Chapter 17: Chapter 17

My heart trembled at his words, and I tried my best not to show how speechless I was.

He pressed my hand more firmly against his chest, and I felt the thrum of his heart vibrating against my palm.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his. They bewitched me with their intensity. I knew that if I were standing right now, my legs would buckle.

My breath sped up with every second that passed. In the back seat of the car, it was like we’d gone back in time to before I’d broken up with him. To a time when I could spend hours gazing into his eyes, lost in the desire I found in them.

The sound of a car horn snapped me out of the daze I was in, and I shook my head to clear its thoughts of desire. ~You’re in a car~, I reminded myself. ~Act appropriately.~

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “When did your mouth get so dirty?”

“I can’t have dirty thoughts about my future wife?” His eyes twinkled. “You can’t handle it?”

I quirked a brow and met his eyes. “You haven’t dished out a single thing that I couldn’t handle.”

His smile widened. “Is that a challenge?”

“Can you handle it?” I shot back, not backing down.

“If we didn’t have company, I’d be showing you exactly how I’d handle it.” His eyes strayed to the driver sitting up front.

I froze. I had forgotten about the driver. Embarrassment crippled me, and I racked my mind for a quick topic change.

“The second escape room that I completed. It was real, right? What happened? To the little girl.”

“Little girl? Ah, yes. You were on the second floor of the warehouse. Each room is different, and they all hold a bit of truth to them. And the one you were in held more than others. It’s possibly one of the most horrific rooms in the warehouse.”

My heart sank at the thought of that little girl going through such unimaginable horrors.

“Tell me,” I demanded.

Stefano held my gaze for what seemed like an eternity before nodding, almost like he’d seen something behind my eyes that convinced him I could handle the little girl’s story.

“Years ago, the family extended its territory and bought some abandoned houses on the east side of the river. We found the bodies of a woman and a little girl in one of them. They’d been dead for a few weeks by then. We called the police to keep everything on the up and up, and they conducted an investigation.”

“What happened to them?” I whispered, almost afraid to ask.

“Both of them were badly malnourished, and there were signs of physical and sexual assault…on both of them. The mother was bludgeoned with a sledgehammer. The little girl… The medical examiner determined there was rat poison in her stomach. It was most likely hidden in the little food she was given.”

I fought the urge to cry, determined to hear out the rest of her story. I needed to know, needed to remember and honor her.

“The police determined it was the work of a serial killer who’d been terrorizing the community for over a decade. They failed to find him, but, well, let’s just say he won’t be harming little girls ever again.”

“Good,” I said, pursing my lips. “That’s…good.”

Stefano looked at me, his eyes clear in the lights of the passing vehicles. “The mafia life is not an easy one, Catalina. We have our demons too. But we won’t sit idly by when evil invades our territory.”

I swallowed as I tried to understand what he was telling me.

Finally, it clicked. “You operate in the shadows, in the not quite legal, and even illegal. But there are some lines you won’t cross. And those that do cross those lines, you eradicate.”

He nodded.

“What ha-happened…to their remains?”

“We couldn’t find a next of kin, so they’re buried in the family plot. Would you like to visit them?”

I nodded. “Yes. I’d like to honor them, to remember them.”

“We’ll go tomorrow,” he said.

We sat in silence, but there was another question itching at the back of my mind.

“The items in the room, were those…hers?”

“Yes,” Stefano replied. “After the police concluded their investigation, and the killer was…terminated…the family requested the evidence boxes. The police kept swabs, fingerprints, and fibers, but they returned everything else to us.”

I gasped. “So, that means…”

“Yes. The room was set up like her bedroom, with her actual pictures and her teddy bear.”

“And the diary?” I asked, forcing the words from my throat.

“The diary belonged to Lila. Those were her words.”

“Lila,” I whispered.

I stared out the window, lost in thought, wishing I could have done something back then to protect Lila and her mother.

But I would visit their graves tomorrow. And I would never forget the horrors they lived through.

A few minutes later, we came to a stop in front of a five-star restaurant. Stefano stepped out of the car and came around to open my door, and I stared at him in confusion.

