Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 120472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
I groan and as I hear a soft twig breaking, a grin pulls at my lips. “Gotcha, motherfucker.”
I turn and bound after him, knowing damn well that he’s playing with me. Not even the boys would be able to beat the wolves at this game. I just have to hold out hope that he gets bored of the game and gives up before I do.
A ruffle of leaves to my right has me spinning and peering through the thick bushes, only movement to my left has me spinning back around. My heart begins to race. Now, I wasn’t the smartest kid growing up and I more than failed a few classes, but what I do know is that Dill can’t possibly be in two places at once.
“Dill?” I murmur, my gaze flicking back and forth between the two sounds, only now just realizing that perhaps running out here wasn’t my brightest idea.
A soft growl tears through the thick trees and my gaze snaps to the right, finding Dill creeping toward me, the fur on the back of his neck raised high as he stalks forward, the purple silicone dick dropping from his mouth. He snarls as though he senses something and I find myself backing up toward him, knowing that despite fucking with my day, he wouldn’t hurt me.
He creeps in closer, his shoulder rubbing my hip as he slowly passes me. “What is it?” I murmur, my gaze wide as his growls rumble through the forest. My fingers dig into the fur on his back, needing him closer as his sharp gaze sees something that I just can’t.
He steps in front of me, nudging me back and I take the hint, creeping back and getting ready to run when a sickening laugh echoes through the forest. “You can run,” the chilling voice says. “But you can’t hide. Not from me, and certainly not in my fucking woods. I know every fucking rock, twig, and leaf.”
I suck in a whimpering gasp as Giovanni steps out from the shadows, his smug grin making me want to hurl. I back up another step. It’s one thing being brave with the boys at my back, but out here, I’ve never been so alone.
My hands shake at my sides as I creep back another step, my heart racing with fear.
Giovanni looks at me as though this isn’t even worth his time, but the sparkle in his eyes tells me he has me right where he wants me. “That’s just the thing,” I say, my voice breaking as I force the words out over the lump in my throat. “This isn’t your forest anymore.”
Giovanni smirks, the amusement clear in his eyes as though he’s watching a cub trying to roar. “You’re brave,” he says, ignoring my comment and taking another step toward me. “I have to give you that. You have a set of balls that men twice your age could only dream of having, but those balls are going to get you in a lot of trouble.”
I shake my head. “You need to leave,” I warn him. “Your sons will come looking for me, and they will not be so forgiving again.”
The wolf growls and adjusts his position as Giovanni creeps in closer. “My sons are weak,” he spits. “And they proved that to me when they sacrificed everything they’ve always wanted to save you. They will not make it in this world, not when they are too concerned with your well-being. You are going to cost them their lives.”
Giovanni takes another step and Dill snaps out, his ferocious snarl warning Giovanni what would happen if he were to take another step.
Giovanni pulls up short, his gaze dropping to the wolf as though he barely notices him there, yet just the sound of his growl has the hairs standing on the back of my neck. How could Giovanni be so calm around him, so collected, and careless?
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, stepping back, my knees shaking as Dill remains right where he is, putting distance between us and opting to keep closer to Giovanni.
“So naive,” he taunts. “You choose to believe the best in them, but when it comes down to it, they will destroy you. Don’t be fooled, Miss Mariano. I know my sons. But it won’t matter, not now.”
My back presses against a tree and I fumble back, my heart racing, not giving a single fuck that I look like a terrified rat, showing all of my cards. I was an idiot to think that just because I was gaining strength and working my way up in the world that I could handle anything they threw at me. I’m so fucking out of my depth, it’s not funny. “Wh … what’s that supposed to mean?” I question, stuttering over my words.