Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“Is it fancy?” Oriana asks, playing with her hair. “Do I need makeup?”
“You never have,” I answer her as Maria comes back, holding a light blue, floor-length dress.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” Oriana gushes as she takes it from Maria.
“It is, isn’t it?” Maria smiles. “Will look better on you, I’m sure.”
“We’ll wait in the car outside. When you’re dressed, meet us there,” I tell Oriana.
“When did you change?” she asks, nodding to my suit.
“While you slept,” I reply before I head off the plane. Maria follows and leans against my car as we wait.
“You brought a date? Really?” She laughs. “She seems too nice for this world.”
“She is.”
“Are you sure she can handle it?” Maria asks.
“It’s the reason I brought her. I figured she’d never want to see me again after she found out whose house I took her to, but here she is.”
“And your brother?”
“Yes, about him…”
“I checked. It seems he’s left.” I nod, thankful Maria is on top of everything. It’s another reason I don’t fire her ass.
Oriana catches my attention as she steps off the plane. The gown is long and ties up around her neck. She has put her hair up into a bun on top of her head and is wearing a light shade of lipstick.
“It’s absolutely your dress. It looks one hundred times better on you than me,” Maria tells her, then winks before she gets into the passenger side of the car. I hold the door open to the back seat as Oriana steps past me and glides in. The dress is backless. God have mercy, her back is sexy.
When she’s seated, she looks up at me and asks, “Am I dressed okay?”
I nod and close her door before I walk around and slide in next to her.
“A few things…” I start. She turns her body to face me paying full attention to my words. “Don’t interact with any of the men. Stay by my side or Maria’s.” I nod to Maria in the front, who is currently sliding on a dress without a care in the world.
“Why?” she asks.
I ignore Oriana’s question and continue, “Second, do not, and I repeat… Do not tell anyone your name or where you are from.”
“Okay, this is sounding weird now.” She balls her hands in her lap and starts to rub them together nervously.
“If you see something seedy, it more than likely is. Women are objects in this place. Remember that. And don’t speak to them either.”
She sits back and stares out the window.
She’s either going to run for the hills or…
Chapter 26
Respect, really? How about you just bend me over?
Oriana
What was I thinking? I should have asked more questions when Jake invited me to go with him. It would have been the smart thing to do. But I stupidly said yes without getting more information. It’s been a while since I traveled and I was excited.
I shouldn’t have been.
Because I don’t know what I have gotten myself into.
The car comes to a stop out front of a large house with a garden that the car has to drive around before a man opens the door. I get out, and Jake comes around and stands next to me, offering me his arm. I slide my hand into the crook of his elbow as we walk up the large staircase leading into the house. Two armed guards stand on the outside and nod to Jake as he enters.
What is going on here?
I don’t think I’ve been to a party where guards stand so visibly holding guns.
Gripping Jake’s arm a little tighter, we head inside, with me sandwiched between him and Maria. I audibly gasp when we enter. The lingering smell of cigar smoke and whiskey is overpowering. There are quite a few women who are all dressed the same—in black dresses—and their eyes are downcast as the men walk around freely eyeing them. A few turn to look at us. Some hold our eyes, while others simply look away and continue whatever it is they’re doing.
“Jake,” someone calls in a thick Italian accent.
I find the man instantly and see him already watching me. He speaks in Italian, which I have no idea what he’s saying, but Jake looks at me and smiles.
“The lady speaks English, so let’s speak that out of respect for her.” I smile at both of them, and the man offers his hand. I place my hand in his, and he leans down and kisses it.
“Jake only ever brings the darling Maria with him.” His eyes flick to Maria before they come back to me. “It’s nice to see he is human, after all.”
“Leonardo,” Jake warns, and Leonardo drops my hand and gives his attention to Jake.
“How many are we after tonight?” Leonardo asks.
“Two.”
“Good, good.” Leonardo nods his head and turns away. “This way.” He motions for us to follow him, and Maria stays close by the whole time. I glance back at her when, all of a sudden, Jake stops and grips my arm tight.