Page 46 of Pretty Plaything

But it doesn’t look like I have to worry about that. She’s grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“I’ll show you to her room so you can take whatever my daughter wants,” she says. “How nice of you to have come.”

Yeah, I’m the best husband in the whole fucking world.

“I was in the area, so it’s not a lot of trouble at all.” I follow Sienna’s mother, carefully inspecting every part of the house on my way and committing it to memory.

It’s impossible to know what I might need one day, and this is the best chance to get familiar with the Lionetti residence, especially when they don’t see me as a threat.

“How is my daughter? I thought she might give me a call, but—”

“She’s happy. Let’s just say things went better than she expected. I’m sure she’ll call you as soon as she finds the time. She loves her new home.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” Tears fill the corners of her eyes. “And tell her she doesn’t have to worry about me. I know you two are busy getting to know each other. She can call me when she has the time.”

I offer her my best innocent smile.

It’s so easy to fool her, but a part of her probably wants to be fooled and believe that her daughter is perfectly happy, because what other option does she have?

She doesn’t want to hear that her husband ruined their daughter’s life.

“Oh, I totally forgot,” she says. “I’ll call someone to get this done for—”

“No need. I’d rather do something than wait for someone else to find the right things.”

“Okay then.” She stops in front of a white door and opens it wide. “This is Sienna’s room.”

Pale pink walls. White furniture.

The room still smells like her.

Like flowers and something that’s just hers.

I spot the dressing table and the photos on it. Sienna’s mother is watching me as I pick up one of the photos.

It’s an image of little Sienna dressed as a ballerina, and the smile on her face is so wide and so genuine that I’m sure it was one of her happiest moments.

I fake a cough. “Can I bother you for a glass of water?”

“It’s no bother at all. I get it to you right away.”

Hopefully, not too quickly.

When she’s gone, I slip back into the hallway, which is empty. I haven’t seen any cameras on this floor, which isn’t a surprise because the bedrooms are here.

I need to find Santiago’s room. It has to be behind one of the doors in this big, long hallway.

Six doors.

I count.

Sienna is the youngest, so maybe her room is the last one. I haven’t been able to see which room is Santiago’s while watching the house, but it has to be the first door.

I go for it.

If someone is in there, I can say I got lost looking for Sienna’s mother. Will the door be locked? Only one way to find out.

I try the handle and the door opens. The room is spacious, and there’s a photo of Santiago on the wall across from the bed. The guy likes looking at his face when he wakes up.