SWNOVELS When He Takes: Chapter 7
The creature comforts Nero promised me begin arriving at noon.
First, the groceries. Alec—the front desk attendant I met last night when Nero and I arrived—opens the door to the penthouse from the outside and explains Nero’s given him temporary access for the day. He lets in four men carrying large paper bags. They drop them off in the kitchen and leave without saying a word.
Later, a woman strides in with a rack of clothes. Somehow, every item is my exact size. I ask her how she knew, but she just shakes her head and says she’s not supposed to talk to me. Weird.
As I’m finishing up a snack around four p.m., a dozen or so boxes are brought in. These dudes also refuse to talk to or even look at me.
I stop Alec right as he’s about to follow them out of the condo. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”
He looks reluctant but nods. “Sure.”
“Why is everyone treating me like I’m radioactive?”
Alec clears his throat. “Maybe it’s better if you ask your husband.”
“I’m asking you,” I insist. I feel stupid, like I’m missing something.
Alec tugs on his collar. “You are the wife of a very dangerous man, Mrs. De Luca. No one wants to risk doing or saying something that might offend you.”
My stomach sinks. Really? So they’re scared of me?
“If you’ll excuse me.” He gives me a quick bow—a bow—and leaves.
I blink at the door for a few long moments, trying to wrap my head around my new reality. In Darkwater Hollow, everyone looked down on me, but these people treat me with a fearful respect I’ve done nothing to earn. I used to be the daughter of a criminal, and now I’m the wife of one. It seems like no matter where I am, a label gets slapped on me.
I push my irritation aside and go to examine the boxes in the living room. Kneeling down, I carefully peel back the tape, lift the lid, and peer inside.
Books. The box is full of books.
A spark of joy ignites as I pull out the first title. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I used to own this one.
Hold on. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning? I had this one too.
I pull them out, one by one, reading each familiar title and stacking them into a tall pile.
Then I find it—a signed special edition of Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver, the one I know for a fact had a limited print run. My jaw drops.
How did Nero manage to get this?
For over an hour, I sift through the boxes, uncovering every book that was destroyed in the house fire. Every. Single. One.
Something warm yet unwelcome swells inside my chest. I shouldn’t be swayed by this gesture, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. I’m amazed at how he managed to figure out the entire list of books that burned.
He’s trying to make amends.
But this isn’t enough. Not even close.
I shut my eyes and let out a breath. I won’t allow a gift to sway my opinion of Nero. This doesn’t change the fact that I don’t trust him or that I’m planning on leaving as soon as I find a way out.
The act of arranging the books on the shelves in the living room feels like a form of meditation. By the time I’m done, I feel calmer. More grounded.
I’ve just settled down on the couch and cracked open a thick tome when a knock startles me.
This is becoming ridiculous. Another delivery? I already have enough groceries to feed an army, books to last me a lifetime, and clothes for every occasion, which seems silly given that I’m not even allowed to leave this place.
I put the book down on the coffee table, get to my feet, and move into the foyer. “Come in,” I call out.
Alec peeks in, a large black box tucked under one arm. He gives me a polite smile. “Last one for the day, miss. And you have a visitor.”
He places the box by the door and lets in a wiry, middle-aged man holding a leather satchel.
“Hello, Mrs. De Luca,” the man says.
An electric charge zips down my spine at being addressed by that name. Whoa. “You’re not afraid to talk to me?”
The man’s expression turns confused. “If I didn’t talk to you, that would make this appointment quite difficult.”
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
“I’m the Messero’s family’s doctor. Call me Doc. I was supposed to arrive much earlier, but we had an emergency at the clinic.”
A doctor employed by the mob? Don’t doctors have a code of ethics they have to live by?
“Just so you know, I’m being held here against my will.”
He doesn’t look particularly surprised. “I was warned you might say something like that. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to settle into a new marriage.”
I arch a brow. “So this is normal in the circles you run in?”
He shrugs. “Happens more than you’d think. Do you mind if we sit down?”
“Not at all.” I walk back into the living room, and he follows behind me. We sit down across from each other on the sofa.
“Before I examine you, Mr. De Luca requested that I let you make a phone call to a friend. Someone named Del?”