“I thought we were going home.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Without celebrating your first win? Impossible. C’mon, the restaurant is closing soon.”

I shook my head, my butt rooted to the seat as I gestured toward my clothes. “You have to be on crack if you think I’m going into that restaurant dressed like this.”

“What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?”

“What’s wrong with it?” I hissed. “Everything is wrong with it! It’s not suitable for a restaurant this fancy. I can’t go in there like this!”

He leaned against the car. “So, you’re not coming out?”

I shook my head firmly. “I will not.”

“It’s not a big deal. Get out of the car, amorina.”

“No.”

He stared at me, and I stared at him, neither of us willing to back down. After a few more seconds, he nodded. “Okay.”

He took out his phone and stepped away from the car. I crossed my arms over my chest as he talked to whoever was on the other line.

A few minutes later, the guests within the restaurant filed out. Some looked dissatisfied, while others looked pleased.

My mouth fell open as they got into their cars and left. I turned to Stefano, who was staring at me with a mischievous smile on his face.

“What did you do?”

He shrugged and reached into the car to grab my hand and tug me out. “I got rid of the problem. There’s no one inside to see how you’re dressed. It’s time to eat.”

I stepped out of the car, my lips pulling into a frown. “You just ruined their night. Won’t the restaurant get bad reviews because of this?”

He shrugged. “They were offered a free meal the next time they visit in exchange for leaving now. I think it’s quite a fair trade.”

I still hesitated. It was a bit much, and I felt guilty for ruining their night. If I’d known he was stubborn enough to do that, I’d have agreed to go inside in the first place.

He linked our fingers and led me into the restaurant, and we followed the hostess to our table.

“Good evening, Mr. Roscotto. It’s been a while,” the waitress greeted us once we were seated, a welcoming smile on her face.

She handed us the menus. “Please, take your time. We’re in no rush to close now that Mr. Roscotto is here.”

My eyebrows shot up at the suggestive glance she gave Stefano as she handed him his menu.

I tapped my fingers rhythmically on the table as I turned my eyes to the menu. There was no need for me to be irritated, yet I was.

The waitress’s actions stayed on my mind as I tried to make sense of the menu.

I glanced at Stefano. “Any suggestions? You’ve been here before, no?”

“Can’t decide?” he asked.

I shook my head and placed the menu down. “Just choose for me. I’m not picky.”

“In terms of food?” A suggestive smile tilted his lips.

I rolled my eyes. “Only food.”

He chuckled and ordered for both of us

After the waitress sauntered off, I leaned forward and couldn’t help but voice my observation. “She seems interested in you.”

Stefano pulled out his phone. “It’s common. Many women lust after powerful men like me.”

My smile dropped, and my mood instantly soured. “You sound pleased with yourself.” He didn’t seem to notice the bitterness in my voice as he began tapping away on his phone.

I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms, impatiently waiting for our food to be brought out. I didn’t want to talk to Stefano anymore, either. I was afraid I’d start irrationally cursing him out.

When our food was finally served, I kept my eye on the waitress, who seemed to be ignoring my very existence.

She trailed a finger across Stefano’s hand as she placed his food down, and a weird sensation stirred in my gut.

Just as I was about to say something, Stefano caught her wrist and looked at her coldly. “Touch what you’re paid to touch. This is my wife you’re disrespecting.”

Surprise flitted across her eyes as she glanced at me and flushed. “Wife?”

I smiled tightly and gave a little wave. “And I didn’t have to throw myself at him to earn that title.”

I couldn’t help the snarky remark. I was annoyed with her unprofessionalism. Though I no longer felt as annoyed as I did before. Stefano’s words and actions calmed the flames of my anger.

The small smile on his face told me that he knew he did good.

I was very pleased.

The waitress fumbled as she apologized. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t aware that you were now taken…” She trailed off then quickly slipped away.

I picked up my fork and tried to school my face as I ate. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me jealous, yet I made a mental note to reward him when we returned to the mansion.

Heads or tails?

Maybe both.