Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
We watched a little TV and had a late-night bowl of ice cream, and when I could no longer keep my eyes open, I went up to my room and crashed for the night. The next morning, I awoke later than I planned and didn’t have time to go back to my apartment to get dressed. So, I grabbed some old slacks and a button-down from my closet and rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Once I was out, I got dressed, slipped my phone in my back pocket, then raced downstairs for some coffee. As I walked past Dad’s room, I couldn’t help but notice that only one side of the bed had been slept in. I’d really hoped that Wes had been mistaken about Kay leaving Dad, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.
My heart felt heavy as I continued downstairs and into the kitchen. I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a sip, hoping it might help shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over me. When it stuck with me, I decided to make a bite of breakfast and started over to the fridge. I was just about to open the door when I heard Dad talking to someone in his office, and right away, I could tell something felt off. I stepped into the hall and put my ear towards the door, trying to see if I could hear what was being said.
There was an edge to the stranger’s tone—a coldness that made my skin crawl. I couldn’t make out what either of them was saying, but the way each spoke was unnerving, especially the stranger. His tone was too calm, too measured like he was trying to keep his composure.
Suddenly, the office door flew open, and I heard the stranger say, “I’m done playing games with you, Carmine.”
A man stepped out, and his mere presence seemed to suck the air out of the hallway. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and he was wearing an expensive black-on-black suit and tie. His dark hair was slicked back, revealing his dark and piercing eyes. And when he spotted me, his lips curled into a slow, sinister smile that made my blood run cold.
"Well, well, well... Who do we have here?”
“Nobody,” Dad clipped.
“Clearly, it’s somebody,” he sneered. “And she’s quite beautiful.”
“Antonia, you need to go.”
“Antonia?”
“Yes,” Dad replied. “My daughter.”
“Your daughter?”
“Yes.” I forced myself to meet his gaze, trying my best to hide the fear coursing through me. “And who might you be?”
“The name’s Vittorio.” He extended his hand, and I reluctantly shook it. “But my friends call me Victor.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
That was a lie. It wasn’t at all nice to meet him. Instead, it was completely horrifying. He was obviously a dangerous man with an agenda, but I feared that agenda had something to do with my father’s financial troubles. He stepped closer as he said, “Oh, the pleasure is all mine.”
“You really need to go, Antonia,” my father pushed.
“Oh, what’s the rush?” Vittorio’s eyes skirted over me. “I’m not done enjoying the view.”
“She has work,” Dad snapped. “I wouldn’t want her to be late.”
“Oh, well. She’s going to be late.” Vittorio glanced over at my father. “In fact, she’s going to be very late.”
“What are you talking about?”
I could tell by his tone that things were about to take a dramatic turn, so I took a step back and tried to put a little distance between us. That’s when Vittorio announced, “She’s coming with me.”
Panic surged through me. I had no idea who this guy was or what he planned to do with me, but I knew I had to do something. I quickly darted into the kitchen and grabbed my phone from my pocket. I muted it, then dialed Wes’s number. I could hear Vittorio coming after me, so I quickly tucked the phone into the side of my bra, hiding it from view.
He grabbed my arm and jerked me over to him as he asked, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Let me go!”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Vittorio, stop!” Dad sneered. “She has nothing to do with this!”
“She does now.” Vittorio’s voice was low and menacing as he snarled, “I’ve given you plenty of time to come up with the money you owe me, and you failed to come through. Maybe she will give you the incentive you need to get the job done.”
“You can’t do this!” Dad roared. “I’ll get you the money! I just need some time!”
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“Dad,” I pleaded. “Don’t let him take me.”
Vittorio dragged me over to the front door, and as soon as he opened it, two men stepped inside. He tossed me in their direction as he ordered, “Pat her down and put her in the car.”
Without hesitation, the men grabbed me, and it felt like the world had stopped spinning as they started to pat me down. Fearing they might discover my phone, I snapped, “I don’t have anything! I didn’t even have a chance to get my purse.”