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)
“I didn’t think you’d sell my horse,” I said, pulling strength from deep inside me. “I didn’t think you’d hit me.”
He smiled, bringing his hand up to squeeze my face once before lowering it. “I would never hurt your mother. I just thought it would be best if she stayed away, considering she was the one who helped you escape the other day.”
My heart dropped. “What?”
“You think I don’t know that she helped you?” he asked. “I know everything that happens, Lenora. I suggest you remember that for the future.”
“Where is she?” I whispered, tears springing from my eyes.
“She’s safe. I’ve decided to pick my battles and not punish her for what she did. She said she only gave you a few days to decompress, not helping you run for good, and I believe her.”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t without confirming or denying what he was saying, and I no longer trusted him. For all I knew, he was putting ideas in my head to see how I’d react to them.
“Okay,” I said quietly, turning back to the mirror slowly. “I’ll see her afterward, then.”
“Good.” He smiled again and left the room. “Let’s hurry this up. Your groom awaits.”
37
ROCCO
It wasn’t even hot out and I was sweating. So far, Silvati’s family had arrived with four security personnel in tow. Adriano himself was stepping out of the back of a black town car as I adjusted my scope and wiped it. Through it, I looked at his face up close. He was smiling like he had the winning numbers to the fucking Power Ball, which in a sense, he did. What better prize than Lenora? I kept him in my line of vision as he walked through the church. I was on the roof two buildings away. I wanted to be inside where the organ was, but this gave me a clearer view of everything and a better shot. Dominic, Gabe, Loren, Dean, and Gio were already inside. Gabe’s only job was to stay out of the way and get people to safety. When he discovered what their father had done, he said he wanted to kill him with his bare hands. I’d invited him to the after-party, but I wasn’t sure he’d show up. If the tables were turned, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to show up and watch my friend torture and kill my father either. For Lenora, I was going to try to go easy on him, and if Dominic went, I’d do the same. They were more important to me than vengeance.
I stepped away from the rifle and looked around. Giuseppe’s men couldn’t see them and didn’t know how to look out for them, but O’Conner’s men surrounded them. The cue for them was the beginning of the bridal song. The cue for me was the fourth pew from the altar. At the third, Lenora would bend over to fix her dress, and I’d shoot Giuseppe’s kneecaps, then Adriano in the head. Once Giuseppe went down, Petra would shoot the men on the church’s farther side, and O’Conner would take care of the other side. Inside, Gio, Loren, and Dean would open fire and get the rest. This had to fucking work. It had to fucking work.
I looked at the street again when I saw a black Rolls Royce pulling up. Adrenaline started coursing through me. I held my breath when it parked in front of the church. I watched as Giuseppe’s head of security opened the door for them.
Giuseppe stepped out first, followed by Lenora. My heart stopped. I didn’t know why I thought seeing her in a wedding dress would be easy. I’d told myself it was just a piece of clothing. I’d reminded myself that she hadn’t even picked it out and that this wedding wasn’t going to happen, but fuck, seeing her in that dress twisted the knife already implanted in my chest. She looked virginal, but I knew better; I had already defiled every hole in her body. I would have laughed if I could find it in me to be amused. Even if I were, the amusement would’ve died when I saw her face. Her dark eyes, bloodshot and pained, seared into me, despite their inability to meet mine. She wouldn’t know where to look even if she wanted to. Her father looked around, though. Of course, he did; his paranoia had been heightened.
“Have you seen her mom?” I asked in the mics we were all connected to.
“She’s not here,” Dean said. “I’m having some of O’Conner’s guys and ours check all of Giuseppe’s spots.”
Fuck. I breathed in and out. I hoped he hadn’t killed her.
“Do we take out Adriano’s cousin?” Gio asked quietly. “He's in the front row.”
“Leave him,” I said. “He’s not a threat and he’s in love with Adriano’s girlfriend.”