“Then whichMorozovadid you draw blood from?”
“Your dumbass brother.”
I inch closer. “What’d you do?”
“Relax,wife.” He says the last word as if he’d just tried my sandwich and it was nasty.
“Did you hurt my brother?”
“It was a small nick.” He makes a show of scratching his neck. “If I were you, I’d be happy every time something negative happened to your brother, considering he sold you out.”
“He didn’tsell me out.”
“He soldyoutome.”
“Buying a woman isn’t the flex you think it is.”
“It’s a better flex than being thepurchase.” He stands from the bed. “Now, why are you making me waste my time, coming up here to make sure you don’t starve yourself like a fucking child?”
“I don’t have an appetite.”
Since moving into my new home, I’ve yet to eat anything.
It’s not from stubbornness—okay, it’ssomewhatout of stubbornness—but mainly from my nervous system in overdrive. When I’m stressed, I don’t eat.
“Too bad.” He motions toward the plate. “Eat.”
I stay in place.
“Fine, have it your way.” He sits back on the bed. “I’m not leaving this room until you eat. And I’m a fucking night owl, Liliya.”
I glare at him before stomping toward the nightstand and snatching the plate. Instead of sitting on the bed, I plop down on the floor, sitting cross-legged. Emilio’s gaze stays glued to me as I pick up the turkey sandwich.
When I told Maggie I didn’t want dinner, she made me a turkey sandwich, saying it was there in case I got hungry.
I cup the sandwich tight in my hand before pointing it toward Emilio. “I don’t like people watching me while I eat. Look at your phone or something.”
He makes a show of intensely watching me. “That’s your own damn fault. Eat when you’re supposed to, and I won’t have to waste my time watching you.”
I pretend to mock him before taking a massive bite of my sandwich. I finish the thing in just four bites. Bites so big that it takes me a couple of tries to swallow them down.
When I’m finished, Emilio stands. “Good girl.” He taps my head as if I were a dog while walking past me. “It seems that if I want you to follow my authority, I just need to make you come. Duly noted.”
He leaves the bedroom, and I flip the door off.
Two hours later,my phone rings.
Unknown Number.
I hurriedly answer. “Hello?”
“Liliya,” Dasha says on the other line. “I need your help.”
14
I holdmany job titles and perform many tasks.
Some I enjoy. Some I don’t.
