Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Fisting his lapel, I drag him closer. “I’ll never let anything happen to her. I’ll kill every man who considers himself her enemy.”
“Is everything all right?” Anya asks next to me, her voice uncertain.
I let Dante go but hold his gaze with fury blazing in mine as I grind out, “Yes.”
Dante smooths down his jacket. “Everything is great. Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring work stuff to the table. We just needed to iron out some minor hiccups.”
“Like what?” she asks, looking between us.
I open my mouth to tell her it’s nothing, but Dante beats me to it.
“Raphael slipped through our fingers.”
Her whisky-colored eyes flare. “What now?”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I say, “Don’t worry. We’ll find him. Can I have one of those G&T’s?”
A frown plays over her brow. “Of course. Come join the others.”
Dante shoots me a look as he makes his way toward the small group on the other side of the table. They’re all laughing and chatting like they’re having fun—real fun—while I’m standing on the outside, fear tearing me apart from the inside out. And I find that I’ve never wanted in on the illusion of peace so badly in my life.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Anya
* * *
Our victory is a given. Everyone knows it. That’s why Raphael fled. Elena vanished from the face of the earth. Only me and the guy who made the passport know her new name. It’s a secret I intend to take to my grave. Not even Saverio or Rachele knows. Rachele gave Elena money for a plane ticket, which Elena booked without anyone’s help. Elena wanted it that way because it’s safer, and I respect that.
We’re not messing around with security. Livy and I work from home, and Saverio only takes Claire out for air in our own backyard. After a few weeks, we’re all suffering from cabin fever. With Raphael gone and the immediate threat diminished, Saverio suggests an outing to the countryside for my birthday. He’s not throwing caution to the wind and taking any risks. The six-bedroom timber chalet is situated on a stretch of land in the Catskill Mountains, isolated from the other cabins. The space is open, making an ambush difficult. His men will surround the property. Just in case, he’ll keep a small helicopter on site. A pilot will fly us out if there’s any signs of danger. Drones will be used to scout the dwelling and the surrounding mountains. Checkpoints will also be put up on all the roads that give access to the site. It’s only a three-hour drive, and a convoy will go ahead to secure the area while another will follow us.
The proposal is too tempting to refuse. I’m starting to go a little crazy from being locked up in the house, and Livy needs some space. She’s too much of a free spirit to do well when stuck in one place for so long but too kind to complain.
We’re all excited about the day trip. Saverio wants to take us to a fancy restaurant in the city to celebrate when we return in the evening, so he insists on bringing in a private shopper with a selection of dresses for Livy and me to choose from. I opt for a turquoise creation with soft layers of voile while Livy falls in love with a sari style outfit in bright yellow and purple.
On the day of my birthday, we set off early. The morning is sunny. A fresh layer of snow covers the ground around the chalet, making a pretty picture with the blue sky and the mountains in the background.
I’m giddy with excitement when we park, not only to get out of the house but also because it’s my first trip anywhere outside the city.
Livy and Dante decide to stretch their legs with a short hike on snow shoes in the forest. Knowing that Saverio can’t join the outdoor excursions, I decline the invitation to go with them. Instead, Saverio builds a fire in the fireplace of the handsomely sized lounge. We play with Claire on the soft rug in front of the gentle crackling of the flames, making her laugh with a peekaboo game. After the excitement, I rock her while softly humming a nursery rhyme until her eyes start to droop.
Since Claire was born, I never tiptoed around her when she slept. I carried on with my normal tasks instead of trying to be quiet. As a result, she sleeps through any noise. It also helped that I took her to the office where she got used to napping through the sounds of people going about their day. I’m grateful for that now as it means we don’t have to whisper or creep around, afraid that we’ll wake her.
When she falls asleep, I put her down for her midmorning nap in the portable crib that Dante put up in one of the rooms. The rental company switched on the central heating before we arrived. I make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable and take the monitor receiver back to the lounge.