Chapter 33

But Christian just laughs, turning to glance at me over his shoulder as Nico pulls out of the garage. “Don’t listen to him,” he murmurs, “I put the cash in a bank account for you, Iris, obviously. It will all be waiting for you, with interest, whenever you’re ready to spend it.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyebrows going up. Because that is…well, I never really thought that Christian would spend my money. But that’s even more effort than I assumed he would take.

I smile a little, settling back into the leather of my seat and watching the city streets flash by as we drive towards the outskirts, where there’s room for bigger houses. The further we drive, the more my fingers tighten against each other, reflecting the tension building in my chest.

Because – what’s going to happen today? The penthouse I think I’ve figured out – I understand my roles with Christian and Nico and Frankie. And, as far as it goes, I trust them – or at least, I know that they’re not out to hurt me. But this new place, with these new, equally ruthless people?

God, I just don’t know what to expect – and no part of me really feels capable of handling it. I’m just a student, after all – no part of this feels within my wheelhouse.

I jump slightly when Frankie reaches out to pat my knee in a friendly, brotherly way. “It’ll be fine, Iris,” he murmurs, giving me a small smile. “It’s a formality. You’ll be in and out of the house in like, thirty minutes.

I turn to him, biting my lip a little. “It’s a house?” I whisper, glancing around at the increasingly suburban streets, wondering where we’re heading and wishing suddenly that I had read that expose of the Romano family which detailed what is apparently their incredibly lavish home.

“Well,” Frankie replies with a soft laugh, “I don’t think anyone in their right mind would call it a house.”

My eyes go wide. “Well then what would they call it?”

“Compound,” Nico calls over his shoulder, apparently listening in.

Christian sighs, turning towards me and shaking his head. “It’s…it’s just a really big house, Iris,” he says. “Don’t get worked up about it.”

“A really big mansion,” Nico corrects, “surrounded by acres of land scattered with the smaller houses owned by your brothers, your uncles, your cousins.”

My eyes go wide as I look around. Acres? How they hell did they get acres of land so close to the city?

Christian just rolls his eyes at his cousin and ignores him. “Are you ready for this, Iris?”

“No!” I blurt out instantly, the vehemence of my answer making him grin. “Why on earth would I ever be ready for this!?”

“Look, I’ll tell you the secret,” he says, turning further towards me now, and I lean forward, intent. “Just…pretend you’re Alice in Wonderland.”

“What?” I breathe, shocked, thinking that this clarifies nothing.

“Should have given her some ‘shrooms and a Xanax,” Frankie mutters, laughing a little, “if that’s the metaphor you wanted to work with.”

Christian laughs, his eyes flicking to Frankie before returning to me. “Just…let it all roll off you, Iris. As soon as you pass through those gates, pretend you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. Everything that you’re going to encounter is going to be really weird, but totally normal to everyone in there. Don’t let it freak you out, and don’t feel like you have to fit in to any of it. Just…observe it, let it pass, like Alice.”

I sigh, shaking my head as I again sink back into my seat. “Alice gets into a great deal of trouble in Wonderland, Chris,” I say, crossing my arms. “You’re forgetting that.”

“Yes, because Alice meddled,” he answers, still smiling at me, clearly remembering that this was my favorite book and movie as a child. “But you have me as your guide. Just…do whatever I say, and remember that you’re a tourist in this world.”

“Can I please have a little more specific advice?” I beg, anxious now as I feel Nico start to slow the car.

Christian nods, understanding. “Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to, and if you do, always tell the truth. But don’t tell too much truth – just as much as you need to satisfy the questions. If they want to know more, they’ll ask. Don’t try to be clever and don’t try to impress,” he hesitates, looking me up and down for a second, “honestly, Iris, if you can pretend to be stupid, that might help.”

I sit up straight a little, wondering if that means Christian thinks that I’m smart. I’m ridiculously pleased by the idea, but there’s no time to consider it as Nico pulls up to a set of iron gates, rolling down his window to punch a code into a little box on the left.

“And above all,” Christian says, returning my gaze to him, “do not mention our past connection. Yes?”

Slowly I nod, promising.

“If anyone asks anything close to that, or you get anxious about an answer, just look to me. I’ll speak for you. I won’t leave your side, Iris. Okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper, my hands twisting anew in my lap.

But all anxiety is wiped from me, replaced my wonder, as Nico pulls through the opening gate and we get past of line of trees and I see…

The biggest damn mansion I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

I am absolutely gaping as I stare up at it – at what looks like a Georgian palace transported from some sort of BBC miniseries rising palatially from the landscape. Frankie, watching me, apparently anticipating this, bursts into laughter.

But I have no attention for him right now – instead my eyes go immediately to the insane fountain at the front of the house which spurts water like we’re at Versailles. And the grounds – the way they’re manicured, the way they stretch as far as the eye can see –

“Oh…oh my god…” I whisper as Nico pulls up to the front of the house, moving around the huge fountain so that I can get a glimpse of the sweeping stairs up to the front door.

Seriously – this place looks like an art museum – like a palace –

“Where…how…” my words are mumbled gibberish as I stare out the window, as Nico pulls the car to a stop and the three guys get out.

I don’t move at all, not even undoing my seatbelt, just…staring.

I only shift my gaze from the insane house when my door opens and I turn my head to gape into Christian’s eyes.

He can’t help the smile that bursts onto his face. “Don’t be too impressed,” he murmurs, reaching across my lap to unbuckle my seatbelt before holding out a hand to help me out of the car.

“Did you…did you grow up here!?” I whisper, still staring at his face as I give him my hand and somehow find my feet, standing up.

“I grew up with you,” he whispers, taking a moment to brush my hair back from my shoulders and ensure that I’m neat and presentable. “I was brought here to live after that.”

I stare at Christian for a long second, again wondering who the hell he is before turning my face back to the house which just seems to go up and up and up.

“Wonderland is right,” I murmur, shaking my head.

Christian just laughs, pushing the car door shut behind me and sinking his hands into his pockets before nodding to the house. “Come on,” he says. “Time to meet the big guy.”

I glance around, taking a moment to notice that Frankie and Nico are slightly behind and flanking us, falling into the bodyguard roles more than I’ve seen them do so far. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and then I follow Christian up the steps and into the lion’s den.