Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Blood rushed through my ears as the silence stole the air around us.
My father-in-law turned to his son, shaking his head. It was clear he was ashamed by his youngest’s actions. Everyone else sat uncomfortably wordless. Something told me it took a lot, but even Sandro had lost his smile. When Giada stood to retrieve another plate, Ettore stood and everybody stilled.
I lowered my head to hide my flushed face.
Ettore moved slowly, leaning over the table. Daniele’s hard gaze met that of his brothers and all we could do was watch as Ettore took Daniele’s plate and gently placed it in the empty space mine had been in. Giada rushed over to fill my new plate and then everyone took their places and began eating.
Everyone except Daniele.
Chapter 9
A cold-blooded killer
Vittoria
“Open it.” Giada smiled widely as I blinked down at the large square box in my hands.
Lunch had ended as awkwardly as it began, with Ettore dragging his brother out by the collar of his shirt, having tense words with the younger man then returning on his own, announcing, “Daniele just remembered he has something important to do.”
That prompted Tino, Sandro and Emilia to make their leave, and then it was just immediate family left.
When Giada disappeared into the next room and returned with the white box, she glanced at her brother and started with, “I know you said you didn’t want a gift so I respected your wishes and got one for the bride instead.”
Oddly touched by the gesture, a small smile teased the corner of my lip as I began to undo the silver ribbon around it. I lifted the lid and parted the protective paper, but my smile fell then faded to nothing when I saw what it was.
A wedding album.
“How lovely,” I uttered, pulling it out of its box and holding it on my lap. “Thank you, Giada. I love it.”
But my neck throbbed as I exchanged a solemn look with my husband. Sadness draped itself over my shoulders when I made the realization that we had no photos of the day. Not even a single keepsake, apart from the scar that would form just under Ettore’s collar bone.
My lungs burned and, suddenly, I found it hard to breathe. I must have paled considerably because she put a hand to my forearm and let out a concerned, “Are you alright?”
“Gia,” Ettore took care with his sisters’ emotions as he explained carefully, “We don’t have any pictures to put in there.”
“Oh,” she muttered woefully a moment before a thought dawned on her. “I have some. I took a few during the ceremony. Here.” Giada pulled out her cell and began scrolling. When she found what she was after, she handed it to me. “See?”
My heart stuttered at the photograph in front of me.
It was taken from the center of the aisle in the church a moment after my veil had been lifted and we turned to face each other for the first time. I looked up at Ettore like he was the only man to exist, and he peered down at me as though he would never again have eyes for anybody else.
It was both beautiful and gut-wrenching.
My heart rate increased and then, my hands were shaking.
This could have been the beginning we deserved. This could have been the start of a wonderful life. An adoring wife to a devoted husband.
My breathing turned ragged.
It was beautiful, and I ruined it.
Moments after this photo was taken, disaster struck and, in my head, I still heard the echoing gunshot.
Panic set in and I stood so fast that the album landed on the floor with a hard thud. Perspiration dampened my brow and my vision blurred. I began to hyperventilate. Both Ettore and Giada were by my side in a flash. I paced, shaking a hand out while panting, “I can’t breathe.”
“It’s okay,” Giada said, placing a hand around my waist and holding me upright. “I’ve got you.” I couldn’t see much of anything when she ordered my husband, “Tor, would you get Vittoria a cold glass of water?” To me, she spoke softly, “Okay, honey. Come with me. You need some fresh air and some quiet.”
She led me away to a room that connected with the back area, sat me down on a lounge and moved to open all of the windows. The moment the cool breeze fanned over my face, I felt I could breathe again. I didn’t see Ettore, but he must have delivered the water because Giada held it up and helped curled my fingers around it. She ordered firmly, “Drink.”
I lifted the glass with shaking hands and tipped it back unsteadily, gulping down water so fast that it dribbled down my chin and onto my lap. My stomach recoiled as the icy water settled, but after a minute, it did seem to help.