Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
“What are you—”
The question dies in my throat as he crushes it beneath his shoe, splintering the screen with a crack. Then without missing a beat, he retrieves a brand new phone from his pocket and hands it to me.
“What the hell?” I sputter. “All my contacts were in there. My schedule, my work stuff—”
“It’s already been transferred.” He gives me a dry stare, as if he didn’t just admit to invading my privacy.
“How?”
“Romeo accessed your cloud backup.”
“Have you ever heard of boundaries?” I snap. “That wasn’t for you to decide.”
“Remember what I told you yesterday?” He raises a brow at me. “You wanted to be a brat. Welcome to the consequences of your actions.”
“A brat?” I echo him in disbelief. “Did you really just call me that?”
“Are you telling me you aren’t?”
My mouth hinges shut. It doesn’t feel like we’re talking about a phone anymore, and participating in this conversation can’t lead anywhere good.
“Look, you’ve made your point,” I tell him. “So you can go back to your life now and lord over your empire. I’m sure you have plenty of people there to micromanage.”
“They aren’t nearly as challenging.”
“Why, because they don’t talk back?”
“Yes.” Amusement threads through his voice. “As it turns out, I like a little resistance now and then.”
My heart does a weird little flip as I study him, trying to figure out if this is another game. It has to be, because there’s no way Cristian Vitale is flirting with me.
Before I can conclude anything either way, he leaves me standing there and gathers up his things for work.
“There’s food in your fridge,” he informs me. “And I have a driver on standby to take you anywhere you need to go. You’ll find his contact in your phone.”
I respond with a sigh, and he shoots me a look.
“You will let him drive you. If you don’t, I’ll come handle it personally, and I promise you’ll like that ride even less.”
“So many euphemisms there I don’t even know where to start,” I answer dryly. “Will you strap me to the back seat until I learn to behave?”
“I’m far more creative than that,” he deadpans. “Keep testing me if you want to find out.”
I offer him a bored expression as if I’m not trying to imagine what he’d do.
“Be good while I’m gone, Mrs. Vitale.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “I’ll see you tonight.”
12
CHANTEL
I spend the rest of the morning doing yoga, skincare, and repainting my nails. Today is a show day, so I keep my activity light and conserve energy for this evening.
There’s a lot of prep that goes into a performance between clothing, hair, and makeup. When the program changes, we’ll also do rehearsals, meetings with the choreographer, and costume fittings.
Fortunately, there isn’t much to go over this week, so I don’t have to be there until late afternoon. After lunch, I head out a bit early so I can check in at Sanctum before I meet up with Bran this weekend.
My driver, Bruno, picks me up right on time. He’s an older gentleman with fuzzy gray eyebrows and a friendly smile. If I saw him on the street, I wouldn’t assume he’s Mafia, but during the drive, I discover he’s been working for the Vitale family for over thirty years. With that said, there are two things I can be certain of. He’s definitely carrying, and Cristian will know my location at all times.
He drives me to the downtown IVI complex and delivers me to the elevator before he leaves.
Once inside, I pass through security and make my way to Sanctum.
The Society-owned sex club sits adjacent to Black Velvet, and I have membership access through my job.
I’ve made a few friends with some of the women there, and after my visits with Bran, I feel comfortable with the environment.
Casually, a lot of members refer to it as the Cat House, but IVI has a tradition of incorporating Latin into pretty much everything they do.
In that context, it makes sense that Bran refers to me as dea, meaning goddess. It’s the counterpart of deus, which holds significance for Sovereign Sons in the Society.
They’re the highest-ranked and most respected members of IVI. In their world, that means they’re often greeted with the phrase ‘Dominus et Deus,’ which translates to Lord and God.
I don’t know Bran’s Society ranking, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he were a Sovereign Son. Though my ranking is nonexistent, I’ve only ever been treated with respect at Sanctum.
Once inside, I check in to the private clinic where they perform the mandatory health screenings. Since I haven’t been here in three years, I’ll need clearance to have my access credentials validated by Saturday. The process is quick and easy, and after a routine physical, an update to my consent form, and a blood draw, I’m on my way.