Chapter 60

ROSALIND

Since Miranda stayed up half the night enjoying hot chocolate and snacks, I refuse Cesare's offer of breakfast and insist we leave the mansion at once. That should reduce the chances of him changing his mind about helping my daughter and stuffing me back in the basement.

Adrenaline surges as we descend the marble staircase and walk through a grand entrance of high ceilings lit by chandeliers. I'm so close to leaving captivity that I can almost taste freedom.

Cesare's hand clenches around mine, his grip punishing. Every instinct screams at me to pull away, to elbow him in the gut. I endure for the sake of Miranda and keep my gaze on the huge double doors that lead to our salvation.

My first step out into the open makes my knees buckle as I'm overwhelmed with the mingled scents of flowers, freshly cut grass, and juniper. Birds twitter, and a breeze rustles through the leaves of the trees surrounding the mansion's courtyard.

Miranda bounds down the stone steps, turns in a circle and gasps. "This place looks even more awesome in daylight."

I offer her a tight smile. The Montesano mansion is one of the most beautiful buildings in New Alderney, with its Roman architecture and the ivy growing across its limestone exterior. But underneath its elegant facade rests an underbelly of horrors I never want her to witness.

An armored car waits in the courtyard, and a driver exits and opens the back door. Without waiting for permission, Miranda steps in. My stomach lurches. I taught her better not to enter strange vehicles.

As I follow her, Cesare grabs my arm and leans in close. "Remember, she thinks we're a happy couple."

"Is that why you're gripping me hard enough to cause bruises?"

"Do you know what happens to ungrateful pets?" he growls, his voice so deep that it rumbles through my bones and makes my skin tingle.

"Is it any worse than the pussy roulette, the initials carved into my skin, or the time you sewed up my labia?" I whisper hiss.

With an annoyed grunt, he releases my arm and follows Miranda into the car.

I squeeze my eyes shut and exhale a long sigh. Nothing good will come from antagonizing Cesare. I know that intellectually, but I've spent years trying to stop blaming myself for not resisting Matteo.

The first time I confided in a counselor about Matteo's inappropriate touching, she promptly reported it to my mother, who slapped me for trying to ruin her marriage. Her reaction emboldened Matteo to invite his lackeys to join his sick games.

At the time, I blamed myself for trusting the wrong person. Years later, I blamed myself for not reporting it to the authorities. When I joined the Moirai, I learned that the Galliano family owned the police and were already getting away with bigger and more heinous crimes. That's why I hatched a plan to save Miranda from what I'd suffered.

Fighting back is my retribution for the years I spent being powerless.

"Come on, Rosa," Miranda's sweet voice pulls me out from my past.

I roll my shoulders, suck in a deep breath, and remind myself to play along with Cesare, at least until I'm sure Miranda is safe.

When I step into the car's interior, they're both sitting on opposite seats, chuckling over an oversized computer tablet. Cesare explains the workings of a karaoke program with technology to improve the singer's voice, and Miranda gazes up at him with enough adoration to make my stomach churn.

I lower myself into the leather seat beside my daughter and observe their interactions, looking out for any signs of impropriety.

"Does it work for any song?" Miranda asks. "How does it know where to put the auto tune?"

"The AI already knows which note goes with which lyric," Cesare replies. "Go on, try it."

Miranda shoots me a nervous glance, as though she thinks I'll disapprove. "I-It's alright. I don't really like singing."

Cesare scoffs. "That's not what you said last week when you sang for two hours straight."

The car's engine purrs to life, and my heart shrinks at the thought that Miranda finds my presence stifling.

"Go on," I say with what I hope is an encouraging smile. "Have fun."

When she hesitates, Cesare selects one of her favorite K-pop songs, pics up a microphone, and presses another in Miranda's hands. The music starts, and as soon as he starts to sing, she joins in.

My smile falters, my chest tightens, and my lungs stop taking in oxygen. Flames flicker in my gut at the sight of Miranda completely at ease with a psychopath when our relationship feels so stilted.

I want to pull her away from Cesare and scream that he's an even worse murderer than me, but I've never seen her so relaxed and happy. When she smiles, even the corners of her eyes crinkle. Anyone looking from the outside would think I was the interloper, and they were the ones connected by blood.

Cesare's gaze meets mine, and he reaches out a hand and pulls me over to his seat and wraps an arm around my waist. "Come on, pet. Don't be shy."

Miranda lets out a genuine laugh that's melodic and full of joy. "Rosa doesn't sing or dance."

"Of course she does." He kisses my cheek, his lips lingering on my skin.

