Page 22 of Twisted Throne
All two of my bags, their worn straps and threadbare nylon sides contrasting unpleasantly with the polished hardwood floors and delicate little hallway tables scattered around the entryway. I hoped Ricky would get them out of sight fast.
Elena pivoted and motioned me to follow her. We entered a hallway to our left and I trailed behind her as the clicks from her heels echoed along the hall. We rounded the corner and she pulled open a door, bringing us into the living room. Unsurprisingly, it was massive. A giant flat-screen TV was mounted on one wall, and stretching around the room was a long, L-shaped leather sofa, with matching recliners. Heavy velvet blackout curtains covered the windows and the rest of the walls were covered with expertly and professionally framed movie posters. While the room looked more modern than what I’d seen of the rest of the house, it still screamed of wealth and extravagance.
“Wow, this is like a mini movie theater.” I made my way over to examine the movie posters closer. Then I laughed, caught by surprise.
“The Godfather. Really?” I shot Elena a dubious look.
She laughed lightly as she responded. “Oh yes, that’s Angelo’s little joke. You wouldn’t know it at first, but he’s got quite the sense of humor.”
There were more sides to Angelo than I thought. I’d glimpsed the powerful Mafioso and talked to the grieving gentleman, but part of me would really like to see those leonine features light up with a laugh.
“Would you like something to drink? Water, pop, a cocktail?”
Elena moved across the room and opened a hidden door, revealing a small refrigerator. There was also a fully stocked wet bar in the corner, and a large popcorn machine. The thought of all of these dangerous men sitting around eating popcorn and watching movies didn’t line up with the events of the day, and still less with all of the things I’d read in the news. Guns and power plays and precision financial maneuvers on one hand, and on the other… what, family movie night?
“I’m good, thanks though.”
“Okay then.” She glanced at me thoughtfully. “Gia—it can be a lot, becoming part of a household like this when you haven’t grown up in it. If something has you at a loss, come to me.”
She nodded briskly, though I couldn’t tell if it was to herself or to me, and led us out of the room. We left through a different door but came out in what appeared to be another branch of the same hallway. I was already thoroughly turned around, but I didn’t really care. There were so many things to see here, and I didn’t think anybody would shoot me for taking the wrong turn.
At least, not without a warning first.
Elena next cut into a small sitting room. It dripped with elegance but gave off the vibe of one of those rooms that were so fancy you don’t use them. I was getting used to the intricate carpets on each and every hardwood floor, but the delicate bronze sculptures and spindly furniture were far too frilly for my taste. What did you even do in a room whose only purpose was to be pretty?
After that, we continued moving along down the hall with Elena pointing out each of the rooms we passed. Mostly we didn’t do more than pop our heads in the door, but some rooms we entered and explored.
“This room doesn’t get used much, except for holidays and big family events. But I thought you might like to see it anyway.”
She slid aside a set of pocket doors and I followed her into a formal dining room. The walls were painted in a deep, forest green, almost black. There were three large picture windows, with heavy velvet drapes in a muted gold.
I walked over to the centerpiece of the room, a long rectangular dining table lined on either side with matching, high-backed chairs. I ran my hand lightly against the smooth, polished wood of the table and stared up at the gorgeously opulent three-tier golden chandelier.
“This is my favorite room in the entire house.” Elena looked almost reverently around the room with a small smile. “It’s just the perfect place to come together. Just wait until you see it decorated for our Christmas celebration. I generally help set the theme, and then the staff really go all out. Very tasteful, of course.”
Whereas I felt slightly awkward and out of place here, Elena fit in perfectly. With her muted linen pants suit in a soft, buttery cream color and her blond hair perfectly coiffed into a simple French twist, she’d have sent Martha Stewart into ecstasies. But more, the perfectly sculpted lines of her face eased into something more relaxed. She looked like the lady of the house in a way I could never be.
“Shall we carry on?” she asked me, giving the room one more glance.
She showed me through a maze of spare bedrooms, small meeting rooms, large meeting rooms, and sitting rooms. She even showed me a library that was overflowing with books, with everything from faded, well-worn classics to modern best sellers and book club favorites. I had never been much of a reader but just being in this library made me want to grab a book and sink down into one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace.
…well, start in an armchair in front of the fireplace. I had to struggle to keep thoughts of what Paul and I could do in front of the fireplace out of my head.
Asshole.
“Want to head on up to your suite?”
We had doubled back down the hall and were headed back toward the entryway.
“Sure.”
A door caught my eye. While all of the other doors in the hallway were polished wood with delicately carved accents, this was much plainer. I had been so preoccupied by studying the various paintings and listening to Elena chatter on about the other rooms, that this one had escaped my notice.
“Where does that door go?”
She stopped and glanced over at the door, with a slight look of distaste.
“That leads down to the training area. I don’t go down there much, but if you want to see it we can go.”