Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
When I reach a ticket machine, I dig out Armani’s credit card and purchase a one-way seat to Milan. It’s close to the border of Switzerland, where Misha is.
Grabbing my ticket, I rush to an ATM and slide the credit card into the slot. Frantically I keep checking my surroundings as I withdraw all the cash I can before the daily withdrawal limit is reached.
I shove it all into my purse and hurry to the train, climbing aboard. Out of breath and dangerously close to having a panic attack, I find my seat and slump down in it.
The luggage.
I get up and shove it into the compartment before taking my seat again.
Jesus.
My mind reels, my emotions a chaotic mess, as I try to catch my breath. Shock keeps shuddering through me with the force of a tsunami.
Armani believes I betrayed him. It’s the one thing he hates most and won’t forgive.
It’s killed his love for me.
It turned him into a monster who will probably never stop hunting me.
I wrap my arms around my waist, and bending forward, a silent scream tears from me. In desperate need of comfort, I start to rock myself, trying to soothe the heartache.
I can’t console myself and turn my attention to my unborn baby.
Shh…Mama won’t let anything happen to you. We’re going to be okay. I promise.
My heart squeezes painfully, my longing for Armani already setting in.
I want my life back to how it was.
I want my husband to come home and take me into his arms.
I want to share a meal with him. I want to feel his body on top of mine.
I want everything to return to the moment we were last happy.
I just want Armani to hold me and tell me everything will be okay.
But that’s not going to happen.
I gave him everything, and he threw me away like I was nothing – all because of a recording.
Who’s behind this?
Who’s so cruel and hateful that they want to destroy us?
Chapter 36
Armani
Walking to the nearest bar, I order a tumbler of whiskey and tell the barman to keep them coming.
The burn of alcohol does nothing to douse the rage ravaging me.
The shock is still raw and potent, crashing over me in waves.
Tiana betrayed me.
She broke her vow.
I loved her so fucking much. She was a dream come true.
The image of her face as I made love to her fills my mind before it shatters.
Another man saw what was only meant for my eyes.
I toss my head back, draining the glass.
Fuck, she’s a good actress. Not once did she waver while pretending to be the innocent victim.
She’s probably calling Misha and crying to him.
Letting out a sigh, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial my best friend’s number.
He’s going to take her side.
I’m losing more than just my wife.
“Hey, it’s been a while. Fuck, just one more week, and I’m done with training,” he says.
He sounds happy to hear from me, which means Tiana hasn’t called him yet.
“Brother?” he asks when I don’t say anything.
Sitting at the bar, I rest my palm on my forehead. “Tiana cheated on me.”
There’s a long pause before Misha replies, “What the fuck did you just say?”
My tone is somber, danger flirting around the edges. “Tiana fucked another man.”
“No.” I hear the disbelief in the single word. “She wouldn’t.”
I pull the voice recorder out, and not giving a fuck that other people will hear, I press play and hold my phone to the speaker so Misha will hear.
“Cristo,” a man to my right mutters under his breath. He shakes his head, giving me a pitiful look.
When I bring the phone back to my ear, I mutter, “The proof is damming, Misha.”
More silence follows my words before he says, “I don’t care what I heard, Tiana wouldn’t betray you.”
Just like I thought, Misha will take her side no matter what.
“I’m going to find the fucker and kill him,” I growl.
The man to my right nods his approval.
“And I’ll help, but don’t you dare lay a finger on my sister,” Misha warns.
I let out an empty-sounding chuckle. “She got gifts and love notes from the bastard. They fucking rubbed it in my face, and I believed when she told me she didn’t know who was sending her the packages. And then there’s the recording of them fucking. What other proof do you need?”
“I’ll have to see it with my own fucking eyes. I’ll have to catch Tiana in another man’s bed before I believe any of this.”
Another chuckle escapes me. “I wish she was as loyal to me as you are to her.”
“Armani,” Misha says, his tone serious, “Don’t do anything rash. Have you checked your apartment for bugs? Anyone could’ve recorded you and Tiana and altered it to make it sound like she’s with another man.”
True.
“But why? I’ve been searching high and fucking low to find out who sent the gifts. I’m hunting a fucking ghost.”