Miranda bounces on her seat and squeals. "Oh, you're so romantic. I hope someone will love me as much as you love my sister!"

"The little bastard has to go through me first," Cesare growls.

"Cesare," I hiss.

"Miranda has heard far worse language." He turns to her and grins. "Haven't you, love?"

She gives him an identical smile, emboldened by his terrible influence. "Sure have. Everyone at my school cusses."

"It's a good thing you're leaving Tourgis Academy, then." I say, immediately cringing at sounding so strict.

I don't mean to be so controlling and overbearing. The absence of a concerned parental figure is what left a gaping hole Matteo was eager to fill. The time I can spend with Miranda is limited, and whenever we're together, I overcompensate.

The song comes to an end and Miranda picks another duet. Cesare kisses the top of my head and joins her for the next song, so I pick up my burner phone and text Britt's burner.

I tap out:

Are you alright, B?

When three dots appear, I exhale the longest sigh of relief.

Holy hell. How did you escape?

We formed a truce.

The tracking info says you're moving down Alderney Hill. Where are you headed?

Airport.

Don't worry. I'll be on a rooftop with a sniper rifle.

My chest tightens, and my stomach churns. There's no way in hell I can afford an academy as exclusive as Brunswick without Cesare. Even in the unlikely event that Gunther clawed back the Paris job's bonus from Axel, I can't use that money without it being traced.

The only way Miranda will be safe from the Moirai is if they think I'm wasting away in the Montesano dungeon or dead.

I type:

Don't. He's helping Miri.

Three more dots appear, and I hold my breath. The day I saved Britt in the academy's final exam is the day I made my truest friend. I just don't want that loyalty to cost her life.

When the dots disappear, I stare at the screen, wondering if she's decided to ignore my request not to confront Cesare.

"Who are you texting, pet?" he asks, his voice a low growl.

My heart leaps, and my gaze darts to Miranda, but she's too engrossed in the Korean lyrics to notice the threat. Turning to Cesare, I force a smile and reply in a low voice, "Just checking on the friend you shot."

His eyes narrow. "Sure you're not staging another rescue mission?"

"For the people who colluded to paint me as their mastermind?" I reply, unable to hide the full extent of my resentment.

He leans closer, his hot breath tickling my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "I still think you're their boss."

"You have too much faith in my talents." I try to push him away with my shoulder, but it's as futile as moving a statue.

"Silly pet," he murmurs, his lips grazing the shell of my ear and igniting my skin with unwanted tingles. "You're the most beautiful, deadly, and cunning woman I've ever met. I'm obsessed."

"Stop that," I hiss through clenched teeth.

Miranda chooses this moment to stop singing and ask, "So, when's the wedding?"

My jaw drops, and I gaze into her wide, blue eyes, which radiate nothing but innocence and hope.What kind of nonsense has Cesare put into my little girl's head?

"What makes you think I'm getting married?" I ask, my chest tightening.

She turns off the music, sets down the microphone, and places the tablet on her lap. "Cesare already told me about how much he pined for you when you were dating Leroi."

"Leroi?" I say through clenched teeth, remembering Miranda telling me on the phone that she'd gone to visit his apartment.

"That's right." Cesare pats my thigh with a smirk. "Now that Rosalind has finally given me a chance, I'm never letting her go."

Angry heat flushes through my veins, and it takes every effort not to tear that hand off my leg and snap his fingers. The only thing keeping me from lashing out is the thought of Cesare withdrawing his help.

The excitement of this supposed romance makes Miranda fall back in her seat and clap. "How did you propose?"

"He didn't," I blurt before Cesare can spew more bullshit.

His gaze turns to meet mine with the barest flicker of annoyance. Faking a relationship in exchange for Miranda's schooling is one thing, but he forgets that I'm also supplying priceless information to help him destroy the Moirai. He doesn't get to trap me into marriage.

"That's because I was waiting for the perfect moment," Cesare says, sounding sickeningly earnest. "When a man finds the perfect woman, he has to court her right."

My heart drops as the full extent of his plan slaps me in the face. The only thing Cesare loves about me is my pain, and my suffering has become his addiction. He's using my relationship with my daughter to secure an endless supply.

Sure enough, Miranda clasps her cheeks, her gaze bouncing between Cesare and me. Her eyes glisten, as though Cesare is about to make her dreams come true.

My stomach churns at the thought of him doing something idiotic, like getting on one knee. To make sure he doesn't make any grand declarations, I reach down to the hand on my lap and dig my nails into his skin.

"Miranda," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "Since you're Rosalind's only family, I want to ask for your blessing to make her my wife."