Chapter 12 Astra
TWELVE
Astra
I meet Lucille when she comes to fetch me for breakfast. She’s a lovely older woman with a no-nonsense smile. I choose to eat in the courtyard, and for some reason, it she sends me a pleased look about it.
She sets out a French coffee press, which I only know how to use as of recently, and a mini spread of breakfast foods. I grab the chocolate chip muffin without hesitation.
Donovan comes out just as I’m finishing up, and I don’t miss the big muscle man wearing a sapphire blue button-down shirt and charcoal-colored slacks walking in his shadow. Donovan’s face shows no emotion, which doesn’t surprise me.
He informs me I’m to go out, and I’m to get things I need to be comfortable.
What the heck does that mean? I don’t know. Clothes, I would assume.
He turns to the muscle man and hands him a wad of cash without even flinching. My eyes are instantly drawn to the few inches of skin that’s revealed when the new guy reaches for the money, more specifically, the image of a coiled snake inked around his wrist.
Donovan proceeds to tell the man to make sure I’m taken care of.
Without a glance back at me, Donovan turns and walks off.
His tone didn’t show any joy when saying he wanted me taken care of, and it makes me worry for a couple of minutes.
Big guy doesn’t come at me like he’s going to kill me and dump my body somewhere no one will find it, so I try to relax.
Wait, what? Donovan is letting me out!
I’m really surprised. Yes, I have an escort, but Donovan is still letting me go. I’m not exactly his prisoner, but I’m not sure what I am.
Torrin promised he’d work his magic, and I guess he did. I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that conversation. I imagine there would have been a lot of scowling from Donovan.
Turning my attention to Mr. Muscles, I flash a smile. This is awkward. I recognize him from the alleyway yesterday when Donovan kidnapped me, but I don’t know his name. He’s one of Donovan’s men, clearly, which means I don’t have a chance of gaining any sympathy and getting him to let me go.
Not that I would go.
Strangely, I feel safer with Donovan than I do with the man who is my father.
I stand, wearing yesterday’s clothes. Which includes a stretched-out sweater. With as much dignity and poise as I can muster, I do my best not to look like a hot mess.
“I’m Astra,” I tell the big muscle, going for a less forced, awkward smile this time.
“Andre,” he replies without looking at me. “Where’re ya wantin’ to go, cher?”
“I don’t know,” I say with a small laugh. “I’ve only been to the center market area. You know, uh, the area Mr. Falco caught me in yesterday.”
He smirks, but his eyes stay forward as we head to the central back door. We walk through the house, and I try my hardest not to appear as if I’m searching for Donovan. I don’t see him, which doesn’t really surprise me.
“Can we walk?” I ask as we step out of the back house, and I follow him to one of the many cars sitting in the surprisingly big lot. I would wonder why one man needs so many cars, but with all the staff and… whatever floating around this house, I’m sure they aren’t all Donovan’s. “Is it far?”
“Only a few blocks,” he replies as he changes course and heads down the driveway.
The walk is silent. I don’t have the first clue what to talk about, and even if I did, I don’t know how to talk to people.
It’s starting to hit me how sheltered I am and how I’ve been isolated for most of my life.
How come I didn’t notice I’m a sheltered weirdo while I was in the thick of it?
Is it one of those things you don’t see because it’s normal to you?
Ugh, the last thing I want to do is think about how different my life has been and how it’s strangely shaped who I am. However, my head is really a pain sometimes.
Like last night. I couldn’t sleep because I was forced to follow the whims of my brain.
I spent some time wondering about who I am.
What do I like? Can I really make it out here?
Why am I not afraid of Donovan Falco? I know I should be, and while I don’t feel completely safe with him, I’m not afraid he’s going to hurt me.
“There are clothing shops up there if that’s what you’re needin’.” Andre’s deep voice snaps me out of my thoughts. He points across the street. I nod, and we cross over.
I stare into the windows as we pass each shop. I’m scared to go inside. These clothes look too expensive. It makes it even worse that it’s not my money I’m spending, not that I have any money. I’m not comfortable with letting Donovan pay for things, regardless of the fact that I need clothes.
I’m out on what is technically my second shopping spree, though I didn’t get anything on my first one on the account that I was taken by Donovan and all.
I’m thinking I need to try really hard to get something because I don’t want to be stuck in this outfit for a third day.
It would also be nice to have something to sleep in.
“Are you not seein’ anything you like here?” Andre asks me.
“Ah, um. Well…” I shrug as I stare at a cute light pink halter top with a huge ruffle of fabric that looks like a flower at the neck. It’s one of those items I’m instantly drawn to but would never really wear. I just don’t think I could pull it off.
“Don’t be silly. Boss wants you to get what you need.” I swear there’s humor in his tone as he gently steers me into the shop. “The one in the window,” he says before the clerk can ask if we need anything. “This little lady needs one, and everything that would go with it.”
I scowl at him, but he sends me a stoic wink. Which I did not think could be a thing. I don’t know what to think about the deadly-looking muscle man.
My head spins as I’m whisked away into a dressing room and things are thrown at me.
“You know who that is?” the clerk asks me in a hushed tone. Her eyes are wide, and there’s a hint of excitement in her expression.
“Uh, Andre?”
“He works for Donovan Falco,” she says in a hissed whisper.
I don’t like the dreamy way she says Donovan’s name. It’s just… silly to me. But then again, I guess I kind of get it, so I shouldn’t hate on her too much.
