No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 29

I can't help but smile as I take the fork lying next to the bowl and sit down on the stool.

I'm surprised to find it actually tastes good, shoving it in my mouth like a starved animal until the bowl sits scraped clean and empty.

I put it in the sink and take a glass from the shelf, filling it with water and drinking it.

I smack my lips and sit the glass beside the bowl, wiping my mouth and walking into the single bedroom in this godforsaken hotel room.

To nobody's surprise, Vincenzo is sitting on the bed, scrolling on his laptop as he looks up at me.

"Enjoy dinner?" he asks, looking back down to his laptop.

"It wasn't bad," I shrug, trying not to smile as he frowns at me.

I chuckle and walk over to my suitcase, dragging it to the walk-in robe and opening it.

I quickly undress and pull on one of Dad's old hoodies and a silky pair of black pyjama shorts.

I walk back out to the room and sigh, accepting defeat as I walk over to the bed.

"Move over," I mutter, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise when he instead gets off the bed.

He motions for me to sit and I get onto the bed, sitting to the far side. I watch in surprise as he grabs a pillow and walks over to the couch, sitting there as he continues to type on his laptop.

"I didn't expect you to actually sleep on the couch," I say in a dumbfounded voice.

"If it makes you that uncomfortable, I'm sure my back can manage," he chuckles, guilt washing over me.

"I almost feel bad," I sigh, smirking as he gives me an unimpressed look.

I look down at my phone to see it's almost 12 am, biting the inside of my cheek as I put my phone on the nightstand.

"You can sleep in the bed, I don't mind," I sigh, already regretting my decision.

"Good, I never wanted to sleep on the couch," he mutters, shutting his laptop and bringing the pillow back to the bed.

He turns the lights off and I shuffle over to the far side of the bed, turning my back to Vincenzo as I try to calm down.

I let out a surprised cry as I feel a pair of arms wrap around my stomach, pulling me into a hard front.

"What the hell Vincenzo?" I snap, trying to wriggle out of his strong grasp.

"Sshh, I'm trying to sleep," he murmurs, "Just let me have this,"

I sigh and rest my arms over the top of his, "Goodnight Vincenzo," I mutter, rolling my eyes at how childish he's acting right now.

"Goodnight Anastasia," he says quietly, his lips curving into a smile against my shoulder.

I lie there confused, unsure of what to make of this. Is he cuddling me? Vincenzo De Santis? Cuddling?

He must be sick, or poisoned, or concussed. He must've hit his head in the shower. There's no other explanation.

He mustn't be feeling well. There's no other reason he's do this. Right?

————

"Stop it!" I screech, tears running down my cheeks as I try to wrangle myself out of the harsh hands holding me back.

"Leonardo enough!" Dad shouts frantically, trying to get out of the chair he's tied to.

"Please," his voice cracks as a single bullet shot goes off.