Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Father, this isn't going to work. He’s smart and doesn’t plan to tell me anything. So you’ll have to do it yourself.”
That’s when he began to choke me. Nico stepping in when he did was a saving grace.
Or so I thought.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EMELIA
For days after that… I’m a sitting duck, not knowing what my father’s planning after what I did to him and what Nico did to Damian.
How come Damian never told me he was working with my father again?
Why am I even surprised?
He lied about more and hid things far worse. So maybe staying inside for a while is the best thing. Getting ready for the day, I decide on a pair of light-wash boyfriend jeans and a loose-fitting white tee. My hair is down in its natural state, wavy and long. I do the bare minimum of makeup, and after that, I head back toward the living room.
It would be nice to have a friend in moments like this, but I’ve never really had a real one. I think about the fight with Nico the other night. That’s all I was hoping for, that he would admit he cared so I could have someone in my life. Someone I could trust and confide in. But I was so fucking foolish.
Nico said I could make friends with the other wives in the outfit, and I decided at the time that would be a hard pass. Now? Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea. How do I even start? Is there a hotline or a directory that tells me who they are and their contact info?
I chuckle to myself. Farren and James, my two bodyguards, are standing stoically at the elevator doors when I walk into the living room.
“At ease, boys. I don’t plan to go anywhere, and you both look like you're wound so tight I could give ya a soft nudge and you’d just fall right over like a chess piece.”
They don’t move. Are they even blinking?
“Seriously, guys? Hello?” I wave my hands in front of Farren’s face. “Blink once if you need saving,” I tease.
“We’ve been instructed not to socialize with you, Mrs. Valiente,” James says, and my head turns toward him.
“Really? Anything else the boss tells you to do? When to take a bathroom break? How to point and shoot?”
“We can take you anywhere you want to go today, Mrs. Valiente,” James avoids the questions.
“No, I will be staying in today. I have no desire to go anywhere.” I release an annoyed breath. I thought they would at least provide some conversation. Maybe I should take up ventriloquism and make some friends with myself.
“Sounds good, ma’am.” James remains stoic and doesn’t look at me.
“Isn't there somewhere you can retreat to, since I won’t be needing you today?” I ask, heading over to the couch.
“We’re ordered to guard the entrance at all times.” Farren’s voice is much stricter and denser than James’s. I'm convinced he’s actually a robot.
“Fine. I don’t feel like being watched, so I'll take myself to the bedroom.”
That was a waste of time, I think, entering my room. I should have stayed in here to begin with.
Pulling out my cell phone, I’m surprised I don’t see anything from my father, not even a threat.
Not being one for social media, I don’t even have those to check. Seriously, I need to get a hobby. Well, I do have one hobby, and Nico did mention it would be arranged. I quickly message Giulio, knowing I will get nowhere with Nico, and there’s the huge fact that we haven't talked once since the fight after the Damian situation.
Can’t say I’m shocked. He was cruel, and I was hurt. Neither of us is going to wave our white flag again anytime soon.
Giulio lets me know all my skating supplies will be delivered in a couple of days and that I will be able to return to the ice. I give a curt thank-you and toss my phone on the end of the bed.
God, I miss the ice. Miss the sound of it under the blades on my feet. The wind moving through my hair as I get lost in the music playing in my headphones. Like I did back in New York, I will have to go a few times and see when it's more or less busy. When it's too busy, I don’t get to take up the ice like I prefer. I took skating lessons my entire childhood and young-adult life, learning how to not just glide on the ice but how to do toe loops, axels, and different types of spins.
That was my escape, and the days where the rink was nearly empty were the best for me. There were days I would spend upwards of ten hours skating to my heart’s desire.
The day drags and drags, seeming never ending. Alone, I eat the pasta Ricardo made and take a bubble bath before I head to bed. I turn all the lights off, open the curtains, and let the city lights draw dreamscapes on the wall, and within thirty minutes, I am out to the world.