Page 21 of Entangled
“Some of Vincent Peirano’s men were seen by one of our warehouses, and the following night it was set ablaze,” Matthias explained. “I’d say that’s a message that they’re not particularly happy about losing their investment and are resorting to low blows in terms of the turf war as well.”
“So what’s the plan, then? Return her already?” Mav asked, and I was surprised he was paying attention to the situation in front of him.
“No, you fool,” Matthias practically spat. “We don’t give in just because there’s a bump in the road. That’s what they want us to do, and I refuse. I want that land, and that poor girl is better away from them in the meantime, while all of this is taking place.”
Hearing my father show sympathy to Soren shocked me, and I looked at my brothers with wide eyes, and saw they were just as surprised as I was. I could even see my mother in my peripheral vision taking a special interest in the conversation.
What was it about Soren that had us all feeling a change of heart, and how do I make it stop?
It had beenweeks since my late night meal with Soren. She’d stayed in her room since then, not even coming out for meals. She didn’t even touch the trays that were left outside her door. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but I knew better than to question it. She was a prisoner in all aspects that mattered, and I was surprised she’d been so open with me the first night. Maybe she was tired, and it got the best of her.
Now, after sleep and a good meal, she had come to her senses and realized how fucked she was in this situation and that she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one side, she had a douche husband who liked to hit her around, and on the other, she had the son of a Mafia King who she had no reason to trust. She probably thought I’d get violent too because of who I was and the family that I belonged to.
But today I had a plan to help her feel more comfortable, and not spend so much time in her room. I had a deep and secret love for books. I had built my collection up over several years, and I wanted to share it with Soren. I wanted to give her a part of my soul in turn for her trust that while she was here that no harm would come to her.
I had a feeling she’d enjoy it.
I made my way upstairs with a plate of chicken breast, mashed potatoes, and green beans. All courtesy of my beloved cook, Muro, who’d been employed by my family for many years.
I made my way steadily up the stairs, making sure I didn’t drop the plate in my hands. I held it in one hand and knocked gently with the other.
“Soren?” I asked, keeping my tone even, hoping she’d answer and not continue to shut me out.
To my surprise, I heard the lock of her door slowly turn, and she opened it up just a sliver so I could see just a small piece of her face. The dark circles under her eyes were still visible, her cheeks still as sunken in as they had been. She could be getting more sleep, but without eating, she wouldn’t begin to feel better.
“I brought you some food, and I had something to show you,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. I didn’t want her to underestimate the monster that lived just under the surface of my skin. If I unleashed the monster within and it caused me to lose myself, once and for all, I would never be able to go back to who I was.
It’s why I wanted so desperately out of this life. I needed to get out to keep the small bit of sanity left. Without a word, Soren opened the door further, grabbed the plate before I could think, and slammed the door shut.
“Knew you couldn’t stay hungry for long,” I muttered, before turning on my heel and making my way back towards the stairs, plopping down on the top step. I knew that when she was ready, she’d come out. Her eating was just a small step in the right direction.
The fact that we were going in the right direction at all was good enough for me.
9
SOREN
I plannedto starve myself while I was here. Could I even trust the food he was bringing me? I watched Kade make our mac and cheese, so it wasn’t as big of a deal. I knew unless he was insanely good at sleight of hand, there was no way that he could have slipped anything in. I hadn’t felt any different in the days since either.
So when he came knocking on my door and all I could smell was the scent of freshly cooked chicken, I tossed all of my doubtful thoughts out the window. Whether it was poisoned or not, I really didn’t give a single flying fuck. I was starving and not made for this kind of lifestyle. I usually ate in small increments at home, and my husband monitored my diet. And before that, Lilah wouldn’t let me have a cheeseburger without throwing a gigantic bitch fit.
But I had enough of letting someone else control me, especially when it came to my body and what I put in it.
Thinking about Lilah made me wonder what kind of hell she was giving to Kade and his family for kidnapping me out of my bedroom in the middle of the night. I knew Lilah didn’t give a damn about me as a person, but I knew she had to be hurtingwithout her investment. Without me, the alliance she had with Jude and his family was null and void. I was a pawn in a game much bigger than I cared to understand.
When I was younger and went out drinking close to every night, I would indulge in all the delicious bar food I wanted. It was my little secret, and the one thing I could control about myself and enjoy without Lilah knowing or taking it from me.
How pitiful my life was and has become.
I used the fork sitting on the plate and speared the whole chicken breast, not even bothering to cut it up before taking a bite. My mouth instantly watered when the spices hit my tongue, and I groaned with how good it tasted. It was like I hadn’t eaten in my entire life, and this was my first meal. I used my fingers and picked up a green bean and bit into it, the same feeling washing over me.
Whoever made this is fucking fantastic.
I took another bite of the chicken.
I will marry whoever made this.
I stopped and laughed a pitiful laugh, realizing I was already married, and I couldn’t even joke about marrying someone for their good cooking.
