Chapter 68 Bold
Russo
"Answer me," I scream.
Her eyes flash. "Yes. I want you to leave me alone."
"Okay," I say through a clenched jaw.
I rise from the bed and take a step back. Rose's eyes close for a moment before she stands up too. There's a rebellious look in her eyes.
"I'll stay out of it. But I expect you to be a good wife. Understand?" Her lips they form a stubborn line, but I know she understands it. She continues to stare at me, grabs her suitcase, and runs out of the room.
"See you at dinner, my love," I call after her.
"Fuck you!" she yells, without looking back.
Actually, I'm quite amused that she's still bold enough to curse at me after that, but she's a De Luca. I need a shower. Especially since being pressed against me actually made me hard.
I exhale quietly, suddenly hating my behavior.
Control.
A few words, and it slipped out of my hands. After all, Rose De Luca can be a little dangerous.
Rose
Roman dropped me at dinner time, I was worried for my brother, he was in huge mess right now.
As far as I can tell, my infiltration of the Russo house is going smoothly. I think it has more to do with the fact that almost everyone seems determined to ignore me.
We all eat together, breakfast and dinner. Enzo sits at the head of the table. I sit to his right, Jason to his left. Isabella sits next to the twins. And we all do our best to ignore each other.
The only person who actually speaks is Jason. And though he tries his best to engage us in conversation, it's quite clear no one is interested.
Enzo is still angry. On some level, I can understand my contribution to how he acted. I pushed him before he lashed out. It's my fault. And I hate that I couldn't keep my promise to myself to at least try to make this work, but I can't do it alone. I wish he'd put in a damn good effort, too.
A week passes, and I only see him at meals. He doesn't even look at me. At this point, we're nothing more than housemates. At least Isabella always acknowledges me with a glance or a few snide words.
Enzo remains silent. He does as I asked, but it's really starting to piss me off. We're eating breakfast when I clear my throat to get his attention. His eyes dart to me, as do everyone else at the table.
"Yes, Rose?" he asks, his tone completely soft and easy.
"I'd like to go out today. My friend invited me to the auction and the window display."
Enzo thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Jason will go with you."
"Actually, you asked me to watch something on Long Island today, remember?" Jace asks.
"Right," Enzo mutters.
"You can go with her if you're nervous," his friend insists. A sharp look makes him shut up immediately. My lips twitch as he even mimes locking the door and throwing away the key. He really is a jerk. He reminds me of Tony in some ways, and my heart aches at the thought of my family back home.
It's only been three weeks, but I miss them. Sure, they keep calling, but it's not the same thing. At least I know I'll see Elena at the auction today, since she's also invited.
"I'll ask you to accompany the security guard," Enzo announces.
I'm surprised when a quiet female voice speaks. "What's that display case?"
Mya is an adorable child with chubby cheeks, light brown eyes, and long black hair. She's also much more outgoing than her brother, who's incredibly shy. Sometimes I'm unsure whether the kids don't like me or if they're just uncomfortable with a stranger.
However, I'm more inclined to believe the former, considering they treat their cousin more or less equally. The only person they're truly comfortable with is Isabella. And sometimes, maybe, Jason.
"It's an art exhibit, Kara. I'll see all sorts of paintings, sculptures, and artwork," I say warmly, glad she finally spoke to me.
Her brown eyes sparkle with interest.
"Are you an artist? My mom says I'm a good one."
Her elusive mother, whom I haven't seen since I moved into this house. She mostly stays locked in her room. The only people she sees are her children, and Enzo seems content to keep it that way.
"I'm sure you are. And yes, I paint," I tell her. "But I'm more into pottery."
"Ceramics?" she asks.
Her twin next to her is completely silent, more focused on his food than on the conversation unfolding around him.
"Yes. It's clay modeling. Don't worry, I'll show you someday," I assure her. "Or you could come with me today if you want? I'm sure you'd love it."
Mia considers this for a second. I watch her eyes slide over Isabella, whose expression is blank. Then she looks at Enzo. Finally, she sits back in her chair and shakes her head. "No, I'll stay here. Thank you."
I smile. It's not like I could force her. And she has impeccable manners. "It's fine."
Breakfast continues in silence, and after we finish, everyone leaves. It's the weekend, so the twins are off from school. They follow Isabella, who seems to enjoy having them around. It's clear she adores her little cousins.
After Enzo and Jason leave for their errands, I return to my bedroom, which is quickly becoming my sanctuary in this house. The only thing I hate is being so close to Enzo's room. I can hear him coming in at odd hours of the night. I considered approaching him and striking up a conversation, but each time I managed to convince myself otherwise.
When I leave the house, a man is waiting to escort me. He gives me a curt nod and opens the back door of the car for me. As soon as I'm inside, he gets into the driver's seat and starts the car.
An hour later, I'm with friends, drinking champagne, and trying my best to forget how messed up my life is right now.
"We haven't seen you around much," one of my friends says, nudging me with her shoulder. I met her at an exhibition a few years ago. We're acquaintances, always moving in the same circles. "What's going on? Found a new boyfriend?"