Chapter 7

Empty stomachs make for restless sleep. I tossed and turned, my belly grumbling loudly in protest. After Dante had ordered me to stay in my room for the night, nobody had bothered to bring me dinner.

I sat up, weighing my options. Dante had been clear about not leaving my room, but surely getting some food wouldn't cause any harm. Nobody would even know.

I crept to the door, pressed my ear against it, and listened. The hallway seemed silent. Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob and stepped out, wearing just my black leggings and a white button-up shirt.

The mansion's hallways were dimly lit at night. Each creak of the floorboards under my feet sounded like a gunshot in the silence. My heart pounded as I made my way toward the kitchen.

A sense of foreboding crawled up my spine. Maybe I shouldn't have left my room. Maybe Dante had good reasons for keeping me there.

The kitchen lights were on, spilling a warm glow into the hallway. I heard low voices—male voices—and froze. Should I turn back? Before I could decide, I'd already rounded the corner.

"Beatrice!"

Franco's eyes widened with shock, his mouth hanging open. He was wearing his signature black leather jacket, his dark hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. The last time I'd seen him, he'd been laughing while I sat soaked and humiliated on the school floor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Franco demanded, turning to Salvatore with accusation burning in his eyes.

I lifted my chin. "I live here."

"You what?" Franco's gaze darted between Salvatore and me, confusion and betrayal written across his face. "What the fuck, Salvatore? You didn't tell me she was living here!"

Salvatore took a casual bite of his sandwich, chewing slowly before answering. "It's a long story."

"A long story?" Franco's voice rose. "I've been avoiding her for days because you told me to! And now she's living in your house?"

"Why do you care so much?" Salvatore shrugged. "It's not like she matters."

Franco ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "You made me ditch her! You told me to stay away from 'that girl from the Bronx slums' to protect my reputation. You made me humiliate her in front of everyone!" His eyes found mine, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "I'm sorry about that, by the way."

I stared at him, unable to process that Franco was actually apologizing after all this time.

"So what's she doing here?" Franco demanded again.

Salvatore sighed, clearly annoyed. "My father brought her here. Her mother is dating him."

Franco's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, is that why you told me to stay away from her? Because she was going to be your stepsister?"

"What? No!" Salvatore looked genuinely surprised. "I didn't know about any of this."

"Then what the hell?" Franco turned to me, his expression softening. "If Salvatore can live with you, I don't see why I should keep my distance anymore."

"Franco," Salvatore interjected. "If you want to date her, go ahead. I don't care."

My jaw dropped. Were they seriously discussing me like I was some object to be passed around?

Franco stepped toward me, his smile growing. "Beatrice, what do you say? We could pick up where we left off before... you know."

I took a step back, anger replacing my hunger. "Who said I want to date you? Did you forget how you made fun of me in school?"

Franco had the decency to look ashamed, but Salvatore just rolled his eyes.

"Go back to your room, Beatrice," Salvatore ordered.

I wanted to argue, to tell them both to go to hell, but something in Salvatore's eyes made me reconsider.

Without another word, I turned and fled back upstairs. "How am I supposed to sleep alone tonight?" I whispered to the empty room.

The shadows seemed to grow longer, darker. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed something on the wall—a shadow that looked like a tall, thin figure with unnaturally long arms.

Panic surged through me. My heart hammered against my ribs, sweat broke out across my forehead, and my breathing became shallow and rapid.

"No!" I gasped. "I can't stay here alone."

I flung open my door and rushed into the hallway, immediately colliding with something solid.

"Ow!" I stumbled back, looking up to find Enzo staring down at me, his expression unreadable.

"There's someone in my room," I blurted, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward my door. "Please, you have to check."

Enzo followed me without resistance, flicking on the lights as we entered. He scanned the room methodically, checking the closet and bathroom before turning to me.

"It's just the shadow of the tree outside your window," he explained, pointing to the window where branches swayed in the night breeze, casting the eerie shadow I'd seen.

I felt foolish, but the relief was short-lived. The thought of being alone again made my chest tighten.

"Go to sleep, Beatrice," Enzo said, turning to leave.

I moved in front of the door, blocking his exit. "Please, can you stay in my room?"

His eyebrows drew together. "What?"

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice small. "Please don't leave me alone."

"No," he said firmly. "If you're afraid, knock on my door and I'll come check your room again."

Desperation seized me. I had to make him stay. Remembering how Matteo had reacted when I'd let him hold me, I blurted out, "I'll take off my bra when we cuddle."

Enzo's expression transformed from mild annoyance to utter disgust. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

I realized immediately I'd made a terrible mistake. "I just thought—"

He pushed past me and slammed the door, leaving me standing alone.

I crawled under the covers, curling into a tight ball as sobs racked my body. For two hours, I lay shivering beneath the blanket, jumping at every little sound.

Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, pulling me into a fitful sleep.

"Hey." A whisper jolted me awake, but my body was paralyzed. I couldn’t move. "How long do you think you can hide from me?"

I tried to scream, but no sound emerged. On the wall, the shadow had returned. It was tall and humanoid, stretching impossibly high toward the ceiling.

"Got you," the voice hissed.

A gunshot cracked through the air, followed by maniacal laughter.

“Ahhhhh!” I screamed once my mouth wasn’t constricted anymore. I scrambled backward until I was wedged in the space between the bed and the window, my terror reaching unbearable heights.

I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't process anything but the need to escape.

Without conscious thought, I turned and threw myself through the window. Glass shattered around me as I plummeted through the night air. The ground rushed up to meet me, and pain exploded throughout my body as I landed.

"Shit! BEATRICE!" Darkness consumed me while I heard Enzo’s little cry for my name in worry. At least he will now know he was wrong for not helping me.