Page 30 of Unrestricted
"Yes, he's worried about…hell I don't know what he's worried about. One minute he thinks she might be innocent, the next she's the devil incarnate. He hopes you're hurting her, then he prays you aren't."
Fuck. If I'd known it would cause this much angst I'd have left the fucking girl in Edinburgh.
"What does he want me to do?"
Lukas shrugs. "He wants you to find out why she helped the Hungarians. I mean we know it's because her brother was mixed up with them, but he wants to know why she didn't come to him for help. What was she thinking. What did he do to deserve her betrayal."
"And then?" I ask.
"Then he wants you to deal with her."
"I got that message already. What I want to know is how. He told me to contain her. How does he want me to do that?"
Lukas shakes his head. “He trusts you to handle it, however you see fit.” He fixes me with an appraising stare. “What will you do with her?”
“I wish I knew.” It’s not like me to admit to not knowing what my next move will be. Lukas frowns as he realises I exposed a weakness to him. He won’t use it against me. If he tries, I’ll track down his precious Emily and send her to him in pieces. “I wish I knew.”
TEN
Eliza
It takes me a long time to get to sleep. For some strange reason I miss the warmth of Adriano's body next to me. It doesn't make sense. I've slept alone for years and have only had one night with my captor, but I found it difficult to drift off without him.
It didn't help, I suppose, that my mind was whirring as I imagined the repercussions for what I did to the green dress. Though I still think a point had to be sent, I'm not sure destroying an expensive item of clothing was the right way to go about it.
When I think of how incredible I felt when I tried the dress on, I wish I'd found another way to vent my frustrations. I don't know what Adriano is going to do when he finds out what I did. My bottom clenches as I think about how much harsher the next punishment will be.
When I do finally sleep, I enjoy a restful night, waking to find the room around me bright, the curtains open signaling that someone has been in here since I went to bed last night because I definitely closed them.
I could lie in bed for longer but my work schedule over the past few years has got me used to rising early. I get up and head for the shower. As I walk through the closet, I spot something out of the corner of my eye that makes me pause at the bathroom door and take a step back.
The green silk dress is hanging on the rail. It's not the one I destroyed last night but an exact replica. I take it off its hanger to study it closely. It can't be the same dress. Only it is. It's a bias cut emerald dress in the most delicate silk I've ever touched. A replacement must have arrived at some point between my tantrum yesterday afternoon and this morning.
I don't remember Adriano being in here last night so how did he know about the dress? Has Rosa been in? She must have been. The ruined dress is no longer on the floor.
For a second I wonder if I dreamed the whole thing about tearing the dress to pieces. No, not possible. I remember vividly the feel of the silk in my hand, the sound of the fabric ripping when it finally gave way. The dress has been replaced with almost terrifying speed.
I hold it against myself and look in the mirror. It’s beautiful and I’m glad I’ll have another chance to wear it. I guess I should be grateful Adriano is the type of man who can get things done with the click of his fingers. Or perhaps that should frighten me. I’m not sure which.
Putting it back on the hanger, I go and take a shower. When I was constantly on the move I stayed in a lot of grubby little apartments. The quality of the plumbing in them was often in direct proportion with the rent.
It's a long time since I was able to indulge in a hot shower so that's what I do. I wash my hair with the shampoo that's been supplied to me and stay under the steady stream of scalding water until my skin turns pink and I get lightheaded.
Then I get out, dry myself off and head into the closet to get dressed. A hairbrush has been left on top of one of the cabinets for me so I work out the knots in my hair, grimacing as I have to tug to get some loose.
I dress in slim legged trousers in a warm camel color and a gauzy black top. I slip on shoes, sweep my damp hair back over my shoulder and go to sit on my bed.
Twenty minutes pass before Rosa opens the door.
"Are you ready for some breakfast?" she asks. Then her mouth forms an O. "You didn't find the hairdryer, then?"
"No. Where is it?"
"In the drawer beneath the mirror in your closet. There's makeup and a few things to make your hair pretty in there."
"Great. I've been worried about my hair not being pretty enough."
My sarcasm either goes over Rosa's head or she chooses to ignore it.
