Chapter Twenty-Eight
Roselyn
I wake up hours later, and I’m bored. Last night was amazing and I can’t get over how much I want Devious. Sheesh, I sound like a desperate woman. I look over to his side of the bed and he’s gone. He’s usually up before I am.
Binx snuggles at the end of the bed. He’s gotten bigger over the last few months. When I get out of bed, I fill his water bowl and refill his food bowl, then I pet him on the head.
My eyes scan over to something shiny and I realize it’s an iPhone.
I pick it up, swipe up, and see a text message from Devious.
Cayden: One of the maids have packed us a bag. We’re going to Los Angeles because of work. There is a credit card on the nightstand. It’s yours. There isn’t a limit on it.
Me: Thank you.
Cayden: You’re welcome. See you soon.
Guilt eats at me like a disease, because I know I’m going to betray him eventually. The more and more I’m around him, the more I feel bad for being deceptive. His ex betrayed him, and I’m going to do the same thing. I can’t wallow in this guilt, but I have to do this for me. What’s best for me. I don’t feel as good about sticking to my plan of escaping him.
In the meantime, I’m going to act as his dutiful wife, and I need to learn how to cook better. I used to cook for Mama all the time when she wasn’t able to take care of herself. Maybe I can brush up on my skills of what Papa taught me about being someone’s wife. This is my way of thanking Devious for saving my life—by becoming a better wife.
I put on a dress and walk into the kitchen and see three women working, cooking, and cleaning. The one with red hair appears to be the same age as me. She pours seasoning on the chicken, and the other one is chopping up parsley. And the older one, I think her name is Leanne, she’s over the stove. They all speak Italian, and the kitchen smells homey, and it feels homey. The redhead throws her head back and laughs, and Leanne looks at me with wide eyes. I always thought she was a very beautiful older woman. She reminds me a lot of my nonna. Her white hair is in a bun, and her face is wrinkling. Her eyes are the color of warm honey. They are vivid with specks of gold around the rim of her irises.
“Mrs. Vitali?” Her eyes shine, and a smile spreads across her face. “It’s not dinner yet, but I can whip something up for you.”
“Please, call me Roselyn. I’m not old—I’m only nineteen,” I say, rubbing the hem of my shirt. This is the first time trying to interact with them. Normally, when Devious speaks to them, it’s in more of an authoritative way. I don’t want them to ever fear me or look up to me as the boss’s wife. I see the way Devious bosses his soldiers around.
“Right,” she answers.
“When will you start cooking dinner?”
“I’m doing it now.”
“What are you making? It smells delicious,” I tell her.
She smiles even wider. “Roast chicken and carrots.”
“Can I help?”
“No, ma’am. You’re Mr. Cayden’s wife, and I don’t want him to be angry at me for you acting like the help.”
“I know. But I’m bored out of my mind. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do around here,” I say. “I literally rearranged the library. That’s how bored I am.”
“How about this?” the girl who looks the same age as me says. “How about we chop onions together? I’m sure Mr. Cayden doesn’t mind her helping us.” She turns to look at Leanne with puppy dog eyes.
“No,” Leanne says, folding her arms across her chest.
I don’t want to pull the wife card, but I don’t have a choice. I don’t mind cooking. And I shouldn’t be treated like a queen despite who my husband is.
“Aren’t I second in charge when he’s not here?”
“Fine, but I will not take the blame if he decides to punish someone,” Leanne bites out.
“Of course,” I tell her. “Devious won’t punish you for something I want to do. I’ll even tell him I threatened you if it would make him get off your back.”
Leanne nods and turns toward the pot on the stove.
“Hi, my name is Katina.” The girl around my age grabs my hand, and I shake it.
“Hi, I’m Roselyn Vitali,” I say as if she doesn’t know who I am.
“That’s a nice ring on your finger,” she says. “This must have cost a fortune.”
“You’re not equals,” Leanne says. “Stop acting like it, Katina. She’s your superior.”
“It’s fine. We’re all the same people. It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ll hang with you.” I hold out my hand. “Now give me an onion to cut so we can have dinner ready for Devious.”
We work in the kitchen for a while, and I even bring a radio from the bedroom and blast Drake. Katina and I dance to the song, and Leanne rolls her eyes. Leanne follows the rules to a T but Katina informs me Leanne is her grandmother, and she’s been working with the Vitali famiglia ever since she was eighteen years old. The other lady doesn’t speak at all but acts like we’re not here.
