself in any trouble and keep your nose clean. This isn’t the city and anything you do here will get back to me faster than you can blink. I know about your endeavours here before, and will be mighty pissed should you attempt any sort of a repeat. I’ll still pay you and there will be no need to try and earn any other way. Oh, and stay well away from my cousin and his girlfriend … I doubt he has forgotten you.’’ He’s going on at me but all I heard was Mico!

Mico is his shadow and head of his security; he goes everywhere Alexi goes, constantly. He trusts him like no other and it’s rare you ever see one without the other. I don’t like the fact he’s leaving him with me. Obviously has zero trust that I won’t try and seduce his security or maybe make a run for it, but he’s leaving himself open without Mico by his side.

Who knows what kind of danger that will leave him in? I can almost taste my panic rising inside, and just keep gawping at him like he’s out of his mind. Mico doesn’t seem surprised or well, anything really. He has that same Carrero deadpan skill of not reacting, and could be Alexi’s brother if you go by looks and mannerisms. He has the same tall dark handsome Italian genes and weirdly green eyes, the same overall death by glare and oozing intimidation.

I never knew Italians with olive skin could have green eyes but it’s not as pretty or as soulless as the pale grey of a wolf. Mico is a typical Hollywood gangster movie henchman in a dark suit and black overcoat. Silent, obedient and all seeing. He doesn’t strike me as dumb either and has that same clever sadism about him that Alexi just effortlessly oozes from every pore. Only Mico is not as dominant and out there as Mr Mafia Boss is, and tends to be the silent intimidation in the room and only does as he is told.

‘‘Camilla?’’ Alexi snaps at me and brings my attention back to him with an edge of anger, and I realise it’s probably because I haven’t responded and was glancing at his sidekick in evaluation. Probably thinks I am checking him out and wondering what getting him naked would look like, I mean he’s not exactly ugly … but he’s not Alexi.

‘’What?’’ I blurt in jumpy reaction, he still has an ability to make me flinch and instinctively respond.

‘’Do you understand?’’ He says it so slowly, like he’s talking to a child, as much as I want to roll my eyes and sigh at him I just nod politely and give him my all-purpose quick smile of agreement.

‘’Yes, sir!’’

‘‘That better not be sarcasm!’’ He grits teeth at me and I can see he is in no mood today.

‘‘Oh just fuck off Alexi, I will do as I am told. I will have your bodyguard flanking my every move anyway, so it’s not like I can do anything other than what you say. He looks more than capable of enforcing your demands. You can leave now.’’ Sassy is back in play even if it’s more agitation fuelled, and as much as I don’t really want him to leave, he’s pissing me off.

‘’Nice try. I have plans here for the next few hours then we can have dinner and I’ll go back to the city.’’ He dismisses me with an eyebrow flick and picks up mail on the side unit, flicking through distractedly.

What?

‘’Dinner? Like a date?’’ I honest to God blanch at him in disbelief, and he just frowns like I am completely stupid.

‘’No, not like a date. Dinner … I need an escort, I have business here. Wear something conservative, sexy underwear, high shoes and hair down.’’ He nods like I am a puppy getting a command to heal and this is an everyday request.