My heart leaps inside my chest. I haven’t forgotten Nero’s promise, but I’d expected him to let me call her only under his supervision. “Yes. Can I call her now?”
He nods. “I have instructions I must read to you first, and then you must promise you will follow them.”
I bite on the inside of my mouth. More rules, more conditions. Is everything in my life going to come with fine print now? “Go ahead.”
“You will tell her that you’ve eloped and decided to relocate to New York with Mr. De Luca. You will make no mention of the other circumstances that precipitated this move. You will also make no mention of any distress you may currently feel or allude to any foul play.”
“And if I’m honest?”
Doc looks down at the piece of paper in his hand. “530 Hampshire Street, Unit 308. She lives with a roommate and a gray Siamese cat.”
A sense of dread settles over me at the implied threat. “Okay. I agree to the terms.”
“Good. I’ll call her right now.” He hands me the phone as it rings.
I try to keep my composure, but the sound of Del’s voice over the speaker makes me choke up. “Del,” I croak.
“Oh my God, I’ve been trying to reach you for days! I was getting worried! What happened?”
“A lot,” I blubber. Doc hands me a tissue. I crush it in my fist and dab it under my eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s been…crazy. I should have called earlier.”
“Why are you crying? What’s going on?”
Biting down on my lip, I force myself to suck in a deep breath. I need to put a pin in my emotions, or Del’s not going to believe a word I say. She knows I’m not a crier.
“I eloped.”
“You what?”
“Rowan and I are married.”
There’s a pause so long that I check to see if the call’s still connected. “Del?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I just… I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were going to do that.”
The obvious hurt in her tone makes me wince. “I’m sorry, Del. It happened very quickly. We got a bit swept up, I guess.”
“Are you back home now?”
“No. We actually decided to move to New York.”
Del makes a strangled gasp. “New York?”
“I know it’s unexpected. I was just ready for a change, and you know I’ve been trying to get out of Darkwater for ages. An opportunity came up, and Rowan took it.”
“I don’t understand. How? Just…how? What about his business? What about your house?”
Your guess is as good as mine. I tug on the neck of my T-shirt, feeling my skin turn clammy. Bullshitting her feels awful. “We’re still trying to figure all that out.”
“Umm…okay. So you just up and left literally everything behind?”
I rub the heel of my palm against my forehead. I should have taken a minute to come up with answers to all of these perfectly reasonable questions, but I was so eager to talk to her, I didn’t think this through.
I say the only thing that sounds believable. “We kind of did it on a whim. I think we’re in that crazy honeymoon period where everything just feels like it’ll work out.”
Del blows out a breath. “I just hope you won’t have any regrets. God, you’re Mrs. Miller now! How does it feel?”
“Great,” I force out. “Really great.”
“When can I come visit you in New York? Blake, I haven’t even met your husband. That’s completely unacceptable. I’m your best friend, aren’t I?”
I don’t miss the vulnerable note that slips into her tone. Poor Del thinks I made one of the biggest decisions of my life without even consulting her. She’s got no idea I didn’t choose to get married.
“Of course you are. Don’t be silly. But you’ll need to give me some time to settle in.”
“Jeez, babe. This is crazy.”
“I know. But it just felt right,” I add shakily. There’s not a single thing in my life that feels right.
“What number are you calling me from?”
“This is Rowan’s phone. I lost mine, but as soon as I get a new one, I’ll let you know my number.”
Doc clears his throat, signaling that I should wrap it up.
“I’ve got to run some errands. Let’s catch up more later?”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too. And I’m sorry for not calling earlier.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“If anyone from Darkwater Hollow reaches out, can you tell them what happened? I quit my job at Frostbite the day we left, and I’m not sure how many people know. They might worry.”
“Yeah, no worries. I’ll call Lottie. The rest of the town will know it by tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you. We’ll talk soon.” I hang up.
Doc watches me with sad eyes. “She sounds like a good friend.”
“She is.” I put the cell phone into his outstretched hand, and he swiftly slips it back into his pocket.
“What now?” I ask.
Doc nudges his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I was told you may have been sexually assaulted a few days ago.”
