27. Snow
Chapter twenty-seven
Snow
“Well, do you have any better ideas, brother?”
I freeze at the sound of Prince’s flippant tone, backtracking with my bucket of supplies and hiding behind a plinth holding a vase of flowers.
The hallway they’re in leads to the main living quarters of the mansion, and I bite my lip, not wishing to intrude.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
That was Knight, and my chest flutters when I remember how he handed me sleeping pills and a glass of water. He didn’t have to do that.
He, just like Prince and Moth, has every right to despise me, yet he shows me kindness instead.
I saw how he laid a blanket over the sweet, sleeping Casper. He’s kind.
He may be part of the mafia, yet he still has a lot of chivalry, and he really is living up to his name.
Knight appears to follow the same codes of chivalry as the knights of old. Maybe I can trust him.
I’m still not sure where I stand with Angel and Saint.
The former leaves my room unlocked at night—as a show of trust, perhaps, who knows—and Saint follows me around like a shadow, keeping watch over me twenty-four-seven per Prince’s orders.
Hunter appears friendly enough, and Casper is shy.
So, I haven’t had much of a chance to form an opinion on those two, yet.
Knight continues. “For one, it’s highly unnecessary to keep her bedroom door locked at night.”
I hold my breath, my heart echoing inside my ears as I wait for Prince’s reply.
It appears Knight is vouching for me.
Prince is silent, and I can feel the air frosting from where I hover as he takes a moment to respond.
“And it’s pointless having Angel following her everywhere. We have guards around the compound. Where the hell would she even go?”
Even though he has yet to reply, I can still sense his icy glare, and I can envision his face from here, that green eye glowing as he stares Knight down.
If I listen carefully enough, I may even be able to hear his teeth grinding.
“And brother… you may want to tone down on the intimidation tactics. That girl is not who you think she is.”
It warms my heart how Knight calls Prince his brother.
And here I am, throwing a wedge in that close-knit bond.
“So, are you suggesting that I show some civility to the daughter of the man who killed my father? Your father, Knight?”
There comes a scratching sound, and it sounds like Knight is rubbing his beard. Again, I imagine that beard between my legs, closing my eyes.
Focus, Snow.
No dirty thoughts.
“Yes, I am. Just look at her, Prince…”
“I have. While I admit that she’s very beautiful, I won’t be fooled by her grace. In the end, she has his DNA.”
He thinks I’m beautiful, and the thought makes my head spin. It’s not a compliment.
In fact, he says it with such venom, that it’s hard to see the positives in his words.
Yet, he finds me pleasing to the eye...
I could use that to my advantage somehow. What am I becoming?
I am not that girl…
But I watched Regina enough over the years to know that beauty can be a woman’s greatest weapon.
The only problem is that I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
I don’t even know how to be sexy.
For one, I don’t even own a tube of lipstick, and I still wear Prince’s pajamas.
“Eavesdropping, are we?”
I startle, dropping the bucket of supplies, and I whirl around to find eyes of ice blue.
Saint.
I should have known.
Angel hovers behind him like his reflection, and not for the first time, I marvel at their likeness as I pick up my bucket, scowling at Saint.
Saint crosses his arms. Angel wears a small smirk, his lone eye glowing as he watches my reaction.
He seems to like it when I show defiance.
Footsteps round the corner, and when I turn I find Prince and Knight watching me, too. Busted.
“What is all the ruckus?” Prince demands, keeping his gleaming green eye on me.
Saint regards me for a moment, meeting Prince’s gaze. “I found our guest eavesdropping, cuz.”
That green eye bursts into a flame, and I’m toast.
Now he will lock me in my room and take away my meal privileges.
“That so?” Prince whispers, and a shudder rushes through me.
I stumble, clutching my supplies, and they rattle in the bucket as I duck my head, trying to get around Angel.
But he blocks my path.
“Come here, Snow,” Prince says.
Seeing no other option, I turn around, facing my master of sorts. I suppose that’s what he is to me now.
Does that make them all my master, then?
Prince doesn’t blink as his cold, green gaze slices through me, and again, I don’t dare meet those mismatched eyes.
Knight steps up beside him. “Go easy on her, Prince. Remember what I said.”
That green eye flares brighter, and I wonder what my punishment will be.
He may just lock me up in my old cell or shackle me to the chair again.
“Very well. Saint, find the others. It’s time we had a family meeting.”
Family?
If that’s so, then why should I be involved?
I am not family…
“On it, boss.”
Saint leaves to search for the remaining Diamante men.
Prince keeps his frosty gaze on me as he turns to the living room. “Follow me, Snow.”
My heart thumps, and I look up at Knight. He smiles, and I relax, following the boss man into the room.
Angel trails close behind me, and he feels like a bad omen…
An Angel of Death.
Maybe now they are finally deciding whether I should live or die.
When we get to the living room, Prince ties his hands behind his back. “Sit.”
Startled, I round on him.
“I said sit, Snow.”
I peer at the couches. I haven’t sat on their furniture yet.
They allow me a place at the table, sure, but the help doesn’t normally get to sit on the couch.
