Page 63 of A Madness of Crows

My ribs squeeze inside my chest as she leans in and takes it from him. Her eyes flicker to me and away, color high on her cheeks.

Beside me, Stefano is silent, his head bowed as he eats.

I’m grinning when I hold up my glass to Matteo in return. “To good company and good food.”

In the corner of my eye, Caterina goes still at my words. Her face expressionless, but her shoulders tight.

She doesn’t look at me again for the rest of the meal. Dom doesn’t even try to hide that he’s watching her, and how I fucking envy him for it. Arms crossed, he watches with his plate untouched as SalvatorefuckingAsante touches our girl as if she belongs to him.

I sip at my wine, glancing at Matteo.

Wondering again why exactly we’re here. He’s testing me, that much is clear – but why Salvatore Asante would bother helping him, I don’t know.

After dinner, Salvatore stands, Cat slipping from his lap. One hand grips her other wrist. “Shall we go through? I have some entertainment planned for us.”

Matteo almost rubs his hands in glee as he gets to his feet.

Beside me, Stefano stiffens. I’m cautious as I stand, sauntering around the table to Matteo and clapping him on the shoulder.

Caterina sweeps past us, her brown eyes determinedly not looking at me as she follows Salvatore to the door with her back straight. The other woman – Cecile, I believe - follows. Her fingers brush with mine, a silent invitation that I ignore as I exchange a brief look with Dom.

His mouth a tight line, he lifts a shoulder as he follows. Stefano glances at me, and I offer him a mocking smile that he ignores as he pushes past me.

The fuck is going on?

We’re led down one of the grim hallways, full of concrete and not much else. I glance around, feigning boredom but making note of the windows, the location of the cameras that swivel to track our every move as we move into a dimly lit room.

I nearly walk into Stefano’s back. He doesn’t move as I take in the set-up over his shoulder. “You mind? Some of us are trying to walk, Asante.”

It’s a cinema room. Several rows of red velvet seats stretch out across the floor, facing a projector screen that’s been pulled down, ready for a film.

“Movie night. Interesting choice.”

Stefano still hasn’t moved. Sighing, I move to pass him.

Hisface—

I look to the front of the room. Salvatore is pushing Caterina down into a seat in the front row, settling down next to her. Matteo sits on her other side with a glass of wine in his hand, murmuring into her ear as she grips the velvet arms.

Dom has stopped, too. His eyes shift from Stefano’s pale face to mine, his hand rising up to his holster.

And behind us… men in dark uniforms slip into the room. Fanning out against the walls, kitted out with weapons that far outweigh anything that we’re carrying between us.

“Sit.”

All pretense of civility has disappeared from Asante’s expression now, as he calls back to us. Matteo looks at me, assessing, and I give him a salute as I slip into the second row. Domenico and Stefano follow me.

Crossing my arms, I wait, my body tightening more with every second.

Whatever it is… it’s not going to be good.

Day 44 – Caterina

Salvatore’s nails dig into my arm as he holds me in place.

“I have to thank you.” Matteo leans over to murmur into my ear, even as I lean away from him, revulsed. “Your enforcer has been an excellent addition to my team, Caterina. You trained himverywell.”

My throat tightens. I can only imagine what he’s doing to Dom, if the small amount of skin on show is any indication.