Sold To Mr. Milano - Daniella Wright Page 0,47
any better than depriving the people of those tax dollars.”
“I suppose I should sell it all off and give the money to these people?” I mocked her, glaring at the barefoot children running down the side of the street and the worn-down workers walking on their lunch breaks.
“Or better yet, donate the goods. Perhaps I could talk to some officials and see to it that you don’t face any penalties or repercussions...if it was all going to charity,” she suggested with a smug tone.
“Is that what this is all about?” I grumbled. “You making up your mind about what to tell your father?”
“I’ll have to tell him something,” she said grimly. “He’ll have all sorts of questions about you and your estate, and he knows me too well to believe that I’d come back empty-handed.”
“Haven’t I done enough for you!?” I fumed, thinking about how disruptive all of this had been. But the reminder was a relief. Soon she would be gone and I’d be free of her incessant questions and snide comments. Maybe that wasn’t so bad after all.
Any softness she was carrying quickly vanished. Her spine straightened and I could see her face tighten with annoyance. We went the rest of the way in silence, but not until she got in one last little jab.
“I guess some people never do change.”
No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was happy she would soon be gone, the closer we got to Don Martino’s, the more severe the aching in my chest became. Her constant nagging and insistence that people in need were worth helping...It was all so infuriating, and yet, it seemed better than the silence I would soon be facing on the long journey back alone. And again once I returned to my empty bedroom at the manor.
“We’ll stop by Pablo’s on the way back tonight,” I informed my men, prompting them to exchange a few grins and winks. I had to set something up for myself to look forward to.
“The brothel!?” Alicia gasped with disgust.
“Like I told you before...it all fuels the economy, sweetheart. And that’s good for all of us. That place is how some of the women in your beloved little town pay their rent.” I felt my heart swell with something good for the first time that day. I liked seeing how much the thought of me going to a brothel seemed to bother her.
“And how they end up pregnant and being sold off in the black market,” she replied, but not with spite. She stared off in deep thought, and I could see the wheels turning in her head.
“Don’t even think about it,” I barked.
“What?” she looked at me, feigning innocence.
“Don’t bat your lashes at me like that. I know exactly what you’re thinking. If after all this I walk back into that market next week and find you there all over again, I’ll buy you up and throw you back into my basement. Only this time I’ll get rid of the key and let you stay in there until you’re old and gray.”
“You mean you wouldn’t just leave me to fend for myself?”
“And give you the sick satisfaction of proving that you could find out what you wanted without getting yourself killed? Not a chance in hell.”
She smiled, looking awfully pleased with herself. I couldn’t help but smile a little myself, but that got harder to do as we approached the edge of Don Martino’s property. I waved for my men to hold back and let Alicia and I go the rest of the way alone.
We rode along to the entrance of the long driveway, being careful to stay hidden behind the tree line. “I’m going to leave you here,” I told her, eyeing the distant house through the trees. I wasn’t about to put up with whatever the Great Detective would have to say to me if he saw his precious daughter in my custody.
She nodded and stared down at her hands, but didn’t move. The moment felt so final and desperate. I could just stay on my horse and send her off like that. There were so many things raging inside of me, none of which I seemed able to say out loud. But the least I could do was get off of my horse. She did the same and we marched towards each other, still being careful that nobody could see us.
Not knowing what to say, I inched closer to her and stared at her plump