Page 62 of Sinful Hearts

Maggie is a good person with a good heart.

I pull back. “After we eat, are we allowed to leave? Maybe have a girls’ day?”

Maggie has a car, which means she has the means to break me out of this place. Even if it’s just for a few hours.

She slowly shakes her head.

I frown.

“We can talk to Emilio about it,” she says, sounding hopeful again.

I pout my lip.

“He’s only trying to keep you safe.”

“No, he’s keeping me hostage.”

“Maybe if my hostage didn’trun, she’d get more freedom.”

My back straightens, and I slowly peek over my shoulder to find Emilio standing in the kitchen doorway.

He looks well rested even though I know he got only a few hours of sleep. There isn’t one wrinkle in his black suit. Blinking, I wonder if he irons his clothes himself.

He fixes his stony stare on me while walking deeper into the kitchen.

Not wanting to get a neck cramp, I slowly turn to face him.

“You’re spending the day with me, Liliya,” he says.

There’s no question in his tone.

It’s a demand.

I cross my arms. “What if I don’t want to?”

He inches closer until he’s nearly in my face.

My breath hitches, and I place my hand against my chest to level it. “Maggie and I were about to eat breakfast.”

He checks his watch. “It’s almost noon.”

Yes, I slept in.

Well, I slept in until ten and then spent almost two hours scrolling in bed.

Unlike him, it seems I do need my beauty sleep.

I inch back a few steps and am grateful he doesn’t follow. “Maggie was going to make usbrunch.”

“We’ll brunch tomorrow, honey,” Maggie says behind me.

I rub my stomach. “I’d better eat now. I get pretty hangry when I haven’t eaten. I also have a strange urge to put on running shoes and go for a jog.”

Emilio’s eyes narrow at me.

I do the same in return, though I doubt I look nearly as intimidating. “On second thought, I’d prefer to stay in my hostage situation. I’ll return to my room now.” I start to move around him.

He snatches my wrist, jerking me back. “There’ll be food where we’re going.”