“Um, yeah. He’s funding this little shopping outing.”
She gasps, and, honest to God, her hand goes to her chest. She’s looking at me with wide eyes, making me feel like a celebrity. It’s uncomfortable, especially when I’m standing here in this dressing room about to get naked so I can try things on. I want nothing more than to get this trip over with.
I pause, thinking for a long minute.
Do I dare?
Oh, yeah, I do. I’ve got to know everything I can about Donovan Falco, and this is my chance to hear it from the people who live in the city with him.
The word on the street is always the best, right?
I have no idea, but it’s a thing in movies that I’ve seen over and over again.
I just have to be careful. Take everything in and sort through it with a level head.
“I’m new to the area,” I say, keeping my voice low. “Do I need to be cautious of Mr. Falco?”
She glances at me with a strange look.
“Well…” she starts before letting out a little sigh. “I wouldn’t want to get on that man’s bad side, that’s for sure. And,” she brings her head closer to mine, “they used to call him ‘The Bastard’ because… you know.”
“He is one?” I ask, feeling completely confused.
“Yeah.” Her head nods frantically. “His dad knocked up one of his harlots. The kid didn’t even know his father until after his mother died when he was like thirteen or something. Poor kid. But even then, Carmine Falco—his father—wouldn’t claim him.”
“How come he has the same last name?” I ask.
“Oh, rumor has it, the mom gave the kid the same last name because Mr. Falco denied he was the father and didn’t have anything to do with the kid, so she did it to spite him.”
She’s eating up this gossip thing. But all it makes me feel is sick to my stomach. I need to stop, but also, I need to know who I’m up against.
“Most people think he killed his dad because he wanted to take over the business.”
I don’t ask her to elaborate on either the killing or the business. I have a feeling what Donovan is into isn’t legal, and I don’t think I need to know more than that. In fact, I want her to stop talking altogether. I don’t think I can handle much more.
I ask if she has anything in rose pink, and she dashes off. Alone in the fitting room, I breathe a sigh of relief as I begin stripping down.
It hits me that I’ve never been shopping, at least not that I can remember.
The aunts would often order things I needed and have them delivered.
They had to go into town to pick the packages up since we lived too far out, so they would get things that would last a while.
I was never one to complain or really care as long as I was clothed.
And before that, well, I’m sure my mom took me when I was young, but thanks to Sandra wiping my memories…
I sigh and push the thought away. I just need to get through today.
As we bounce from shop to shop, my energy depleting with every threshold we cross, I learn quite a lot about my curse buddy.
It’s like people know him by his bodyguard, Andre, and they can’t help themselves from talking about him.
I wish it would stop, but I’m also taking every little tidbit in and trying to piece it together to make a whole picture. To make the man.
Donovan is definitely not a good man. Which doesn’t really come as a surprise. After what I’d seen him do yesterday, well, there was no excuse I could come up with where a “good” person would do that. Morally gray, at best, but it seems more like he walks along the line of black if anything.
Did he really kill his father? If he did, was it because he wanted to take over the business or is there more to it?
Is he a cold-blooded killer or does he have a reason to hurt the people he’s hurt?
Like that guy yesterday, what was that all about?
One person did mention how Donovan “takes out the trash” and he “does his best to keep the streets clean.” Not sure what he meant by that, but it leaves me wondering about a lot of things.
I guess I won’t know until I talk to the man himself. I quickly shoo that idea out of my head because he’s not going to tell me anything.
I’m about done. I feel worn out, and though I don’t want to admit it, I noticed the lines coming back and slithering down my arm.
I need to be close to Donovan again, even if it’s the last thing I want right now.
An idea comes to me before I can tell Andre I’m ready to head back.
“Here,” I say, heading for the store Sandra brought me to yesterday. The only store she’d taken me to.
I don’t even look to see if Andre is following with all the things we’ve gotten today. There are so many bags. I tried to say no, but he cut me off with Donovan’s never-ending wad of cash every single time.
“Hello,” I say to the willowy woman who was here yesterday.
“Oh, hi.” She stops short when she sees Andre behind me. I think this is going to work out just the way I hope.
“You were the one who showed me the room scent from the back yesterday?” I ask, staring at her hard, willing her to get what I’m trying to say.
“Right! Yes, the special one we just made.”
“I should have bought it yesterday.” I let out a tiny laugh, as if to say it was stupid for me to walk away without getting it. “Do you still have it?”
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry.” She looks at me, and I don’t miss the knowing twinkle in her eye. We’re speaking the same language, and I couldn’t be more relieved.
I need to talk to Sandra again, and I don’t know if it’s the best thing to let Donovan or any of his minions know what I’m doing. Not until I’m sure of… something. “I sold it this morning. But if you come back tomorrow afternoon, I can have another batch done and ready.”
“Really?! That would be so amazing.” I might be laying it on too thick. Maybe I should tone down the overacting a little.
“Yes! Is there a number I can reach you at to let you know when it’s ready?”
I glance at Andre, who is no help with the ‘I don’t give a crap’ shrug he gives me.
“I don’t right now. But… I could be here at…” I glance at Andre again. He holds up three fingers before turning his back, pretending like he’s not paying attention. “Three?”
“I will see what I can do,” she says with a smile that’s a little too wide.
Did we just pull this off, or does Andre know what the heck is going on?
I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.