Page 25 of Taken by the Mafia King (Kings of Philly #1)
SERA
I wasn’t sure what time it was when Olivia waltzed into my room and tore open the heavy curtains to reveal another cool autumn day. Rain drops speckled the windows as gray clouds swirled over the sweeping grounds of my prison.
“You missed breakfast, again,” she chided, clicking her tongue at me as I remained curled in bed with the sheets tucked around my chin and neck to shield my face from the sun.
“You really need to get yourself together, girl, or you’re going to end up dead.
” Her sing-song voice grated on my nerves as she fluttered around the room, gathering laundry and dishes.
She gasped at the bloodstained carpet, but her exclamation had nothing to do with the fact that someone had been beaten and bleeding in this room.
“What a mess! This will take ages to get out now that it’s dry. ”
How could someone be so chipper and lighthearted living this kind of existence? Did none of this faze her?
“I left you some lunch,” she called out with a touch of annoyance as I continued to lie there and ignore her presence. She sighed heavily and shut the door behind her when she left.
Alone once again, I rolled over to face the far wall. Gray, overcast daylight danced over the surface, casting long shadows in the wake of the furniture.
I’d kissed my captor last night. I’d kissed him knowing he’d be my death. I’d kissed him knowing he’d killed my brother.
I’d kissed him because I’d wanted to, which was the worst part.
I curled my legs into my belly and held my breath as I fought a wave of nausea brought on by my guilt and senseless desire for the Mano Della Morte.
The door opened again before I had time to pretend to be asleep, but it wasn’t Olivia this time.
Tommaso walked in, his hands tucked casually in his pockets as he looked around, then settled his gaze on me.
The corner of his mouth twitched into what looked to be a sympathetic smile, but it faded quickly.
“Olivia said you didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Why is everyone so dead set on keeping me alive when it’s clear that I’ll die here?”
“That’s not true.” His eyes roamed over the bloodstain like it wasn’t even there. Just part of the décor. “If I stay here with you for a while, will you eat?”
I sat up a little, suspicion tightening my brow.
“Why?” The silky chemise I’d worn to bed grazed over my chest as I shifted my position, making me fully aware of how exposed I was.
I reached over to the other side of the bed and grabbed the matching robe.
The fine fabric dusted over my skin like a gentle kiss, and I shivered.
“It can’t be easy being alone up here all the time.” He shrugged and seemed oblivious to my ruffled state as I swung my legs out of bed. “There’s enough food for two. I haven’t eaten yet, so why not?”
“And how would your boss feel about you sharing a meal with one of his captives?” I poured myself a cup of coffee from the silver carafe on the lunch tray and shot him an accusatory look.
Midday sunlight traveled over the silverware and shiny porcelain plates as I picked through the finger sandwiches and assorted fruit.
Tommaso picked up a sandwich and bit into it. “I think he’d be pleased to hear conversation from this room other than someone wallowing and screaming into their pillow.”
I flushed. I hadn’t realized anyone could hear me crying and carrying on up here. I took a small bite from my sandwich even though I wasn’t hungry.
“Olivia is kind of a piece of work but she’s trustworthy and fun.”
“Okay.” I leaned against the windowsill. “So?”
“So… maybe instead of brushing her off and pretending to sleep every time she comes into the room to make sure you’re alright, you talk to her instead.”
“I don’t have anything to say to anyone here,” I said, a little harsher than I meant to. “I don’t want to make friends. I don’t want to get comfortable. I don’t want…” I trailed off.
I don’t want to settle in here.
Tommaso pursed his lips and I could have sworn a brief flash of guilt darkened his eyes.
He steeled his expression and met my eyes with a look I’d never seen from him before.
For the first time, Killian’s boyish, somewhat aloof right hand looked like he truly belonged to the Mano Della Morte and his syndicate.
His eyes darkened to the point they were nearly black as he warned, “Do not get on Killian’s bad side, Seraphina.
You’re already a Bianchi, and that’s reason enough for most men to want you as their own—or want you dead. ”
“Tommaso,” Killian said from the doorway. I yelped, dropping my coffee on the floor. I hadn’t seen or heard him come inside the room, but Tommaso didn’t seem surprised in the slightest at his boss’s stealth. “Downstairs. There’s work to be done before tonight.”
Tonight? What was happening tonight?
Tommaso dropped his half-eaten sandwich on the tray and left without a word to me, but the air in the room was thick with tension as I slowly met Killian’s eyes.
“I want to be let out of this room,” I said, and it took all of my strength to muster enough courage to even speak to him. “Please, when can I leave? Even just to take a breath of fresh air?”
“Never.” He turned and slammed the door shut behind him.
What was his deal with me? What excuses did he really have to keep me up here, alive and trapped like a little doll? A plaything . I picked up my coffee cup and weighed it in my hands before I hurled it against the door, shattering it into a million pieces.