Page 78 of The Cute Psycho

"Are you ill?" she continues, obviously worried about me. My heart beating loudly in my chest, I mumble an excuse.

"What? No... something must have bitten me." The lie slips easily, but I can't bring myself to meet her eyes. "I'm hungry, I'll see you in the dining room." I quickly excuse myself and dash out.

That was a close call.

What was Vlad thinking to leave that type of mark on my skin, knowing people would see? More than anything, what wasIthinking to allow such a thing?

I shake my head at myself. It's like I lose all inhibitions the moment I find myself in his presence.

We're taking increasingly more risks, and I don't want to think ofLina or Marcello's reactions if they found out how I've been spending my nights. Getting to know Vlad a little better has made me aware of something. We might fit perfectly together, but that doesn't mean the outside world will see it as such.

From what Vlad had told me, I'd been able to glean that he isn't much accepted into society. Hell, Marcello, who by all accounts is his friend, doesn't trust him to not go into a murderous rage at any point.

If anyone knew just how much time we spent together, or how much he's started to mean to me, I have no doubt they would try to put a stop to our rendezvous. And because of that, I can't afford to slip, not even a bit.

Yes, Vlad is my little secret, but at this point he's the only thing keeping me sane.

It's later in the evening that I muster the courage to seek Marcello out.

Knocking on the door of his study, I steel myself when I hear his voice calling out, "Come in."

Entering, I hold my head high as I take a seat in front of him.

"Yes?" he says, surprised to see me.

"I wanted to tell you thank you," I start, and his eyebrows shoot up in confusion. "For taking me in, and for offering me this chance to start anew," I explain.

"Sisi, you don't have to thank me for anything," he replies, and for a moment I'm shocked as I hear him use my nickname instead of my full name as he usually does. "This is your home, too. If anything, I should be asking for your forgiveness for not inquiring earlier whether you wanted to stay at Sacre Coeur. I just assumed..." he trails off, looking uncomfortable. "It was wrong of me to think that just because Sacre Coeur was all you've ever known that you wouldn't be curious about the outside world."

"You couldn't have known," I tell him. "For all intents and purposes, I looked right at home at Sacre Coeur."

I sigh deeply. Years of interacting with the same people seem to have stunted my ability to relate to others.

"I'm glad we've sorted this out." I give him a small smile.

"Me too. I would hate for you to think you're unwelcome in your own house. I know you have a very tight relationship with Lina and Claudia, but I'd like if we could get to know each other too. Slowly." He returns my smile with one of his own.

"I'd like that," I nod.

19

VLAD

"I'm surprised to see you here," Enzo mentions, raising an eyebrow at me as he lights up a cigarette.

"Are you?" I ask, taking a seat and making myself comfortable.

Considering our previous enmity, it might seem surprising that I'm visiting Enzo right in his home. But I've recently found some tidbits of information that have changed my perception of him and our situation. The fact that he's not receiving me with a shotgun in my face just confirms what I already know—Enzo Agosti is a crafty son of a bitch.

And I have to begrudgingly admit that my respect for the man has increased.

I'd had my eyes on the Agosti business for a while now, especially since I'd heard some not-so-glamorous rumors through the grapevine. In my desperation, it had been all the impetus I'd needed to put Agosti under the magnifying glass.

And I'd used my former partner, Bianca, to do just that. In a quid pro quo exchange, she'd placed a few bugs in Enzo's office, and for months now, the insight I'd gained had helped me narrow down my options.

"Get to the point, Kuznetsov," Enzo states, looking already bored.

Ah, but when he hears what I have to say, that boredom will for sure be wiped from his face.

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