Page 49 of Savage Empire

I realize I’m staring and shake myself out of it. “You like them?” I ask, looking between her and the clothing.

She flashes a glowing smile and nods. “I have them in black. First time here?”

“First time anywhere around here,” I admit. “I just moved.”

“Well, welcome,” she replies happily, extending a hand. “I’m Natalie.”

“Rayna.” I return her shake quickly, noticing that even her nails look perfectly polished. I must look like a hot mess to her. “Nice to meet you.”

“You as well.” Natalie retracts her hand. “Staying long? Or just visiting?”

“I,” I hesitate. “I think I’ll be around for a while. My brother and I just moved in and he seems keen on staying as long as we’re welcome.”

She nods in understanding. “Staying with a friend, then?”

“Sort of.” I bite my lip, deciding how much to share. “He’s put us up in a place he owns.”

“Sounds like there’s a story there,” she says, looking intrigued. Before she can ask or before I can divulge more, her phone vibrates. “Oof, you’ll have to excuse me for a moment, it’s my husband. If I don’t answer he’ll assume I’m being held captive or something.” Rolling her eyes, she huffs, “Men, am I right?”

She may be playfully complaining about him, but judging by her lips lifting into a grin and the giant rock on her left finger, I imagine she actually loves him quite a lot.

Must be nice.

While she moves away to take her call, I decide on three bras and five pairs of panties to bring to check out. Maybe I’ll get to chat with her after she’s done, but either way, I don’t see myself buying more than I’ve picked out. I don’t feel comfortable going too crazy with the purchases until I see how Apollo reacts to this one.

I get that the Morettis are rich, and apparently relatively generous with their money, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a limit in mind when it comes to the strays they take in.

“Hi again,” I say, dropping the items onto the counter as I approach the woman from the door. “Just these, please.”

She stares at the small pile, and I swear her eye twitches as she begins to scan each tag. The frosty lack of welcome coupled with the silent way she starts to check out my choices makes me think she must not like me personally. Which makes absolutely no sense, since I’ve never met this woman in my life.

Once she’s finished, the total pops up on the screen.Over four hundred dollars, Jesus.I pass over the black card before she can ask, wishing there was just one of those little pin pad screens for me to do it myself.

The standoff-ish employee looks at the card, arches an eyebrow and then looks right back at me. “Do you have identification?” she asks, eyes flicking over me with a flare of cold distrust.

Taken back, I ask, “You need ID to buy bras now?”

She doesn’t miss a beat, smiling with forced sweetness. “Your card is suspicious, it’s just a precaution.”

My stomach sinks, a bit of unease growing instantly. “I’m sorry, what exactly is so suspicious about it?”

“This is a Moretti black card.” Her lip curls up, and not into a friendly smile. “Where’d you pick this up, hmm? Did someone drop it or did you take it?”

My jaw drops, completely thrown by the audacity to outright accuse me of theft. Even more so surprised that she’s able to identify the kind of credit card I’m using. I guess I can believe that Apollo would give me and Yordan a credit card branded after his family, but the fact that it’s look is notorious enough for a random shop worker to notice it?

Fucking ridiculous.

Trying to temper my reaction, I straighten my shoulders and look her in the eye. “It wasgivento me. Do we have a problem?”

“You certainly will when the rightful owners find you.”

I swallow hard, feeling an unwelcome wave of embarrassment burning up the back of my neck. “Okay, wow.”

I want to leave. Now.

Even if she wasn’t accusing me of theft and speaking to me like I’m some sort of child she needs to discipline, the way she’s looking at me is more than enough to put me off. I don’t knowthat I’ve ever felt so belittled in public by a total stranger before, and I never want to feel this again.

“I don’t think I want to buy anything here anymore.” I move to reach for Apollo’s card and she flinches back, holding it close.