Chapter Three
What was she going to do?
Vanessa stood at the kitchen counter and glanced around the amazing room. Last night when she had taken her tour, and made herself a sandwich, she’d not given herself the chance to take in the beauty of the room. Now, she couldn’t help but marvel at what she saw—pristine marble counters, white cupboards, and silver appliances. It looked amazing, so modern, and yet clean. She noticed that about every room. Diago kept a clean home.
Also, he didn’t wake her up last night to tell her what room she should use.
He’d not woken her this morning, and she only knew he was awake and already gone by the complete silence, even through his office door. Also, the coffeepot had already been set up. The scent of fresh coffee always had the ability to rouse her in the morning.
She really wanted a cup of coffee, and with no one to tell her no, she’d poured herself a generous cup and even allowed herself some cream and sugar. It had been one of the best coffees she had in a while.
Once she realized Diago was not home, and like the previous night, she was going to have to fend for herself, she rummaged through the cupboards until she found some cereal, along with some milk. The milk was easy to find in the fridge.
So, after she ate breakfast, enjoyed a second cup of coffee with cream and sugar, she cleaned the kitchen and then sat at the counter for an hour. One full hour, waiting for instructions. That was what she had to do back home. Her mother, father, or brothers would give her instructions. Here, there was no one to tell her what to do. No letter with a list of instructions.
She went back to the library, sat down, and read some more.
Throughout the course of the day, she’d been drawn to the doors leading outside. After reading for the longest time she could ever remember, she’d gotten to her feet and looked out at the garden, and in that moment, all she wanted to do was walk. Only, she couldn’t.
The doors were locked, as she did try them, and she didn’t know if there was a code or key needed to get outside. All she could do was look, and wish.
Then, lunchtime came, along with her growling stomach, and she had no choice but to wander back to the kitchen. She made another sandwich, cheese and pickle this time, and it was so good.
After the sandwich, she wandered back to the library. She loved to read, but didn’t want to do so all day. In fact, as time ticked by and the loneliness started to seep in, she wished she had asked Diago more questions.
He’d sort of given her permission to explore, and she had tried to do that to no avail. Last night, she moved briefly from room to room. She knew what each room was, but did not linger too long in any of them. She had still been reeling from being taken by him.
Her parents hadn’t put up much of a fight, which was interesting. She should have known her father wouldn’t, seeing as no one wanted to marry her.
She’d heard her parents fighting about her. All they ever did was fight. Her father felt that even though daughters were useless, they could make an investment on her wedding day, especially when it came to who he wanted her to marry.
Vanessa pushed that crap to the back of her mind, because there was no point in thinking about it. She wasn’t with her father or her mother. She wasn’t with anyone, so all she could do was deal with what she had now.
This was her life … Diago’s … whatever he wanted to do with her.
Did he want to play with her? Use her? Torment her?
Vanessa had none of the answers, and now it was nearing dinnertime. She opened the fridge and decided she wanted pasta with meat.
After the last six months of being on a strict no-carb or flavor diet, she needed the break. She needed good, yummy, delicious food, filled with meat and cheese, and all the good stuff.
She grabbed some chicken, along with a nice wedge of parmesan cheese. She was going to make chicken parmesan. Delicious thick pieces. And she’d even put some in the fridge to eat cold.
With the chicken on the counter, she found the meat chopping board, sliced the two breasts in half so she had nice thin pieces. Next, she found the mallet, and gave each piece a whack, which felt a little more fun than it should have. After this, she moved onto the bread. She dropped the bread into the machine, whizzing it until it became fine breadcrumbs.
“No carbs, not today. Eat your heart out. Bread on the chicken, pasta underneath, and I may even have bread with this and make myself a sandwich.”
It was nice to give a big “fuck you” to her parents by eating what she wanted. If Diago wasn’t going to give her rules, then she would do whatever the hell she wanted.
With the bread in a bowl, she grated tons of parmesan and added plenty into the bread, along with fresh chopped parsley, salt, and finally, a nice healthy pinch of pepper. She did use a little too much and had to sneeze to the side as it tickled her nose. Giving a little sniff, she moved back to the food and got to cooking.
