Page 61 of Ruin Me With Lies

“As always, Wendy,” he says with an approving nod, “your touch is magic.”

Wendy beams.“Thank you, Mr.Castello.It was short notice, but Raya is unfussy and incredibly easy to work with.”

“Put together some outfits in this vein and send them to the villa,” he tells her.“Invoice me.”

“Certainly.”

Stefano strides forward and takes my hand, muttering, “You clean up well, little liar.”

For appearances sake, I remain well-behaved, docile as a lamb, as he leads me out.

Once we’re back in the car and on the move, I turn to him.“Do you think I’m one of your little toys?Someone you can dress up like a doll and drag around however you please?”

Without even looking at me, he replies, “Yes.”

Oh, you arrogant beast.How lucky you are that I’m fond of you.If you were anyone else…

“Of all the things I’ve heard about the great Stefano Castello, being a chauvinistic bratwurst wasn’t one of them.”

“You signed a contract that states for as long as you reside with the Castellos, you are property of the Castellos.And I do whatever the hell I please withmyproperty.”His voice is calm, almost bored.“Don’t like being my rag doll?Leave.”He looks at me now, eyes cold and unyielding.“But you won’t.Because we both know you’re a foxy little liar hiding your true face.Delilah—earning your pieces of silver.”

“Paranoid kings always end up as mad kings, you know,” I return.“If you truly think I’m this crafty, deceptive snake infiltrating your camp, why am I still alive?Why bring me along to your supposedly important meeting?”

His lips curve slightly.“How do you know I’m not misleading you?Maybe we’re headed to your death ceremony.”Something wicked glints in his eyes.“You’re not the only one who knows how to lie, little fox.”

“This is an awfully expensive outfit just to kill me.A mere nobody worm like me.”I flick nonexistent lint from my dress.“Hard to believe, considering everyone knows the true love of your life isil denaro.”

Leaning in close, so close our noses almost touch, he grits out, “Before I kill you, I’m going to cut out your tongue and make you sit at my feet for a week.Silent.Helpless.Unable to run this”—his gaze drops to my lips, heated and scathing— “worthlessmouth of yours.”

I snort.“Of course.The misogynistic patriarchy does hate it when women have voices, doesn’t it?”

He scoffs.“You’re barely a woman.”

“And you’reallman.Sobig…sobad…sostrong…soterrifying.”I lower my head in mock reverence.“Myliege.”

A whisper of a smile, so faint it might be imagined, plays across his perfectly sculpted lips.There, and then gone, before he turns to the window and ignores me for the rest of the drive.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Raya

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER,WE’REpulling up to a single-story building tucked behind high walls on the outskirts of civilization, nothing but brown desert all around.

Cool, almond-scented air and the soft strains of classical music greets us upon entering.The interior is like a cross between a high-end restaurant and a corporate boardroom.

A uniformed server escorts us to a private room off the left.A windowless space with tufted walls—likely soundproof—and a large, round table elegantly set for a formal meal.

Like the gentleman he isnot, Stefano pulls out a chair for me to sit, before taking the seat beside mine.

“Are you early for your meeting, or is everyone else late?”I ask as a server fills our water glasses.

“If you’re on time, you’re late.If you’re early, you’re on time,” he reiterates.“Arriving early gives you the advantage.You’re already settled in and relaxed.You get to observe, assess others as they arrive.You notice things others don’t.”

“But you made an unplanned detour,” I remind him.

“Even so, I’m still early.”He takes a sip of water.“Always allow extra time for the unexpected.Learned that from mynonna.”

Nonna was smart.“So, what’s the meeting about?It can’t be anything too important ifI’mhere.”