The doorbell rings, and several moments later, Max tells me my papa is here. Which is strange because he never comes to visit me. He didn’t even check up on me when I got kidnapped. I’m sure he knows, but the thought of him not caring about me hurts. Parents are supposed to care for their children’s well-being. But I guess he doesn’t. I untie the apron from around my neck and waist, rolling it in a ball and setting it on the marble counter.
I don’t like taking the elevator—it makes this place feel less homey—so I head down the stairs. Papa stands with his hands behind his back, and he turns around when he hears me. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t give any emotions away. He eyes me up and down, searching my face for I don’t know what, and I head to the couch. He looks a little rough—he’s allowed his strawberry blond hair to touch his shoulders.
It’s awkward. He must want something because he didn’t show any interest in me before. He didn’t even call and check up on me when I told him what Devious did to me.
I smooth out my dress and place my knotted fingers onto my lap. “Father.”
“Roselyn. How have you been?”
“Good. Helping in the kitchen.”
Damien stands by the entrance of the living room.
“Can you give us some privacy?” Papa asks, and Damien nods and leaves the living room. He walks to the floor-to-ceiling window.
“I see you’re behaving like I told you. Applying what I taught you on how to be a dutiful wife.”
If he found out I tried to kill Devious, then I would get a mouthful. He can’t put his hands on me because Devious will hurt him again. The thought warms my heart.
“Yeah? Just fulfilling the dreams you always had for me,” I say. “What is it you taught me?” I tap my finger on my chin, pretending like I’m actually thinking. “Clean, cook, shut up, be his whore, and obey him.”
He ignores my snide comment. “I need a favor.”
I knew it . “What is it?”
Taking a seat beside me, he cups my cheeks and hugs me. This is his routine for when he wants something. He tries to use affection as a weapon to control me. He knows I crave love and affection, but this time it won’t work. I see through his bullshit. “Do you listen to Devious’s conversations? Like you did mine?”
I had no idea he knew I was spying on him. He never led me to believe he knew.
My cheeks heat, and I sigh. “Sometimes.”
He doesn’t comment. “I had you marry him to pay off my debt.” He sighs. “But I had you marry him for another reason too.”
“Um, okay,” I say, confused.
“I need you to spy on him.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Spy on him, and if you do, I’ll free you from this marriage.”
The thought of it does sound appealing, it really does. But if he fails to do whatever he has planned, then I’ll be caught in the crossfire. He spared my life the first time, but I don’t think my luck is strong enough that he’ll do it again. And he saved my life, so I’m kinda indebted to him. Plus, I want to be here with Devious because I feel safe and protected with him. He’s my protector until it’s time for me to escape him.
“Why do you need me to spy on him?”
“It’s matters of the mafia,” he states.
“No, Papa. I’m not going to be your pawn.” I pause for several seconds. “If you don’t succeed at whatever you’re trying to do, then I’ll die too, and I’m not going to risk my life. For all I know, you could throw me under the bus.”
It wouldn’t surprise me. It wouldn’t be the first time either.
He looks me up and down, and the vein in his neck pulses.
“Has he already had his dick so far inside you that you forgot your loyalty is to me?”
“No, my loyalty is to myself. No one else. Not to you or Devious. I always have to look after myself. This is the mob. You can see yourself out before I tell Devious you are asking me to commit treason.”
“I didn’t ask you to do treason. I asked you to spy on him.”
“I don’t know what your plans are, Papa, but you better watch your back,” I tell him.
He smirks at me as if he knows something I don’t.
“You need to pick who you are loyal to. Because at the end of the day, your loyalty better be to me. Not to Devious. He can kill you, but you only get one father. Think about it. I’ll give you a few weeks to come to your senses.”
“My answer still remains the same. So don’t even bother. You can leave, Papa. Damien!”
He walks into the living room. “Yes, Mrs. Vitali?”
“Show Papa the door,” I say.
Once I hear the door shut, I call Damien back into the living room.
“I don’t want to see him anymore. Next time he comes here, tell him I’m not here. He’s only here to see my husband.”
The nerve of him coming here asking me to spy on Devious. I’m not building a life with him. I’m building one with Devious. Should I tell him about Papa? If so, I could start something. Papa said it’s not with treason. But who knows? Papa is a liar; it comes with the territory of him being a gambler. Maybe he stole some money from Devious again. Either way, I’m staying out of their business. I’m not going to get caught up in some bullshit that would risk my life. If Papa thinks he can use me for his own personal gain, he’s got another think coming.