Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I’m petrified.
When the doorbell rings again, I make a fist and try to calm the trembling I feel. I can do this. I’m still not positive Deanna is right, but I think she might be. I definitely need to make changes. It’s more than that, though. I want to live. I don’t want my attackers to win and right now, they are.
I take a breath and exhale, the sound shakier than it should be. Then, I force myself to walk to the door. In my mind, I’m singing an old remembered song from a Christmas cartoon that I used to watch as a child. “Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door.” I even hum it out loud as I walk to the door. I run my hand down my pants leg to try and hide the way I’ve suddenly started sweating.
I unlock it and plaster a fake smile on my face, ready to greet Caleb. “Hey Cal—” I stop talking when it’s not Caleb’s face staring back at me. My forehead furls in confusion and my eyes narrow as I stare at Zane, one of Antonio’s men, in front of the door.
“Zane?”
“Hey, Angel. I’m supposed to escort you out tonight. Victorio said you were going out for dinner.”
“Um… I don’t need you to escort me, Zane. I have a date coming—”
“I’m afraid that Mr. Southwood had to cancel for the night.”
“Mr. Southwood? Wait, how did you know I was going out with Caleb?”
“I told you, he had to cancel.”
“How do you know he was canceling? What is going on here, Zane?” I huff, my hands on my hips.
“That’s probably something you should take up with Victorio.”
I shake my head, not understanding what is going on. “Why would I take up anything with Victor? What does he have to do with this?”
“I think you should ask him,” he insists.
“Did you send Caleb away and ruin my date, Zane?” I ask, barely believing what I’m asking. I know Victor didn’t want me going out with Caleb, but surely, he’s not so unhinged that he would pull something like this. Is he?
“I did as I was ordered and I can see it has pissed you off, but I’d just like to ask you to not shoot the messenger.”
“Give me your phone,” I grumble, holding out my hand.
“What?”
“I said, give me your phone. Mine is turned off and it’d take too long to boot up. So, give me yours.”
He looks at me, his expression dubious to say the least. He does, however, put his phone in my hand.
“Thanks,” I mutter sarcastically. I angle myself so I can hold up the phone to his face and swipe up as it unlocks. Then, I go to recent calls and what I see doesn’t surprise me in the least. I quickly click hit redial and wait for Victor to answer. It just takes a couple rings.
“Did you catch that little asshole?”
“The only asshole I can think of that needs caught is you. I can’t believe you deliberately sabotaged my date with Caleb!”
“I don’t know why it should surprise you. We already talked about him and came to an understanding. You weren’t to see that prick. I don’t want him near you.”
“Jesus. Who do you think you are Victorio Davide Conroy?”
“Davide?” Zane snickers in the background.
“You know who I am, Kitten.”
“Oh, I remember. You’re not my friend. You’re more special than that. You’re family.”
“I never said we were family,” he huffs.
“Wow. So, you’re not my family and you’re not my friend because you’re more special than that.”
“Exactly,” he snaps. “Did you fucking forget that in the time I’ve been away? I told you I’m not fading out of your life, Gia. I’m here to stay. I won’t allow you to replace me, especially with a stupid idiot like Caleb Southwood.”
I blink. I think at this point my head is about to explode. “I’m not replacing you, you asshole. Caleb is my friend—you know that thing you don’t want to be. Since, I don’t know who you are to me thanks to your big speech about us not being friends, I don’t know what we are. So, I couldn’t replace you if I wanted to, and right now I really would like to!”
“Damn it, Angelina,” he growls and my entire body jerks because he uses my full name. It feels like something dies inside of me with his curse. “I told you that it’s you and me against the world. What the fuck do you think that means?”
“It’s a line from a movie, Victorio. I don’t know what it means. You were about as clear as mud. What I do know is I’m done with this conversation. I’m going to go in my apartment, call Caleb and apologize, and you better call off your watchdog. Whatever this game is you’re playing, I don’t want to play it.”