Her next plan was a garlicky tomato sauce, and she added olive oil to the pan as she cooked. She couldn’t help but smile. The only thing missing from her happiness at that moment, was some music. When her parents were away, and Maureen took her into the kitchen, she loved to cook and dance.
In that moment, Vanessa stopped. She couldn’t help it because she missed her best friend, her nanny, the one person she could trust with every secret.
“It’s fine. You are going to find her, and it will all be okay.” She nodded her head and got back to her sauce. The scent of garlic was making her mouth water.
Next, some wine and tomatoes, followed by just a little chicken stock. The sauce smelled amazing and was bubbling. Next, the chicken. She had a small skillet heating on the stove, and she added the oil.
While it was getting to the temperature she needed, she dunked her chicken in flour, then into a beaten egg, followed by the seasoned breadcrumb mixture. She did this with all four pieces, and got them into the oiled skillet to cook.
Next, she turned on the broiler. She was going to top these beauties with even more cheese, which she did, a beautiful combination of mozzarella and parmesan. So good.
The pasta was cooked, the sauce ready, and the chicken finishing under the broiler. She got it all ready and took it to the table. A large platter filled with pasta, sauce, and topped with cheesy chicken. Vanessa’s mouth was watering, and she grabbed herself a huge plateful. The temptation to take more than one piece of chicken was strong, but she ignored it.
She sat down, said a quick prayer, and then opened her eyes, only to freeze in place. Diago had stepped into the room. He didn’t terrify her, but the blood soaking through his clothing did.
“Diago—”
“I’m starving.”
That was all he said as he moved past her, taking a seat at the head of the table, and reaching over to grab a large serving. Diago didn’t even hesitate in grabbing a second piece of chicken.
At first, all Vanessa could do was marvel at him as he took a large bite, and she watched him close his eyes.
Did he like it? Or was he just hungry?
Ask him. Start finding out what he wants you to do. Don’t be a coward.
Vanessa picked up her fork and twirled some pasta onto it. She looked at the blood. What if he was bleeding?
She wasn’t an idiot, and knew she had more freedom in the last twenty-four hours of being taken by him, than she did in the last twenty-five years with her parents. It was a horrible thought, but she didn’t want him to die, or be hurt. She did feel it was for a selfish reason, but it was still a good reason.
“Are you hurt?” she asked.
Diago turned and stared at her for many seconds. She didn’t know if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
****
“Are you hurt?”
It was such a simple question and Diago imagined there were a lot of people who were able to answer it without worry or concern, who could simply say yes or no.
He wasn’t hurt. The blood was from the man he’d killed in the alleyway.
He’d gone to Tara with the news and the details she needed, and she’d thanked him and sobbed. Diago had left, as he didn’t give a fuck. Payment had already been made, Tara was a happy customer, and he didn’t give a shit about anything else.
Driving home covered in blood hadn’t been his brightest idea, but he wasn’t going to change it. When he entered his home, he hadn’t even realized how hungry he was until he smelled what Vanessa was cooking.
Occasionally throughout the day, he’d checked in on her to see what she was doing through the many cameras he had dotted about the place. The truth was, she couldn’t go anywhere without him knowing about it. There was no privacy in his home, and that was the way he liked it.
“No, I’m not hurt,” he said.
“Oh,” Vanessa said. Her gaze fell toward his shirt. “That’s good.”
“It’s not my blood.”
“I figured.”
Diago found himself smiling as he watched her eat. “You’re not curious about whose it is?”
She lifted her head and shook it. “No.”
This intrigued him. Vanessa was one of the nicest women in the Italian mafia. Even when men and women were insulting her, she didn’t take offense. He didn’t know if he liked that about her.
Everyone had commented on her scar and how they didn’t want to get married because of it. Yet, Vanessa had shown no signs of being upset or hurt. She had simply accepted it, even though her father at every turn had tried to sell her off.
“I killed someone tonight,” he said.
“Fine.”
Diago watched her and saw the frown appear on her face, before she lowered her hand from taking another bite of the delicious food.
“What am I doing here?” Vanessa asked.
He stared at her.
