Chapter 12 #2
I keep moving down the hall, taking in the large doors to multiple rooms, the dark tiled floors covered with a dark red floor runner, and the expensive artwork covering the walls.
This place is dripping with money, but there’s an undercurrent of darkness, of something omenous.
It sends a small shiver down my spine and I place a protective hand over Soren, as if that will be enough to protect him.
I finally reach the end of the hall, just as a door to my right opens.
I turn my head quickly, and see Massimo stepping out of the room, looking awake, in a fresh suit, and far more handsome than should be allowed this early in the morning.
Behind him, I hear someone saying something, but I can’t make out what or who it is.
Massimo looks a little surprised to see me, but then his lips pull up into a warm smile.
“Buongiorno, Lucy,” he greets, shutting the door.
“Hello,” I say softly, looking up at him. His dark blonde hair is tousled and damp, his beard well groomed and I get the faint scent of his aftershave as he moves closer.
“Did you sleep well?” he asks me, watching me. Then he looks at Soren and his eyes soften. “And I hope the ometto got lots of it too.”
“He actually slept more than I thought he would,” I admit. “What does ometto mean?” I mangle the word, but he’s nice enough not to call me on it.
“It means little man in Italian. I always forget just how small babies can be.”
A snort escapes me. “That’s such a man response.” I shake my head. “You’re not the one pushing out their giant heads.”
Massimo chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners slightly as his smile widens.
“No, you are right. Which is exactly why Italian men thank their madres for the rest of their lives as penance.” I smile, unable to help myself.
Before I can reply to that, my stomach growls angrily, and I flush in embarrassment.
“Come, let us get you something to eat,” Massimo immediately announces, motioning for me to follow him.
“If we’re lucky, Sofia is cooking this morning and we’ll get something really delicious. ”
“Does Sofia cook a lot?” As we walk, I realize that I could indeed get lost in this house. Holy shit it’s like a maze in here. I’m going to need to draw myself a map just to find my way back to our room. Or, well, Massimo’s room.
“Nico has a chef, but while we’ve been here she’s been the one cooking for us mostly because she knows we have a soft spot for it,” Massimo explains with a fond smile.
“Her mother was a goddess in the kitchens. I remember being a young boy and sneaking to her house just for some sweets before the others. And she always gave it to me too,” he adds proudly with a grin.
“Told me at least I was charming her and not some stupid girl who wanted me for my money.”
I glance up at him. Something tells me that he was still doing that too, but I keep that thought to myself. “And Sofia took after her mother’s cooking ability?”
“Don’t tell her father, but I think Sofia perfected a lot of those recipes. Her tiramisu? I’d kill a thousand men for it.”
I blink up at him. “That might be a bit excessive.”
“You haven’t tasted it, but once you do, you will.
Knowing her, she’s hiding them all away to torture us.
” We make it to the stairs, and I slip behind Massimo to hold on to the railing, still pressing my hand against Soren protectively.
I’m feeling strong, but I won’t chance falling.
Massimo must realize what I’m doing because he angles himself so that if I fall, I’ll fall into him and not down the stairs.
When we reach the bottom, I give him a small, grateful smile and follow him down a side hall. Jeez, how many halls and rooms does this place have?
I hear voices as we make our way further down, and then I hear shouting and nearly stop. Wait, is that Rori’s voice?
“I’m going to kill you and do it with a smile on my face, you fucking bastard,” the woman yells furiously.
“Go ahead and try it,” a deep voice booms back.
“I’m putting bets on her,” another voice calls out, laughter tinging it. “She’s got the dog, he’s fucked.”
Okay, so yeah, Rori.
Massimo lets out a low groan and I stop. “What is going on?” I ask carefully.
“Just another lover’s spat I assume,” Massimo replies with a shake of his head. “Don’t worry, dolcezza, you’re safe. Rori and Alonzo are working a few things out, nothing to fret over.”
I stare up at him. “She threatened to kill him.”
“To be fair, she threatens that at least once a day.” Does he really think that’s helping?
I stare up at him, unmoving and ready to turn and walk away.
Finally he says, “Don’t worry, Lucy, everything is fine.
I’ll go in first, you’ll see. And I’ll tell them to keep it quiet so they don’t wake the ometto, yes? ” Then he throws open the double doors.
He stops, and I peer around him, my mouth falling open when I watch as a knife goes flying across the room, narrowly missing who I have to assume is Alonzo, and lodging in the wall by his head.
“Next time, it’ll be between your fucking eyes,” I hear Rori hiss, even as Alonzo lets out a low snarling sound.
A deep warning canine growl fills the room right behind it.
What the fuck have we just walked into?