Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“I left Inessa and Alea with Aria in the Hamptons so you can recover in a quiet surrounding.”
Mom meant well, but quiet was the last thing I wanted right now. I feared the voices I’d hear once it became quiet around me. I wanted distraction and normalcy. I wanted to be the Sara from this morning, not the one I could feel myself turning into. I wanted to cozy up with a sweet small-town romance, eat homemade cookies, and listen to my sisters’ bickering. I wanted to be safe in the knowledge of what my future held.
“Oh, you want them home?” Mom said after a glance at my face. “I just thought…” She let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t really think. I just did what I hoped was best.”
“It’s okay. Let them stay with Aunt Aria tonight. It’s already too late to have them come home. Maybe it’s better if I have until tomorrow to compose myself before they see me. I don’t want them to be worried about me.” I hesitated. “Do they know what happened?”
“We didn’t tell them much, just that you were captured but could be saved quickly.”
Not quick enough. My belly constricted. We got out of the car. Two bodyguards followed us. I was glad I couldn’t read anyone’s thoughts. Their expressions were enough to make me want to hide.
It was already half past eight, but I was scared to go up to my room alone despite my need to shower. “Can you come with me? I need to grab a shower…” Tears welled up in my eyes. Even our cozy home, a place that had always made me feel safe and happy, only made me realize how much had changed since this morning. Looking at the many family photos on our walls depicting a smiling Sara with bright, hopeful eyes felt like a slap.
Mom nodded quickly, her fight for composure as clear as day on her face.
I didn’t break down in the shower as I’d feared. I felt oddly detached from myself, from the situation…maybe it was a temporary thing, my mind’s way to protect me. I was glad for the reprieve.
After the shower, Mom and I curled up on the sofa in our living room, covered with wool blankets, and watched a Disney movie. My mind was far away, but seeing the colorful images rush by felt good. I was glad Mom had decided against our usual choice of a clichéd, romantic Hallmark movie. The mere idea of seeing people being romantic when my chances of ever experiencing the same were nil made me recoil.
My eyes began to droop when the lock disengaged, and Flavio and Dad returned home. Mom sat up, and I did too. Dad and my brother looked exhausted and guilty. Guilt was always involved for mafia men when their girls or women got hurt.
“It’s not your fault, Flavio,” I said firmly before he could utter an apology. “There were too many. You alone couldn’t have done anything different from…” I took a deep breath. “Maximus.”
Saying his name took effort. I hadn’t even dared to think about him up to this point.
His brown brows drew together, a muscle in his jaw working as he processed my words. “We don’t know that, and I’ll always wonder…”
“We’ll get revenge. Luca gave Flavio, Maximus, and me the okay to focus our efforts on finding the culprits. Maddox will help too.”
Surprise shot through me. Dad’s expression became cautious and concerned. “Sara. Luca won’t punish Maximus. And I chose not to ask him to.”
Mom’s face twisted with disbelief, and she sat up straight on the sofa. “You can’t be serious!” Her anger on my behalf felt good, even if I didn’t share it. I wasn’t sure what I felt toward Maximus. I simply didn’t want to think about him at all.
“You didn’t watch the video, Lily,” Dad implored.
“Oh God,” I whispered, realizing what that meant. Dad and Flavio had watched the video… I shot to my feet and ran upstairs. Stumbling through my open door, I flung myself onto my bed. I shivered, and my eyes burned fiercely, but the tears didn’t fall. I felt like crying, but I couldn’t. I felt like I might throw up, though.
Steps made the wooden floorboards creak. I knew it was Dad without looking over my shoulder. He smelled like the aftershave I associated with him and a hint of gunpowder.
The mattress dipped. “I’m sorry, Sara. Part of me wants to kill Maximus, but…”
“It’s not that,” I whispered. “I didn’t want you to watch.”
Dad was silent. Even though I didn’t want to, I looked up. His face was full of anguish. I reached for his hand resting on his knee. “You shouldn’t be the one consoling me, Sara.” He wrapped his fingers around my hand and squeezed. “That’s my job.”