“Seriously? You’re going to give me the silent treatment, when all I am doing is asking a logical question?”
Again, he stayed silent.
She growled. “I don’t get what it is you want from me. What exactly do I have to do? Am I just to wander around bored out of my mind? Do I even have a room to sleep in? Do I … do anything? What is my role?” she asked.
He liked her impatience, it was cute, and he found it adorable. “You’re mine,” he said.
Vanessa sighed and sat back. “That makes absolutely no sense to me. None. Does that mean you’re going to marry me? What am I to you?”
“Since when do you ask a lot of questions?” Diago asked.
He wasn’t annoyed with her being vocal, he liked it, as well as her attitude. It was actually refreshing.
“Don’t you think I’m allowed to ask questions? You come to my father’s party, take me without any explanation, and then what? I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do next. I didn’t even know where I was supposed to sleep, or what you wanted me to do. I don’t get this.” She slammed her hand down on the table.
Diago had been watching her for a while. Not just at parties, but every chance he’d been able, and not once had he seen this kind of passion in her, which he was now marveling at.
“You do know your parents are thinking I’m doing something to you,” he said.
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Sex, yes, I know all about it.”
This made him smile even wider. “Did they have a little talk with you about what happens between a man and a woman?”
She glared at him. “If you must know, my nanny explained it all.”
“Oh, a nanny, sorry, forgive me, I didn’t realize you had a nanny, Princess.”
“Don’t call me Princess. It wasn’t like that. Maureen was … wonderful.”
Her fire seemed to die instantly as he watched her.
“What?” he asked.
Vanessa shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”
He stared at her, and she glared right back.
“Do you know what people think of me?” Diago asked. “How they react to me?”
“They fear you.”
“And they do so for good reason. I don’t think I need to remind you of why it’s important you heed that advice.”
She snorted and pushed her chair back. “First of all, I can only heed advice you give me, and you haven’t told me anything other than to not be stupid. Second, it is none of your business. Third, I have a right to know if you plan to kill me, or if I should get settled in for the duration.”
Diago liked this side of her. He didn’t want a meek little woman living with him. The fire and passion in her gaze was highly addictive, and he didn’t want it to end as he watched her. She looked exquisite.
“I suggest you get settled in because you’re not going anywhere. Your father is never going to have you back. He already considered you damaged before, and spending time with me is not going to improve matters.” He cut a large piece of chicken and took a bite, chewing slowly, methodically, while keeping his eye on her.
She didn’t move.
“And I also suggest you sit down and finish your food,” he said.
She looked at her plate and he was pretty sure she was tempted to throw it at him, but she didn’t. He marveled at her strength of will. This was indeed a good sign, one he was enjoying.
At first, she didn’t eat, and he refused to say anything more. He was enjoying the food, and it was nice to know she could cook something.
Killing always did make him hungry, and this was far better than any takeout.
She picked up her knife and fork, and he waited as she cut into the chicken and then took a large slice.
“As for finding somewhere to sleep, pick a room. It is not up to me to do that. Find what you want, and don’t bother me. Don’t try to run, don’t try to escape, it will be pointless.”
“Fine, so I’m pretty much being left to my own devices?” she asked.
“Yes.” He didn’t have time to babysit.
“Okay, fine, I can handle that. But…” She stopped and began to nibble her lip, glancing toward the window, overlooking the garden as if it was some kind of lifeline.
He waited. Vanessa was going to have to learn that the only way to handle him was to talk to him. He was no mind reader. He didn’t have the time or inclination to read between the lines, nor did he want to. She needed to learn to speak up.
Her parents were never going to recognize the woman they had failed.
“I wanted to go for a walk and I couldn’t leave the house. Am I allowed to leave the house?”
“I will give you the code and the key, to give you access to the gardens. I will warn you, I have a secure fence that will stop you from leaving.”
“What is it, an electrical fence?” she asked.
“I would advise for your own safety that you do not touch it,” he said.
“Oh.” Her lips formed a perfect circle.
He had his property locked tight.
There was no one who would harm her, and no one knew where he lived. Vanessa was completely safe, as long as she remained on his property or with him. He had already provided her with clothing and everything her heart could desire.