ROSE
I was getting to the brink of losing my sanity. How much longer could I bear with having a traitor outside my door and guarding me
For all I knew, he could be the one who would open the door to my enemy and have me killed in the middle of the night.
Every time I slept, I was always partly awake to keep a lookout for whoever it wanted to take my life.
Slowly, I was missing Luca. He was terrifying and disgusting, but at least his presence gave a form of assurance that no one could harm me. At least, not it he didn't approve of it.
Could that be why he had left for over a week? Could he have told Ricci to kill me?
Gosh, I was going crazy with these thoughts. I knew I couldn't do this anymore.
Trevor had barely even spoken with me after the last time. I had not even been able to sneak out to meet him because I couldn't afford to arouse Ricci's suspicions.
As the night fell again, tears stung the back of my eyes for no reason. I just wanted to be away from this life of terror and evil. I just wanted it to be back in my mother's arms.
I wondered how she was even doing. Chief Slade had promised to take over her treatments as long as I was on the mission. Had he kept his word? I needed to hear my mother's voice.
But I couldn't. Not with my phone, obviously being monitored by Luca. It was a surprise they even let me keep it.
As my door clicked, I remained huddled in bed, the blanket wrapped over me as I wiped straying tears away.
"It's time for dinner, ma'am," Ricci called from the door, but I pretended not to hear him. I shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
"Ma'am," he called even louder. I heard him mutter a curse under his lips as he walked closer to me. "It's time for dinner."
I pretended to awaken, yawning slightly. "I don't think I'm up to that tonight, Ricci. I feel sick and tired. Can you have it brought up instead?" I slurred.
Being anywhere outside my room was quite frightening these days. I could never tell who was monitoring my every step or who would stab me know the back. I wouldn't even touch the meal if they brought it. For all I knew, it could be poisoned.
He shook his head. "I have strict instructions—"
"Would you rather carry my dead body back to the room?" I snapped, my emotions getting to me. "I said I'm sick. I can't make it to dinner!"
His eyes darkened, and I could swear I saw a flicker of something dangerous in them. But surprisingly, he walked away, mumbling something under his breath.
"I can't wait to be so out of here," I could almost swear I heard him say.
But I pretended not to have heard anything.
Less than ten minutes after he shut the door, it opened again. I almost barfed at the sound of the food cart being wheeled into the room again.
"Just leave the food on the table," I ordered, not sparing a glance at the cook.
"You really should eat it if you would get out of here anytime soon," a low voice muttered.
I spun around so fast that I thought my neck would break.
"Trevor!" I squeaked. Within me, I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my arms around him in a hug because his presence gave me a form of reassurance.
His face was covered with a nose mask as he served the meal on my bed.
"Doing quite nicely, I see," he mumbled. He was so subtle that it looked as if he was just serving the meals and nothing more.
At this point, I couldn't keep my tears in anymore. "They're out to kill me, Trevor!" I gritted out under my breath. "I can't wait for this mission to be over."
"They can't kill you, Rose. Luca still needs you so he won't let you get killed. Just keep your head down, and so what you must. I need the intel you've been able to gather," he mumbled.
He pretended to spill some tea on the ground. I knew what he was doing, as the camera in my room was very much active.
He locked eyes with me as he said, "Listen, I know why you were sent on this mission, and I'm not stupid. I know you don't want to be touched by Luca, but at this point, when I said you should do what you must, I meant it."
My heart skipped a beat. I had already resigned to my fate, but hearing him say this was even worse. It made me scared again.
Defensively, I blew hot at him. "Of course. I don't need you to tutor me. In fact, I think you should leave." I snapped.
His eyes darkened. "Don't do anything to mess up this mission, Rose. Don't do anything foolish."
I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. "Don't you need a rag for the tea you spilt?" I rose, heading to the closet and signalling him to follow me.
He raised a brow but obliged.
Once we were in the closet, I dug under the wardrobe and took out the evidence I had gathered against Luca.
"These are the ones I've been able to lay my hands on. I've also found evidence of his connection to the murder of the council member, but I'll have to be careful with retrieving it."
He looked impressed as I handed him the recording device and some notes I had made in duplicates.
"Good job, agent."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't need your appreciation. Let this serve as a testament to you that I know what I'm doing!"
With that, I threw a napkin in his direction before storming out of the closet. He was on my tail.
He said nothing as he bent down to clean the spilt tea and left.
I let out a deep sigh, running my hand through my hair. At least I could trust the food he brought.
I had barely even begun eating when the door to my room creaked open and shut again.
"So, Mrs. Castillo, are you going to tell me when you and your servant are discussing my don?"
I choked on my tea to see Ricci glaring at me, his hands folded across his chest...