Did I have Mateo Castellano’s sister trapped in that room? If so, who the fuck had sent her to me? Did they know they were sending her to me? And why the Benedetti brand? I knew all the workings Franco had his dirty hands in, and human trafficking wasn’t part of any of it. He did some bad shit, but he didn’t sell stolen women.

That was why I needed her knocked out when I first saw the mark. I couldn’t give anything away. She knew who had taken her, and it was personal. I’d never bothered to ask more, because I didn’t give a fuck, and I didn’t want to know. But now, having heard about the brand on Mateo Castellano, I needed to know.

After putting the ring away, I made myself something to eat, wanting to be sure she was out before I went back in there. After waiting over an hour, I took the key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. Light from the room I was in shone on her motionless form on the bed, tucked tight beneath the blanket. I made my way to the bed to make sure she was out. She was. From the locked chest, I took out a lightbulb and screwed it into the ceiling from where I’d removed it before Gia’s arrival. I then switched on the light, not too bright but bright enough. Gia didn’t stir.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pulled the blanket back, guilt gnawing at me when the scent of sex wafted off her. I hadn’t meant to do what I’d done earlier. I’d wanted to let her know I was back, and I was in charge. But then, watching her like that…hell, I had wanted her.

I guessed she hadn’t been able to shower before the drug had knocked her out.

She mumbled something and rolled onto her back.

Avoiding what I had to do, I went back to my room and returned with a clean washcloth, towel, and soap. Remembering the toothbrush I’d picked up for her, I set it, still in its packaging, on the edge of the sink in her bathroom. I then ran hot water over the washcloth and rubbed the bar of soap over it until it was sudsy. After ringing the excess moisture out, I went back to her and gently cleaned her face, chest, and belly, rinsing off the cloth twice more as I washed her thighs and her sex until the scent was gone. I patted her dry with the clean towel, all the while watching her.