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)
Romero met my gaze. “I want you to help us get revenge. You’re one of the best when it comes to hunting and torture.”
My chest constricted. “I will do everything in my power to give Sara and your family the revenge you all deserve. I won’t rest until every Bratva asshole in this city has died the most painful death imaginable.”
Dad nodded. “We’ll get revenge, and it’ll be brutal and merciless.”
“And we need to make sure our enemies realize we aren’t easy prey just because we have enemies in every fucking corner,” Amo said angrily. He didn’t agree with his father’s choice to attack the Camorra and make them the enemy too. “That’s why they picked this moment to attack. They think we’re weakened by too many wars.”
Luca’s expression was tight with rage. He and Amo had butted heads on that matter before. I wasn’t sure if Amo was right, if the Russians had attacked because we had another enemy in the Camorra.
“We’re not any weaker than before. The Camorra never helped with matters in our territory.”
“But we can’t focus on the Bratva like we used to because now we need to watch our backs. Remo will attack at some point.”
“Remo isn’t my fucking concern right now. If you hadn’t started things with Greta, the situation would be very different.”
“I don’t care what led to this point,” Romero said tightly. “All I care about is my daughter, who suffers innocently. I want revenge, and I want it as soon as possible. It won’t help Sara, but since it’s all I can do, I’ll do it.”
I nodded. I couldn’t undo what had happened, but I’d do anything in my power to kill Jabba and his crew. It wouldn’t make Sara forgive me, but I’d never dare ask for her forgiveness anyway.
Mom kept glancing my way on our way home from the doctor. Two bodyguards sat in the front while we were in the back seat of the SUV. Four more bodyguards followed us in two black cars. I’d never been on the receiving end of so much protection, but I had been glad. Of course, even my protection had been upped after bikers had kidnapped Marcella, but I’d still enjoyed so much freedom.
I swallowed as my thoughts drifted back to what had happened. Goose bumps rose on my skin, and I shivered. The movement increased the soreness between my legs, another reminder of the horrors of this day.
Is there a chance of a pregnancy?
The doctor’s question flashed in my mind. Mom had been horrified, and so had I. Until that moment, I hadn’t even considered that this humiliation might lead to further consequences.
I shivered again. I hadn’t been able to answer the question. I wasn’t stupid. Of course, I knew that intercourse always meant a chance of conception, but the chances would increase drastically if Maximus…
I stopped myself from following that train of thought. I wanted to forget, to pretend it never happened.
Mom squeezed my hand even tighter. “We’ll get through this. No matter what happens next, we’ll get through this as a family.”
“I’m supposed to marry in two months.”
“You’re still marrying—” Mom searched my face. Nobody would have pegged her for a woman in her mid-forties, but she looked her age today. Her naturally dark blond hair hardly showed any gray, and except for a few fine lines around her eyes from smiling so much, she had no wrinkles. “Unless you don’t want to.”
I wasn’t sure what I wanted. But if I was pregnant with Maximus’s child, I couldn’t marry another man.
“I’m sure Paolo will gladly raise the child as his own.”
Sometimes it was scary how well Mom knew my train of thought. I bit my lip, my eyes burning with a new wave of tears. Would Paolo really want that? Did I? “I don’t want a child from an act like that.”
Mom swallowed, then nodded slowly. “Of course, I understand. If you’re pregnant, we’ll deal with it.”
Mom wasn’t fond of abortions, but I knew she’d have my back no matter what I decided. Deep down, I knew that I would keep the baby because I wasn’t sure if I could live with the guilt. Unlike many other girls who faced the same impossible decision, I had enough family support and money. “I’ll keep it if I’m pregnant. But I hope I’m not.”
Mom squeezed my hand again, but we didn’t talk anymore. I was exhausted, mentally and physically, in a way I’d never experienced. My body wanted to sleep, but my mind was scared of the images I’d relive.
When we arrived at our home, I felt a sense of safety I hadn’t until now. My body ached faintly, but the painkillers had started to kick in. Usually, I wouldn’t have taken meds for the level of discomfort I felt between my legs, but I just didn’t want to be reminded of what had happened every moment of the day. It wouldn’t be easy to forget, but I wanted to try.