13

LORENA

I rifle through the cupboards of the medical room as quickly as I can before someone catches me. When I open the cupboard above my head, a roll of bandages falls out, bouncing off my head onto the floor.

Dammit. I’m sure I saw some in here. I know I did because I wondered why the hell Alest even had them in his house. Chasing after the errant bandage, I wrack my brain to recall which cupboard they were in.

I’ve hardly been in this room lately. I don’t know if that’s because Alessandro’s men are no longer her and the resident doctor is not around at the moment or whether it has anything to do with Gulio’s return.

I spend my days reading or walking the grounds — and mostly avoiding Gulio. But I spend every night in Ales’s bed and occasional afternoons in his office where he fucks me over and over again, no longer giving me any of the warmth or affection that I was becoming used to.