Page 9

9

Bonnie

I t’s the bajillion thread count on the duvet and the feel of silk sheets underneath, that first reminds me I’m most definitely not at home. My own duvet cover is scratchy and my mattress, lumpy. This mattress is like floating on a cloud of marshmallows.

The second reminder is the godawful décor I’m currently staring at with my bleary eyes. Third…um, third, is a scary blonde staring at me with different-coloured eyes from the corner of the room.

“What are you doing in here?” I screech, pulling up the covers until they’re tucked under my chin. I had to sleep nude because I haven’t got my pyjamas.

Allegra looks entirely unfazed by my squawking. She simply continues to watch me from the wingback chair, one leg crossed over the other and her hands resting on her lap.

“I’d thought you’d be awake by now, trying to tunnel out of the house,” she says.

I narrow my eyes. “I won’t be that obvious,” I shoot back, presuming we’re skipping yesterday’s confrontation.

“We need to talk. Get dressed and come to Kelley’s room.”

“Why?” So much for me keeping a low profile and not antagonising her.

She grits her teeth and flares her nostrils. I wait for the acerbic response, but it doesn’t come.

“Please, just do as I ask.” And then she stands gracefully, gives me one last sweeping look, and leaves.

My heart is pounding. I’d like to say it’s from the surprise of finding someone watching me as I sleep, but I’m not sure that’s the reason…at least not the entire reason. As much as Allegra is a foul specimen of a human being, her stare stirs something in me. My mind conjures a particular scene in Mob’s Seduction. Dammit, that’s how it starts! The protagonist gets sucked in by the mob queen and her sultry looks. She gets all flustered and starts to feel attraction, even though the mob queen is a real piece of work. Well, I’m not falling for it. Nope! Allegra can do sweepy looks and smouldering eye contact, but she won’t break me.

Satisfied I can keep it in my knickers, I slip out of bed and quickly shower again. I still feel like I have half an ocean on my skin. For once, I’m not looking forward to putting on my wool skirt. After the feel of silk sheets on my skin, I know the heavy material of my clothes is going to be uncomfortable.

Walking to the ugly vanity, I stop and stare. I can’t put my wool skirt on because it isn’t where I left it. None of my clothes are. What the hell?

Turning in a circle, I search for my clothes. Is this Allegra’s childish way of pissing me off? I thought she would be more the finger-snapping and kneecapping type than a stealing-a-girl’s-clothes kind of mobster.

Just as my anger begins to rise, I spot a pile of clothes on a small table next to the wingback chair. Cautiously, and with an air of suspicion, I approach. Neatly folded on it is a dark grey pencil skirt and a ruby-red silk shirt. There is even underwear…of the lace variety.

I’m not sure how long I stand there staring, but it must be approaching at least ten minutes. Allegra will probably burst through the door any second and drag me to Kelley’s room, because I am most definitely late.

Did Allegra leave these here? Is she seriously trying to dress me? What kind of control freak does that?

My fingernails dig into my palm as I get more and more agitated. I do not want to wear clothes picked out by her! How dare she? But what choice do I have? I mean, I could make a statement and waltz to Kelley’s room in just the undies. But the idea of Allegra assessing my body isn’t worth the anxiety or other feelings her stare elicits.

Begrudgingly, I slip on the clothes and hate myself for feeling really good in them. The floor-length mirror makes me pause because I don’t look like myself at all. I look… Wow! I look pretty hot!

Instead of the usual low ponytail, I let my hair hang free. For no other reason than to give my scalp a break. It has nothing to do with wanting to look alluring, in any way whatsoever. But let’s say that was partly the case; I’d be doing it for me. No reason I can’t look sexy for myself.

Batting away my thoughts, I go to leave until I remember I’m barefoot. One quick look and I see a pair of high heels I’m sure will break my ankles. I have the stability of a baby giraffe in flats, let alone skyscraper shoes. Okay, they’re not quite that bad. Maybe two inches? Still, that’s higher than I’m used to.

Letting out a frustrated growl, I stomp over and put the blasted things on my feet. I hate Allegra has dressed me so well. Hate. It.

With my mood trapped between sour and strangely satisfied with the way my body looks, I do my best to walk smoothly to Kelley’s room. Stopping outside her door, I fix my face into resting bitch mode and enter. Ignoring Allegra completely, and that bloody smug grin plastered to her irritatingly pretty face, I head straight for Kelley, who is looking at me like I’m an alien. Until she wolf whistles, and then I want to punch her.

“Whoa, looking good, Bonnie. Wowzer!”

“How are you?” I grit out. I know Allegra has still got her eyes on me, but I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much she’s pissed me off.

“No way. We need to stay on topic. What’s all this?” Kelley asks with a sweeping motion up and down my body with her non-injured arm.

“This,” I say, “is a violation of my rights. Yet again.”

Kelley’s eyes dart between me and Allegra. “Um, okay. But as far as violations go, you look great.”

I hear the quiet snigger from behind and choose to be the bigger person.

“Why have you summoned me here?” I ask, turning from Kelley to Allegra. “What more could you possibly want from us?”

Allegra’s hair is back in its tight bun. Sad, really, because her hair looks gorgeo—

Stop it right now, Bonnie Moorside! My inner voice is right. I need to concentrate.