My mood sinks even lower. The only good thing about the roller coaster I’ve been on the past few days is that I all but buried that memory away. “Yes. I was.”
“Were you penetrated?”
I nod. “Briefly, with his fingers.” It may have only been seconds before Nero arrived, but I’ll never forget how violated I felt in that moment.
My stomach roils.
Doc gives me a compassionate look. “Is there any pain right now?”
“No. There was at first, but it’s gone.”
“I’d still like to perform an examination, just in case. It’s best to check to make sure there are no cuts that might lead to infection.”
I shake my head. “I’d prefer you didn’t.”
“Mrs. De—”
“Look, I’m fine. I would tell you if I wasn’t.” It’s the truth. A long night’s rest and a few big meals have given me most of my energy back. The bruises are still there, but they don’t bother me since I’m stuck inside all day anyway.
“May I at least check your blood pressure? And take a look at the cut on your knee?”
I sigh. “Okay.”
Doc’s thorough, and it takes him longer than I expected to do a routine check. Nero’s orders, I guess. How else would he know about my knee when I’m wearing sweatpants?
Apparently, Nero did an excellent job cleaning the cut in the parking lot of that Walgreens. Doc says it should heal without any scarring.
“All done,” Doc announces finally. “Here’s my card in case you need anything.”
I take it. “I don’t have a phone, remember?”
A line appears between the man’s brows. “Ah, I see.”
“Any chance you can leave yours with me?”
He gives me a sad smile and gets to his feet. “I’m afraid not, Mrs. De Luca. You’ll have to talk to your husband about getting you your own phone.”
If I keep relying on Nero for everything, I’m never going to be able to get away from here. The fake passport that I need can’t come from him, so I need to find someone else who can hook me up. Maybe Doc here can help me get the lay of the land.
“Have you been working for the Messero family for a long time?” I ask as we head toward the door.
“Yes. Over ten years.” He presses a button on the landline phone attached to the wall that I’ve learned today is how the concierge is summoned. Unfortunately, it’s not programmed to make any outside calls.
“So you must know everyone well.”
Doc smiles. “I’ve helped a lot of people who work for the don, and I learned a valuable lesson a long time ago. Would you like to hear it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“When it comes to men like your husband, Mrs. De Luca, the less I know, the better.”
My chest deflates. Well, that’s not helpful at all.
A crisp knock sounds against the door.
“That’s Alec,” Doc says. “I should go. Any plans for tonight?”
“Plans?”
“It’s New Year’s Eve.”
I arch a brow. “Do you think I’m in a mood to celebrate?”
His gaze softens. “Good luck, Mrs. De Luca.”
The door closes, and I’m all alone again. My eyes drop to the black box Alec brought in when Doc arrived. It’s the only one I still haven’t opened. I crouch down and lift the lid. There’s red tissue paper hiding the contents.
When I see what’s beneath, whatever goodwill Nero managed to earn with his thoughtful gift earlier disappears.
Lingerie.
An angry knot tightens in my stomach.
How dare he?
Did he think his gifts would be enough to earn my forgiveness? Does he think I can be bought?
My anger has reached a ferocious boil when the front door finally opens around nine p.m. I snatch the box off the coffee table and storm into the foyer. The box is so big, I can hardly see around it, but I don’t need to.
“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m ever going to wear this,” I snarl, hurling the open box and its contents at my husband.
Panties, bras, and negligees go flying through the air. The box clatters to the ground.
And that’s when I finally see him.
“Oh my God!”
Nero’s face is a mess of blood and bruises, and his half-buttoned white dress shirt is stained red. He takes a staggering step, collapses to his knees, and falls onto the pile of lingerie.
“Nero!” I drop beside him, cradling his head in my hands. His stubbled cheek is warm against my palm. “What happened?”
No response. He’s unconscious, having used his last ounce of strength to get here.
I glance up. The front door is open. I can walk right out if I want to.
But then I hear Nero’s pained moan, and my gaze drops back to him. How can I abandon him in this state?
God damn it. I can’t leave him like this.
With a shaking hand, I pull his phone from his pocket, retrieve the card I’d hidden in my sweatpants, and dial Doc’s number.