Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I sighed and scrubbed my face. I needed to get my act together. I showered and changed, heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. I looked at the calendar. She had only been gone a week, and it felt like forever. I wanted to call and talk to her, but I knew I couldn’t. She had to believe she was a passing thing. That we were over, so she could get on with her life. If I called, that plan would be out the window. There was no way I could disguise my anguish.
I got reports from all my people, pleased there was nothing new. No further damage, no fires, nothing even remotely suspicious around my buildings. Sipping my coffee, I wondered what Winters was planning. I could only hope I stayed a step ahead of him.
A knock at the door surprised me, and I was even more shocked to see the police officers waiting outside in the hall. Maybe Winters had decided to press charges.
I opened the door and forced a smile in greeting, hoping to be able to tell my side of the story.
I wasn’t smiling for long.
BRIANNA
I stared out the window at the water beating on the glass. The dark skies and rain matched my mood. I leaned back against the headboard, running my fingers through Roomba’s fur. She wasn’t very pleased with her new accommodations. I wasn’t either, but it appeared, for now, we had no choice.
Dante’s brother, Paolo, had met the plane. He came on board, looking serious, and for the first time, I saw the resemblance to his brother. Paolo was usually smiling and gregarious, but he was emotionless, informing me I was coming with him. Between him and Richard, I didn’t have a chance of running, nor did I have the desire to try. I picked up my cat and followed him.
He was silent on the drive except to tell me I would be staying with him and his wife for the time being. That I was welcome and had full use of the house.
“Carolina is looking forward to seeing you as well,” he informed me, injecting a pleased tone into his voice.
I only nodded.
The room he showed me to was spacious and pretty. Light-blue walls with a view of the yard, a nice en suite, a comfortable chair to sit in, even a space in the walk-in closet for Roomba’s needs. My suitcases were there, empty. My clothing hung in the closet, my toiletries in the bathroom.
“My wife is not partial to cats,” he said quietly. “So she will have to stay in here.”
“Of course,” I replied. I didn’t have plans to leave the room much. I didn’t want to bother them. “I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible.”
He shook his head. “You are welcome to stay as long as you need to. I have some things to tell you when you’re ready.” He studied my face, his concerned look reminding me too much of Dante. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
He huffed a laugh. “Dante said you would say that.”
The sound of his name caused a wave of pain to curl through my chest.
“I’d like to lie down,” I lied. “I’m tired.”
“Of course. I’ll have some food sent up later.”
I’d barely left my room since.
There was a knock on the door, and I lifted my head. “Come in.”
Carolina came in, carrying a tray. She’d come a couple of times, and conversation had been stilted. She’d been horrified to see my face and confused about my relationship with Dante. But what had happened was still raw, and I couldn’t talk about it.
The events leading up to that night still played in my head. The what-ifs.
If I hadn’t gotten lost. If I hadn’t stumbled into Winters’s shop. If he hadn’t grabbed me.
If he hadn’t provoked Dante.
Would I still be a liability? A nuisance?
She handed me a coffee and a bagel. “Eat this, please. You are wasting away.”
Then she sat down in the chair, looking at me. “Your bruises are fading. And the scar cream I brought you is helping.”
“Yes,” I said. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. But please, eat.”
I had always liked bagels. But I had grown very fond of croissants in Italy, and now the bread seemed heavy. And I liked jam now, not cream cheese. But to please her, I ate it.
“I’m sorry Uncle Dante was such a bastard to you.”
Her words startled me. The problem was that until the last minute, he had been anything but. Before I could say anything, she kept talking.
“I know he took you there without permission. My dad told my mom, and she told me the whole story. You must dislike my family.”
“No.”
“Did he hurt you, Bri?”
I shook my head. “He-he was very kind to me.” I looked down, tracing a finger over the blanket. “He was nicer to me than anyone else has been my whole life. He treated me like a queen.” I dropped my voice. “Despite how we started, I thought he loved me. I was wrong.”