He glares. “What is it?”
“I won’t lie to you, as long as you don’t lie to me.” I run my hands over the quilt. It’s homemade, and the ridges and bumps help soothe me. “Do whatever else you want. We both know you can—and will. Just…don’t lie to me while I’m here. I’d rather have the truth, no matter how terrible it might be. And I’ll give you the same courtesy.”
It takes a second. But he nods. “Agreed.” He sits on the edge of the bed and fixes me with that searching stare he gets. “Who is hunting the Clemenzas?”
“You asked me that before. I don’t know. Do you?” I study his face right back.
He just shakes his head. “But you don’t need to worry. You’re safe here.”
“How reassuring,” I reply. “My very own beast, keeping me safe from all the other monsters out there.”
His lips curve slightly. “You must be feeling better. The sarcasm is back.” He stands and turns toward the door, then pauses. “Getsome rest,” he says over his shoulder. “I’ll come back later, and I’ll have more questions for you then.”
When he’s gone, I pick up Darla’s card, turning it between my fingers thoughtfully. He left it here. Why? Is it a dare?
A test?
I saw approval in those cold eyes when I told him loyalty was the only important thing. I said it partly just to see how he’d react. To slide a suggestion in, see if he’d enjoy it. He did.
But I alsomeantit. I gave my word.
I will keep it.
CHAPTER 28
CALIGULA
“Caligula?”
I wake slowly, swimming back up from dreams. I yawn and stretch, blinking up at Damiano. “Hi,” I say.
“You need to drink this.” He holds up a cup with a bendy straw. “And then you need to take a bath.”
“I just showered before. When I—when I passed out.”
“That was yesterday. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”
I push myself up a little, looking around, as though the change in day will be observable. Not with the steel shutters still down over all the windows. “What time is it?”
“It’s morning. Ten o’clock.”
“Oh,” I say. “Well, in that case…” I try to sit up, but the dizziness hits right away, sending me back to the pillows with a nausea-inducing spin of the room.
Damiano just stands there looking down at me. “Here,” he says at last, offering me the cup again.
I take a tentative suck at the straw and make a face. “Whatisthis?”
“It’s a protein shake. The nurse left a bunch for you. Said you had to get nutrients into you, and this was the easiest way.”
Maybe she’s actually the Morellis’ assassin, because this shit? Is going to kill me. “Gross,” I announce, and try to hand it back.
“What’s rule number one?” Damiano asks impassively.
I squint up at him. “Do what you fucking tell me?”
“And I’m telling you to drink it.”
Fuck this guy. Seriously. But I drink the toxic sludge down until the cup is empty and he’s satisfied. Then he leans down, whips the covers off of me, and slides his arms under me.