007

WINNIE

For a brief moment I was gripped with terror. My heart raced frantically within my chest and I wondered if he was going to attempt to kill me now. I was certain that I wasn't going down without a fight.

“You're shivering,” he said. His gaze remained trained on my bare shoulder. His fingers traced over my shoulders lightly and I shivered even more. He was right. My hands were shaking. I was afraid of him. Terrified would be a better way to put it.

The warm water didn't suddenly feel so warm anymore. He muttered something under his breath in Italian and headed out of the bathroom. I was caught between feeling terror and relief.

Was he going back to look for a gun? Was he attempting to make this quick and easy? Was this the plan? I had no idea what to think anymore.

It was unwise to run out of the bathroom naked, but I was more than tempted to do it. It would be useless because they would have caught me before I even managed to reach the exit of the house. And even I succeeded in escaping from here. There was Trisha. No, I had to stay. I had to look for another way.

If I had to endure being this man's wife for some time to keep Trisha safe and alive. Then I was going to do it. I was going to make the necessary sacrifices to keep her alive. Even if it meant going to bed and waking up with a killer.

I tried to swallow past the lump that was beginning to form at the back of my throat. I struggled to breathe. I couldn't breathe.

The harsh brunt of reality was beginning to set in.

“Are you okay? You look really pale”

My shoulders flinched slightly before I could control it. It was already becoming too difficult to mask my fear. I turned my head towards his direction and I saw that his brows were furrowed with concern. Some of the hardness had melted off from his eyes. Maybe I was just beginning to imagine things.

“You're shaking terribly. Get out of the water” he said. Something about the tone of his voice told me that it wasn't exactly a suggestion. He stood at the entrance of the door with a towel spread open. I hesitated. I was naked. There was certainly no way that I was going to let him see me like this.

“Don't flatter your ego. I've had my fill of naked, enticing women to last a lifetime. And you don't exactly fit the criteria for my preference. So get out of that tub before you die of a cold” he growled impatiently.

My face flushed instantly with color. Was he trying to say that I was unattractive? How dare he? I had men fumbling over for my attention left and right before I ended up in prison. And even in prison. I've seen the way some women stared at me.

Who the hell was he to decide that I wasn't attractive? Feeling irritation get the better of me, I finally mustered the courage to get out of the bathtub. I immediately got up and I headed out of the bathtub.

Water dripped from my body and gathered around my legs creating a small puddle. I began to walk towards him. I didn't care. I don't know how I was even able to manage it but I didn't let my gaze falter. Not one bit. His eyes darkened almost immediately with something that I was too afraid to decipher. I wasn't so sure that I wanted to know what it was.

He finally closed the towel around me. Our eyes remained trained on each other and for some reason, we both refused to look away. I was terrified of this man but for some reason, my need to let him know that he didn't intimidate me was stronger.

I finally took a step back with the towel wrapped around my body. The air became thicker with tension and awkward silence lingered between the both of us. I had no idea what I was doing or why I thought it was wise to remain in the same place with him.

“Thank you” I muttered under my breath as I walked past him back into the bedroom. I spotted clothes that were folded on the bed and I assumed it was for me. I hoped it was. Even though I was stubborn, I didn't want to remain naked around Roman any longer than necessary. I resisted the urge to flinch as I felt hot air on my neck.

His face was almost buried in the crook of my neck. I wondered what the hell he was doing.

“You don't need to worry about us consummating our marriage tonight” he said. I almost breathed out in relief.

The thought of a stranger in between my legs when I wasn't feeling very willing didn't sit well with me.

“I have someone else to keep me company for the night so I'll advise you not to wait up for me” he pulled away. For some reason that I couldn't yet identify. I felt irritated.

I should be relieved but the insinuation of not being attracted enough for him to scramble into my bed bothered me. It shouldn't bother me but It did. I should be relieved that he wasn't going to touch me and yet, here I was fuming. Don't be ridiculous. Wasn't this what you wanted?

“Well. What you do with your time is none of my business. I didn't think letting me know the details was necessary” I snapped at him. The tone of my voice held more spite than I intended. I mentally face palmed myself.

“For a moment. It seems like you're bothered. If you're jealous and you're dying to have a taste of my cock. All you need to do is ask. I'm that generous” he smirked at me. His eyes were dark and terrifying and held some kind of thrill.

I wondered who he thought he was. The day had barely ended and I was already beginning to get a taste of how infuriating he was. I closed my eyes to reign in my temper. It was a struggle to keep my expression impassive but I succeeded.

“I told you. You can do whatever you want with any of your whores. I don't need to know. It's not my business. Really” my voice held no emotion whatsoever. I turned towards the bed and grabbed the silk night dress. He was there. Watching my every move intently.

The need to run consumed me but I also wanted to prove him wrong. I wasn't weak. Had never been.

I threw the towel to the side and put on the silk dress over my head. I stopped at my mid thighs. I turned around to find out that he was still watching me.

The emotions that were buried with his dark eyes were unreadable. I didn't want to think that he was going to kill me now. I tried to control the trembling in my hands as I walked towards the bed. It felt soft beneath me as I scrambled into it.

I sighed with relief because I couldn't remember the last time that I had the luxury of sleeping on a comfortable bed. My body was already becoming heavy with exhaustion. I wondered if this was the moment that he was going to pounce.

“You can close the door on your way out” I murmured. You are goading him. Do you not have any atom of sense left? One strike and he could kill you. What the hell is wrong with you?

I couldn't even find it in me to answer the question. It seemed like common sense had flown out the window and I couldn't even think properly.

I wondered if it had to do with him towering over me like that.

It didn't make any sense that his presence could affect me this much. His gaze held some sort of strange interest as they watched me.

He finally headed to the door and then his hand paused at the door midway and he turned around.

“And don't go thinking you could think to me anyhow you please. I'll tolerate it because it's the first night” he said dryly before he headed out.

The slam of the door echoed through the room. His absence was suddenly too obvious. The warmth of his breath on my neck lingered. I could still feel him. I could still smell him and I wanted to kick myself in the gut for it. It was beyond ridiculous. Suddenly the room was way too quiet and I was suddenly left with my fear.

My mind traveled over to Trisha. I prayed with everything within me that she was safe. I wondered how long I was going to have to endure this. It was pathetic. Really.

It was pathetic that I had to pretend to be someone's wife to remain alive. Lucrezia was right about one thing. We were a thing of convenience.

If we should die or if anything were to happen to us. No one would bother. We were nobody but inmates from prison.

It didn't matter that I was only there because I was accused for something that I didn't know. I used to matter. I used to matter a whole lot but that was before my parents died and I got shipped off to prison.

My thoughts traveled to Uncle Elliot. He had been living life as if nothing happened. He looked perfectly normal.

Perfectly at rest after all he'd done to ruin my family and I. It had been years and here he was, telling everyone that I was dead. I felt my heart harden with a sort of intense hatred that I didn't even know that I could muster.

Maybe it was time to make the situation work in my favor. Sulking and crying about being here wasn't going to do anything. I learnt that the hard way.

Well, if I was dead, then Uncle Elliot was going to have no choice but to follow me to the cold grave.