Chapter 8 – Rae #2
“Do it, or I’ll take the whole hand.” This time, the words were a snarl.
Whimpering, the demon spawn inched the digits open.
There was a pause. The very air held its breath as no one moved. I didn’t even blink, but a shiver of anticipation rattled down my spine.
Do it.
I exhaled.
Dominico’s arm shot up then descended in one fluid motion. The blade clicked hard against the counter. That sound was utterly delicious, as was the stifled gurgle of pain from the goon.
Something thunked onto the floor, rolling under the lip of the counter. It was more than the wet slap of flesh. My gaze snagged on the finger, barely able to make out a slim metal sheen wrapped around the end.
The goon spoke with a hoarse scream. “My fingers!”
“Next time,” Dominico said, almost bored, “I won’t stop at the fingers.”
“You cut them all off!” the goon stammered.
His quick breaths said he was in danger of hyperventilating. But the Grimaldi prince was already wiping the blade with the towel that had been on the island.
“Here.” He tossed the cloth before turning to set the knife in the sink. “Wrap that up. I can’t have you bleeding on the carpet.”
I inched toward the fallen digit, snagging the finger off the floor, because yes, there was a ring. And if it was worn by a flashy mafioso, it had to be valuable.
I’d starved before.
Stealing a ring was nothing. In fact, it might just be a fair trade for his attack.
Rising, I pretended to set it on the counter. “You missed one.”
After both men looked at the ring, I took it back. The sleight of hand was subtle. It dropped neatly into my pocket. They wouldn’t suspect I’d taken it. Now, I just had to figure out how to remove bloodstains from my uniform.
“Would you like me to clean this up, signore?” I asked, forcing my accent from the words, glad that my voice didn’t shake.
Dominico looked at me. He was trying to see into the dark to make out my features. I kept back but didn’t make any other move to leave. His gaze lingered a second too long like he was trying to place me.
Or decide something.
I didn’t breathe.
Not until he shook his head. “No, that will be all.”
Exhaling softly, I nodded and turned to go.
A heavy hand fell on my shoulder a second later. It pressed gently into my shoulder.
“I don’t need to remind you that you saw nothing tonight, ragazza,” Dominico murmured.
I shook my head. “Snitches get stiches.”
A soft, husky chuckle sounded behind me, and the prince dropped his hand. I shouldn’t feel loss at that. “Have a good night then.”
“You too,” I quipped.
But at the back door, I stopped. “Dominico?”
He was already pushing through the kitchen door, phone in hand. He looked over, but I knew that he still couldn’t see me since the light was focused at my back.
“Thank you. I really…appreciate that.” I motioned toward the goon, who was currently vomiting in the sink.
Dominico inclined his head. “You’re under my protection, ragazza. No one touches what’s mine.”
His.
The possession in his tone felt personal. Or maybe that was my brain trying to process everything. Either way, those words rang in my ears, tempting me to linger. To make him recognize me.
But that would be nothing short of stupid.
It was time to get the hell out of here.
I nodded and dashed into the night. I flew down the path to the servant’s quarters, heart beating wildly in my chest. The fear was gone. Justice had been served. And I had a small prize to remember the night a dark horse stepped in before something horrific happened.
I shouldn’t have liked it as much as I had.
Pausing to fish my key from the pocket of my dress, I cursed when I realized it was in my locker.
The last thing I wanted was to go back. Which left waking up either my uncle or the cook.
Biting my bottom lip, I took a step back, trying to see if there was a good way to climb to my bedroom window instead.
The door opened, and I nearly jumped from my skin.
Franky jolted back as he spotted me. “Rae?”
“Hi!” I lifted my hand but quickly lowered it to keep the ring hidden. “Just getting in. Where you off to?”
“Nico texted. Said there’s a situation in the kitchen.” The cook frowned at me before looking over the path that led up to the main house. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
I mimed zipping my lips closed.
Franky groaned. “Get to bed then. It will be morning before you know it.”
“Sorry you were woken up,” I offered as he trudged past me.
He waved his hand. “Di niente, ragazza.”
It wasn’t until I washed the ring in the bathroom sink that the weight of the evening slammed into me.
Heavens to Betsy, what had we done? Grandpa Grimaldi was going to find out.
There was a fingerless man puking in the sink.
Franky would know that I had witnessed the situation, which meant the big boss would probably find out too.
And when they didn’t find all the fingers?
I poked the baggy of salt, my prize hidden inside.
“What the actual fuck am I doing?” I hissed at my reflection.
But there was no way I was returning the finger.
It was mine.
Proof that I’d won. That I was safe. There wasn’t a reason to have nightmares over this episode. So long as no one got me into trouble, this could fade into a distant memory.
Still, dread slithered through me as I exited the bathroom. Mercy sakes, how was Dominico going to explain the violence to his grandfather? He didn’t seem perplexed.
I wanted to trust him to handle this.
I clutched the baggy of salt to my chest as I crept into the hall, tiptoeing past my uncle’s room.
I didn’t hear anyone coming into the house to find me.
I shut my door softly and went straight to the window.
There were no flashing lights from the big house.
And it wasn’t like these were the type of men to call the police.
Trust him.
I wasn’t very religious. Hell, I hadn’t been to church in years. But I crossed myself. Once for me, and a second time for the Grimaldi prince. He was going to need all the help he could have to survive this.