The devil you begged for

010

ISLA

~•~

I knew my enemy but I wasn’t sure what to do about him. If he kept me in his house, it meant he didn’t even think I was a threat.

I packed back and forth in my room as the words repeated themselves over and over again in my head. She’s not useful arrived than buried. What did that even mean? What use did he have for me?

I pressed my hands over my ears as though I could block them out but they were already rooted deeply in my mind.

Had I heard it right? Maybe I misinterpreted him? Maybe it sounded worse than it was. Maybe he wasn’t even talking about me. Surely, millions of other girls lost their families recently and live under Lorenzo’s roof.

I would have believed myself if I weren’t the only woman living there amongst, at least, five men. I knew I hadn’t misunderstood. He hadn’t stuttered nor had he faltered. He sounded certain, cold, as though my existence had been reduced to a chess piece that he could use whenever he wanted to.

My chest felt tight.

I sat on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. Tears gathered in my eyes but I forced them away. Crying wasn’t an option, not in this house. I couldn’t be weak. I needed to leave, but before leaving, I needed to avenge my family.

Time passed, but I couldn’t tell how long it was. Maybe minutes or hours, but a knock finally pulled me out of my thoughts.

There was another knock before they finally spoke. “It’s part dinner time.” A voice I recognized to be Gregory’s came through the door. “Boss wants you to come down and eat. We’ve all been waiting.”

I looked at the time on my phone. It was fifteen minutes past seven and we usually had dinner at seven. Lorenzo was pretty strict about that. Except someone was out working, they weren’t allowed to miss dinner, including me. However, the thought of sitting beside him had my skin crawling. I wanted to avenge my parents but I really didn’t know how to face him.

“I’m not hungry,” I called out back.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, go on without me,” I tried to keep my voice steady as I spoke.

There was silence. A pause long enough for me to wonder if he was still outside my door or not. Then I heard footsteps retreating and sighed in relief.

Another hour passed, or maybe less. My stomach twisted painfully, but hunger was easier to handle than him. I hadn’t eaten all day. I skipped breakfast to hurry to school and I skipped lunch because I didn’t want to be at the cafeteria when I had so many nosy coursemates.

The second knock came. This time, it was quieter. A lot more controlled. I didn’t need to ask who was at the door to know that it was him.

Lorenzo.

Another knock followed and I didn’t know whether or not to pretend I was asleep. I genuinely didn’t want to see his face. I didn’t know how to face the man who killed my family and then allowed me into his home. He had a reputation for being ruthless and I totally ignored that and look where that got me

Before I could make a decision, he made it for me. “Open the door.”

He didn’t ask if I was busy. He didn’t ask if I was asleep. Hell, he didn’t even assume I could be sleeping. As always, he gave orders without consideration.

I didn’t know when my legs carried me to the door. Maybe I didn’t want to seem suspicious. I didn’t want him to know I knew about his evil deeds. Avoiding him would cause him to suspect me. As heartless as he was, he could kill me to shut me up if he found me suspicious.

With that thought in mind, I released a deep breath, cleaned my sweaty palms against the jeans I hadn’t taken off since I got back from school, and unlocked the door.

I shifted back, just in time for him to open the door. He leaned in front of the doorframe, hands crossed like he had all the time in the world. He didn’t step in immediately. Instead, his gaze travelled over me.

“You didn’t eat.” Lorenzo’s voice was smooth and unbothered, but something told me it wasn’t a casual observation. Did he already realize I was outside the door while he was speaking with Romano? I shouldn’t have dropped the file there, should I?

“I wasn’t hungry,” I whispered, taking another step back. I didn’t like being too close to him.

His eyes narrowed for the briefest second, almost as if he was trying to check if I was lying. “You’ve had a long day. School. Staring. Questions you don’t want to answer. That takes a toll, I guess.” He nodded to himself.

My blood ran cold. “Are you watching me?”

“I’ll have something sent up,” he continued, stepping in, like I hadn’t just asked him a question. “You skipped breakfast and I’m sure you didn’t have much to eat at school.”

“I said I’m not hungry.” The words left my lips faster than intended. I came off too defensive.

His smile was faint, almost gentle, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And I said you need it. You’re in my house, Isla. Remember that.” The gentleness of his voice was worse than him raising his voice at me. It was a silent threat. It pricked my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

I forced a nod, not wanting to fight him on something as mundane as eating. I needed him to leave as soon as possible. His presence was imposing.

Satisfied, he lingered another moment, his gaze unreadable before turning back to the door. When the door shut behind him, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Lorenzo was showing me his true self and he didn’t care if I liked it or not.