Regina certainly didn’t let me sit on any furniture. She always told me I would get them all filthy with dirt.
Knight guides me gently toward a chair, and now I take my place, planting my hands on my knees as I stare at the wood grains of the floor.
Angel takes a seat at the end of the couch, and Knight takes the spot closest to me, watching me carefully.
I don’t meet his eyes again. I merely keep my gaze on the floor, even when more footsteps enter the room.
“Hey, Snow!”
Unable to help myself, I peer up and find Hunter’s bright green eyes. They shimmer in a different manner to his older brother, and now I smile at the male as Casper follows behind him.
His violet eyes meet mine briefly before they fall on the floor, and his cheeks redden as he makes his way to the remaining couch.
Hunter takes the spot beside Casper, but when he spies the glare on Angel’s face, he holds up his palms in a gesture of peace.
Seems Angel is still pissed at Hunter for dressing up like him, and I wonder how long it will take for him to forgive his cousin over his transgression.
Saint steps inside, standing behind his twin, and the last to enter is Moth.
His hateful gaze falls on me before he stops by the fireplace, and now we all wait in silence.
This is the first time I have been in a room with all of them, and I feel all their eyes on me.
Well, all but for Casper’s, who still peers at the ground.
Yet little does he know, that I found him sleeping on the couch drunk when I came down for a glass of water last night.
At least he and Hunter appear to be in better spirits.
I wonder where they went and if they had fun.
I’ve never been out dancing in my life, and it always looked fun in all the movies.
I’d hoped to have a life like that when I first escaped with Ferdinand, but it seems fate had other ideas.
Finally, Prince addresses the room, and my back stiffens. “Well, now that we’re all accounted for, there are a few things I would like to discuss.”
A terse silence filters through the room before Prince continues.
His eyes fall on me. “Knight and I were talking, and he brought to light some issues he had with my treatment of our fair guest.”
Everyone peers at me, and now my cheeks burn as red as Casper’s.
Prince scoffs. “Knight thinks we should treat our fair guest with more civility...”
“Yes, civil, not serval … like the cat,” Hunter points out, and Prince grinds his teeth as he glares in his direction.
“Yes, civility … So, does anyone else have any objections?”
No one speaks at first, most likely too afraid. But then Angel breaks the ice, holding up his hand, and Prince nods at him.
“I think we should stop locking her door at night.”
My gaze finds Angel, and I can’t tell whether his smirk is meant to be friendly or intimidating.
“Besides… if she tries to escape… I will catch her…”
His eye glow like a blue flame, and my body shudders.
That was a threat, not a promise…
“Yes, I’m sure you will. Angel. Just as you had kept unlocking her door every night regardless of my instructions, but all right. I can see to it that Snow’s door remains unlocked.”
Angel tips his head, and that smirk never leaves his face. “You’re welcome, sweet Snow.”
I drum my fingers on my knees.
Great. That just gives Angel more of a reason to sneak into my room.
There’s always the bathroom lock, but I am sick of sleeping in the tub.
“Anyone else got anything to share?” Prince rasps, teeth clenched as if this is killing him.
But it seems he is fair when it comes to his brothers and respects their wishes.
Hunter raises a hand.
Prince waves his fingers. “Say your bit.”
Hunter grins at me, rising to his feet. “Well, how about we get her some new clothes. As cute as she looks in your pajamas, big bro, I think it’s time she wore something different. We’re not heathens .”
Prince folds his arms across his chest. “Fine. That can be arranged.”
Hunter winks at me. “And I get to be the one who takes her shopping.”
My heart jolts.
Shopping?
I have never gone shopping.
Daddy never allowed it. Said it was too dangerous.
Prince heaves a breath, and it’s almost like he wants me to keep wearing his pajamas. He’s never commented on it, so I just assumed it was fine.
“Anyone else?”
Prince looks at each of his brothers.
Casper raises his head. His violet eyes find me, but they dart away yet again.
Prince clasps his arms behind his back, peering at his reflection in the mirror.
“Well, I guess that’s all there is to it. You’re all dismissed.”
Just as I get to my feet, Prince whirls on me, and I gasp.
His green eye bores straight into my soul.
“Actually, there is one more thing I would like to add.”
They all return to their seats, waiting for Prince to speak.
He keeps that glare on me. “Snow White… if you betray my trust or any of my brothers, then I will kill you. No questions.”
Well, he’s certainly said his piece.
Casper is the first to his feet, and then he storms out the room.
Hunter and Knight share a glance before they rush off to check on their shy brother.
Then the twins rise and go their separate ways.
Angel’s eye remains on me the whole time he leaves with his brother, and soon it’s just me, Moth, and Prince.
The two that hate me most.
Prince doesn’t even look at his brother. He just keeps his eyes on me, his promise still echoing in the room around us.
In the end, Moth gets up, moving to the bar to grab a drink. Then he vanishes to his rooms, not sparing me or Prince a glance.
Then it’s just me and the boss, and I swallow.
“Well, return to your chores, Snow,” he rasps in that voice like ice, and I grab my bucket, resuming my work at last.
I guess I best be careful then and not piss him off.
Otherwise, I’m dead.