Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
The office door flings open with a furious Sasha storming in.
There’s a tall, tattooed man in a suit behind her, shaking his head in amusement. “I tried to stop her,” the man says with a chuckle. “Clearly, she has other ideas.”
“What the fuck are you doing with my cousin?” Sasha asks, her eyes scanning me quickly before they narrow in on Nick.
Nick gives her a devilish grin. “Saving her life. Again.”
“I’m fine,” I say, but Sasha seems to ignore my words.
I watch as her eyes widen when she senses the dark menace in the room, and her voice cracks a bit as she asks me, “Are you really okay?”
I walk up to her and place my shaky hand on her arm. “I’m fine. I just want to leave.”
I notice that Nick’s man is blocking the door, and it doesn’t seem like he has any intention of moving out of the way.
Nick smiles. In the short time of knowing Nick, I’ve learned that his smile is not jovial. It’s sinister. “Let me tell you both what we are going to do.” He points at Sasha with his cane. “You will leave. Harrison will escort you out, find you a car, and all will be well.” He then points the cane to me. “Lyriope will stay with me.”
Sasha places her hands on her hips and spats, “Absolutely not. Do you know who I am? Who we both are? You don’t want to fuck with a Morelli unless you have a death sentence.”
“I know exactly who you are, Sasha Anne Morelli. Daughter of Vincent Morelli, niece of the all-powerful Bryant Morelli. Your father has a nice bank account but not nearly as powerful or wealthy as his younger brother. And your name is known but you lack the fame of Bryant’s children. In fact, your jealousy of Eva, Sophia, Daphne, and Lisbetta eats you alive. You wish you were born to the powerhouse side of the family even though you hate your uncle for his vicious ways. Yes, I know all about how Lyriope is the baby of Bryant’s mistress and how you obsessively found that information out, though you’ve kept that secret from everyone. I know exactly who you are.”
I can’t just stand by and watch while Sasha fights my battles for me. Regardless that warning bells are banging so loudly inside of me, begging for me to run and hide, I cross the room and position myself directly in between Nick and my cousin. I look up at him and stiffen my spine, mustering up all the strength that I can. It’s time he knows that two can play the same game.
“And I know who you are, Nick Hudson,” I counter, leaning my body toward him with eyes narrow and jawline firm. “You might be a billionaire, but you weren’t always. You came from nothing. You cover yourself in tattoos because underneath all that ink, you are nobody. You think people fear you, and maybe some do, but you will never have the notoriety that you crave so much. You’re hungry and ambitious but only because you know that you’ll never compare to a Morelli. You are all smoke and mirrors. Nothing about you is real.”
My heart stops as I inhale to catch my breath. I watched this man almost chop off someone’s fingers for far less than what I’m doing. I instantly regret being so bold, but I sure as hell won’t show it.
Nick is silent. The room is also eerily quiet other than the distant sound of music from the dance floor.
I glance at Sasha who is standing with her mouth open and her eyes wide. Maybe I went too far. Maybe I should do something or say something, but I’m not sure what will defuse the situation.
Finally, Nick gives one of his wicked smiles and leans in toward me. “So it seems that we both do our research. It’s clear we both know each other quite well.”
“I’m not going to stay here with you,” I somehow get the courage to say after several awkward moments as we engage in a stare down. “I’m leaving with Sasha.” I take a step toward the door, but it’s clear Harrison’s not moving unless ordered by Nick to do so.
“Sasha,” Nick begins, “you’re a smart girl. You know all about the Sidorov family and how lethal they are. Are you aware they hired a hitman to kidnap Lyriope tonight and bring her to them? Are you aware that Lyriope was being kidnapped right on the dance floor while you had no idea? Where was the Morelli name then to protect her? And are you aware that I just sent the hitman on his way with a bloody message to the Sidorovs to not fuck with me or anything—or anyone—in my possession?”
Sasha’s eyes widen even more than they’ve been, and she looks at me with a true fear in her eyes. All signs of her earlier fury have been replaced with a trembling lip and shallow breathing.