“Don Ferrante has agreed to collect your parents,” she says. A rush of air leaves my body.

Oh, thank God .

“They will arrive later today.”

“Thank you,” I reply tersely. I want to throw myself at her and hug her to death for doing this for me. Honestly, I didn’t think she would pass on my demand.

She gives me a small nod. “We have decided that for your safety and that of your parents, we must return to Sicily. Our villa is the most secure of all the family properties.”

Um…what?

“Hang on a second. You can’t just take us out of the country. We have lives… Homes… Pets!” I argue.

“You have no pets, Ms Moorside,” Allegra calmly states.

“That’s not the point… I… You… I refuse!”

She’s doing that thing again, where she grits her teeth and flares her nose. I understand now it’s her way of stopping herself from launching whatever scathing comeback is sitting on the edge of her tongue.

“If your parents agree, will you come willingly?”

This new, calmer Allegra is throwing me off balance. “They won’t, so it doesn’t matter.”

Her eyes are steely. Not in colour, but in determination. “If they do, will you?”

I huff, “Fine.”

There is no way either of my dads will go along with it, so it’s a moot point.

Another small nod. Her attention turns to Kelley. “Don Ferrante is happy for you to go home, if that’s what you want.”

Yes! Kelley can get help. Why on earth is Lorenzo letting her go? It’s clear from the crease between Allegra’s eyes this isn’t her decision. Rightly so, because Kelley will bring the full force of the law—

“I’m not going home. Where Bonnie goes, I go.”

“Kelley,” I begin, shocked she’s being so idiotic.

“That’s my decision, Bonnie.”

“So be it,” Allegra replies. “Beth will be in shortly to tend to your wound.” Allegra’s hands curl into fists. “I…I’d like to apologise for that,” she says, gesturing to Kelley’s shoulder. Her arm is strapped across her chest, but apart from that, she looks fine. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Shot my best friend,” I scoff. “No, you shouldn’t have. In fact, you shouldn’t have done any of this. So save your apologies. They mean nothing if you still intend to keep us against our will.”

Allegra’s eyes turn to me. Her heterochromatic irises twinkle as a ray of sunlight passes through Kelley’s open curtains. “None of this was my decision. Trust me when I say you are not worth the headache; however, Don Ferrante has requested you’re kept safe, and that’s what I’ll do. Maybe it would be wise for you to stop being so indignant and see the situation for what it is: A way to save your boring life. You will be back at your cosy bookshop soon, going home to eat your sad microwave meals, with your even sadder wool clothes for company. Don Ferrante may not have gone about this in the right way, but his heart is in the right place. Whether you like it or not, he is your kin and will treat you as such. So stop your whining and grow up.”

“How dare—”

“You are being taken to a luxury villa in Italy. You and your parents will be kept safe whilst enjoying a life of pure comfort. I will take care of the people who are hellbent on hurting you and then you can go home.”

“People are after me because of you and this wretched family,” I shout. “You brought this on me and my parents, so don’t start trying to pass yourself off as some sort of hero. You’re a criminal!”

“That may be so. But I’m the only one who will stop you from getting a bullet in your head!”

A thick silence descends on the room. Kelley’s hand on my arm snatches my attention from Allegra, who is shooting fire from her eyes.

“She’s not wrong, Bonnie.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I growl, “stop thinking with your vagina, Kelley. Beth is pretty, I get it, but she’s a bloody criminal too.”

Pulling her hand back, Kelley sits up. “I’ll forgive that outburst because I know you’re stressed,” she begins. “My reason for agreeing with psycho over there has zero to do with Beth and you know it. I was high as a kite last night on some pretty great painkillers. Beth is lovely, but I’d never bet your life on a pretty girl. You know that, because you know me !”

My shoulders sag as I deflate. Of course I know that, and I feel bad for snapping. “I’m sorry, Kel. This is all…”

“Too much. I know. Believe me, I’m scared too. But the fact remains, there are people who want to hurt you. Going home out of sheer stubbornness not only endangers you, but also your parents and everyone around them. Think of the trip to Sicily as a holiday, okay? We’re going to go spend some time eating great food and drinking wine in a gorgeous country.”

“We do have excellent wine,” Allegra murmurs. I shoot her a look that clearly states she needs to butt out. Her response is an eye roll.

My thoughts are no longer a picture of organised bliss. “What about work? Clive will—”

“He has been informed of your absence and compensated accordingly. There is no issue in that regard.”

“Of course you’ve already called my boss,” I sneer.

“We’re on a tight schedule, Ms Moorside. Are we all on the same page now?”

Running my hand through my hair, I weigh up the options. Everything in me wants to rebel against Allegra. Sod Lorenzo, she’s the one who pisses me off, and the thought of doing anything she wants makes me break out in hives. I have to think of my parents and Kelley, however. Their safety comes first.

“Fine,” I say, but I’m not done. I take a step toward Allegra. When I’m forehead to chin, I look up. My voice is low, so only she can hear me, “But if you touch my things again without consent, I will gut you in your sleep.”

Her eyes flash and her pupils dilate. She looks down at my lips and back up. Her tongue sneaks out and delicately traces her bottom lip.

“Duly noted… Bonnie.”