Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
When Orlando reaches me, he takes me by one arm and Dario takes me by the other. There’s no warm greeting, no reassurance that I’m okay. He doesn’t even look like he knows me.
They drag me off the pier and shove me into a nearby waiting car. I’m breathing heavily, panting. I don’t feel as if I’ve been rescued. It’s not like I get to go home free and clear now, though I guess I’m relieved I’m alive. Dario was taking me to The Castle.
Have others shown up to rescue us? It was a quick signal and it wasn’t long between sending it and Orlando showing up, but a rescue from the Rossis should mean more than just one comes. I look around for more guards, another brother, anyone else but Orlando, but he’s the only one here.
It’s the first sign to me that something’s off with this rescue.
And then… then I realize. This isn’t a rescue at all.
I look around a second time, half expecting to see our captors coming for us, but no one comes. They’re all fleeing as if the wharf’s on fire. I glance from side to side in the bright light of day, trying to get an idea of where on the wharf we are.
Cold dread fills my belly when I realize the predicament I’m in. Orlando and Dario aren’t going to take it easy on me. They’ll have questions and want answers.
I have to get out of here.
I reach for the handle on the door, but it’s locked from the inside. I look frantically around for another way out when the shadows of two large figures loom outside the window. The driver’s side door opens, and Orlando slides into the driver’s seat. They’re having a hushed conversation that stops the minute they know I’m in earshot.
Dario opens the door next to me and sits beside me.
“Hey, Orlando.” I greet my cousin, hoping for some kind assurance. He glances in the rearview mirror at me and gives me a stern, curt nod. Lovely.
He’s bigger than I remember, taller and more heavily muscled, his chin lined with a dark beard and those eyes of his as uncompromising as ever. I haven’t seen him since we were invited to The Castle for his father’s funeral services years ago.
“Vivia.” There’s no warmth in his greeting, not even the slightest hint of familiarity as Dario’s large hands grab mine in his. I go to pull away, but he holds fast as Orlando reaches in his glove compartment and something metal clinks. He tosses cuffs over his shoulder and some kind of soft fabric.
No.
Dario snaps the cuffs on, tightens them, then in one swift motion, tugs me down so my head’s on his knee. My struggle’s laughable in his strong grip as he slides fabric over my eyes and ties it behind my head, then follows with a gag. I scream and swear but every sound I make’s muted.
Fuck.
The car moves quickly and nearly silently as Dario keeps my head on his leg, keeping me out of the sight of anyone who might look in here. They talk in low, concerned voices.
“Called one guy Ace, was the only name I heard.”
I mumble against my gag that I heard a Shark, but they wouldn’t know that since I’m gagged, when Dario’s hand claps down on my ass. “Lay still and stop fighting.” I’m so stunned I don’t move at first.
“Vivia.” Orlando’s voice rises, directed at me. “You’ve been taken into custody for attempted murder against my sister. Sergio’s been notified and he’s on his way to our family home, where all members of both the Rossi and Montavio inner circles have been called.” The car slows down. Traffic? “You’re in Dario’s custody until further notice. Do not fight him. He’s been given free rein by Romeo to use whatever means of restraint or force are necessary to both hold and question you.”
A chill slides down my spine. They think I’m a traitor.
Once, when I was ten years old, my father discovered a traitor among them. My father made no pretense of hiding the man they found from anyone, even his children. We all heard his screams when he was ordered to be beaten. I heard the pleas for death when they burned the tattoos marking him Montavio from his skin with a blowtorch, his flesh sizzling like roasted meat. I heard my father’s cold voice order him killed as an act of mercy when he’d almost died by the torture alone.
Betraying the mob is one of the most serious crimes one could commit. Internal betrayal is the worst of all.
I feel cold and numb. I don’t realize I’m crying until the blindfold’s wet against my skin.
I didn’t try to hurt Marialena. But if I tell him the truth, my brothers will know I snuck behind their backs. They’ll know I’m “damaged goods,” that I broke the rules. And once they find that out… what will become of me? Other women have been exiled and disowned for what I’ve done. My father’s no longer here, but I’m not sure Sergio will be any more merciful.