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)
Anoushka sat back down. “Aw, Catalina. That silver tongue of yours is so precious,” her gaze darkened, “maybe I’ll cut it out and keep it in a box by my bed. I could use it when I’m feeling especially lonely.”
Wow. I couldn’t tell if these were threats or foreplay.
That was when Tor cleared his throat. The focus shifted and all eyes settled on us.
Arthur wasted no time looking me up and down, and a devilish grin stretched at his mouth. “Well, well. Lookie here. You’ve been holding out on us, Scala.”
Anoushka also looked me up and down, but in a very different way. “Rumor was you killed her.” She mimed a rope being pulled tightly around her neck and made a choking sound.
Catalina clicked her tongue at the two of them then stood, walking towards us. She reached out and took my hands without asking then turned to Tor and said, “I knew he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Look at her.” She lifted one hand under my chin and held my face up, inspecting it. “My dear, you are lovely. Your father always talked of you. His softly-spoken little angel. Such a shame, you know.” She let me go quickly and lifted her nose when she said, “That sister of yours…” Cat wore an expression I understood all too well.
Sheer revulsion.
I hadn’t yet been able to get a single word out. Somewhere behind us, footsteps sounded and then another man wearing jeans, gleaming white sneakers and a loose white tee walked right by Tor. My husband greeted the man with a casual, “Striker.”
Striker responded by lifting his hand, making the sign of the devil, and walking over to his seat, falling into it heavily with a sigh.
Alright then.
Tor led me to the table. There was only one seat in front of us but there was no battle for the chair. Without a single thought, he helped me sit in the Malocchio seat then took his place behind me, resting his hands on the back of my chair in a claim of ownership.
“So,” The Brit I had concluded was Arthur of The Overcoat Army shot me a naughty look and uttered an oh-so-charmingly, “Is it true, pet?” One brow rose. “Did you really shoot the poor bastard? In a church, on your wedding day too?” I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off with, “I only ask because you don’t look capable of hurting a bloody fly.” Again, I tried to respond, but he was too quick for me. “The gun in the bouquet bit…” He made an intrepid sound and looked at me with newfound admiration. “Well played, darling. They’ll be talking about that one for years to come.”
Onus began to swarm in my lower belly.
I didn’t want them to talk about me for years to come. I wanted to live a quiet life with my loving husband and sweet stepchildren. I was tired of this game. So weary of the bloodshed.
All I wanted was peace.
Thoroughly overwhelmed, I didn’t know what to say when Anoushka slurped her lollipop and stared me down. When I stared right back at her, she looked me over and said, “You look like you’ve got toxic pussy.” Um, what? “One lick and he’s tripping balls.” The lollipop stick stuck out of the side of her mouth. “Am I right, Tor?”
Tor’s blunt response was, “Shut the fuck up or I’ll come over there and staple your fucking mouth closed, Noush.”
Hers was a wicked, “I knew it.”
Hell. Was it always like this? No wonder Tor was so tired after dealing with these people.
Cat chimed in, then Arthur did too, and the four of them began to speak over the top of each other until the echo of clicking heels sounded and when I turned towards it, I saw her. My sister entered the space wearing a sly smile. She glanced around the table and only when she saw me, did she falter.
My heart squeezed. She looked every bit the part in her feminine tailored suit, but her features looked worn and no amount of concealer could hide the dark circles under her eyes.
The others quieted down. Arthur seemed to noticed the pause in Vincenza’s step. He grinned, rocking back in his seat. “Family reunion, Vero?”
Vincenza did not take her eyes off of me as she approached. Her cool manner matched that of her voice. “Looks like it.” When she sat in the chair my freedom rewarded her, she looked me right in the eye and said, “Hello, Vicky. You look well.”
I felt a lot right then and it was difficult to put a cap on it, but I felt Tor’s hand on my shoulder and the tumbling in my gut slowed, then stopped. My equally unruffled, “Enza. So do you,” must have surprised her because her brows rose and when she smiled, it was almost mocking.