Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Petra snorted. “Maybe they’ll live happily ever after.”
“Like a fairytale,” O’Conner said.
“They’re almost inside,” I said.
“In position,” Petra said.
“Copy. In position,” I said.
“In position,” O’Conner said.
“Ready,” Nico said.
“Ready,” Tony said.
“Ready,” Mikey said.
We got four more “Ready” responses from O’Conner’s guys.
The bridal song began to play in our ears, and everyone inside stood in unison. From the corner of my eye, I saw O’Conner’s men move in on Giuseppe’s security outside. I glanced at my watch and checked the time. Two minutes. We had a two-minute window to get this done. I looked for the others one last time — Petra standing outside on the roof and Michael wandering down the block, waiting for his cue to get any innocent bystanders out; Gil and Lorenzo pacing their marks in the pews; Rosalyn and Emma observing from the altar. . .across from two Salvati men. Dominic was sitting in the first pew. When I looked at the aisle again, my heart stopped beating.
She started walking down the aisle and I closed my eyes for a split second, habitually asking God for forgiveness in silent prayer. I was one of those people. The ones who avoided church and talking about God but were willing to get on my knees when my life was falling apart. He was always my last resort. She made it to the third pew and stopped walking. For a brief moment, she let go of her father and fixed the bottom of her gown, and her heel stuck at the edge. I could practically feel my mother’s ghost judging me for what I was about to do. I tapped the side of my weapon once, twice — a habit. I took a breath, then another, and held it as I pulled the trigger.
38
LENORA
My hearing was gone. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. I was horrified by the amount of carnage I’d just witnessed, but most of all, I was in disbelief at my current situation. I’d done everything my father had asked of me, believing he'd always keep me safe. But when the bullets started flying, he grabbed me and used me as a human shield. He went down hard and dragged me to the floor with him. I couldn’t stop screaming as I heard bullets whizzing by, the cries drowning out the popping sounds of guns. I thrashed against my father, begging him to let go, but his grip only tightened. My eyes darted around wildly in panic and fear, looking for my brothers, Rosie, and Emma — all of them had been close by moments ago. When I didn’t see them, fear gripped my chest. I silently prayed they wouldn’t get a good shot at my father’s head. I couldn’t let him die. He was the only one who knew where my mother was. A sob caught in my throat at the thought of her, but I refused to let it out. His arms felt like chains around my body, cutting me each time I tried harder to get out of them. I cried out in desperation.
To my left, Adriano and his two groomsmen were dead. I stopped my screaming to assess the carnage. Judging from his absence and the lack of blood in the altar, I assumed the priest was unharmed. I couldn’t see the damage to the rest of the church from this position, but I could only imagine. I did the sign of the cross and prayed the guests were able to get out. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying on top of my father, with his arms squeezing me, but I started to scream again. I screamed until my throat hurt, until my voice was hoarse.
“Shut up,” he kept repeating. “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.”
I was sure he would have slapped me with each word out of his mouth if he weren't holding my arms.
“I hate you,” I screamed, my voice breaking — not from tears of sadness, but anger. “I fucking hate you, and I hope you die!”
“You don’t mean that,” he said quietly. If I believed he had a heart, I would have thought he may have been heartbroken, but I knew better.
“I do. I mean it.” I tried once again to get out of his arms.
I'd glanced around to check on the others, but hadn't stopped to think why my father was still on the ground with me. By now, he could have gotten up and run off with me. For the first time since he'd pulled me, I looked down and started to scream. My white gown was covered in a pool of blood. The church was eerily silent. My screams were the only sound - why hadn't anyone come for me? Where was Dominic? Where was Rocco? Oh my God. Had they been killed? Dad had increased security for this event. Rocco and the others had to have been outnumbered. Fear overwhelmed my anger and I screamed again, the panic setting in.