Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Aaaah.
Her entire body buckled when Massimo suddenly started sucking on her tongue, and Ysabel was mortified to feel her breasts growing heavy with need. Things were happening too, too fast, but she just couldn't find the strength to push him away, with the way his tongue was wreaking havoc on her senses. And when she felt his other hand slowly trailing up from her stomach, his fingers brushing against the underside of her swollen flesh—-
Knock, knock, knock.
"I know you're in there, Massimo."
Ysabel could only stare in bemusement when Massimo suddenly sprang away from her, and she wondered dizzily if her face also displayed the same telltale flush that was now darkening Massimo's high-boned cheeks.
"I will give you ten seconds to ensure both of you are decent—-"
Ysabel had a hard time focusing on what the person on the other side of the door was saying, and her fingers shook as she touched her own lips. How was it possible that her first kiss was from Massimo? How?
"And then you will kindly open this door—-"
Ysabel finally had the presence of mind to realize the woman outside the door was still speaking, and the voice sounded weirdly familiar.
"Present your fidanzata to your grandmother—-"
Comprehension dawned, and Ysabel let out a gasp. La Strega?!
"And after which us two women will have somewhere to go."
Four
Troppe veloce. Everything was happening too, too fast again, and in what seemed like a mere snap of La Strega's fingers, Ysabel found herself inside another vehicle, but face to face this time with Boston's ruling queen.
Khaleesi.
The girl seated next to La Strega suddenly coughed, and hers was a familiar face. The world in which famiglie operated was small; everyone knew everyone, and if Ysabel wasn't mistaken, the younger woman's name was Cattleya, and she had been working for the Marchetti family since her teenage years.
"Mi dispiace." Cattleya's voice was almost ethereal in its calmness, which was just to be expected from someone working for the likes of La Strega, who was also known for displaying nerves of steel even under the most dangerous circumstances.
The thought had Ysabel stealing another look at Massimo's grandmother, and it was a genuine struggle not to appear starstruck in her presence.
The older woman was a picture of refinement with her coiffed silver hair and a string of pearls around her neck. If rumors were to be believed, those shiny expensive orbs were harvested from the same company that designed the pearl-handled revolver La Strega had used to kill those who had murdered her husband and only son.
"May I call you Ysabel, signorina?"
Ysabel's back shot ramrod straight at suddenly being spoken to by Massimo's grandmother, and she ended up half-stammering in her nervousness. "Sì, La Strega—-" Horror ate her alive when she realized what she had slipped. "Mi sculto molto, signora! Chiedo perdono!" I'm so sorry, please forgive me!
Why did her mouth keep getting her into trouble? How could she be so stupid and careless as to call Boston's queen a witch to her face, which was what 'strega' translated to in English?
Ysabel was ready to be punished on the spot, but the older woman merely cackled while her companion only shook her head.
"Signora Marchetti actually takes pride in being called La Strega, so please do not worry about it, signorina."
Ysabel could only smile weakly, not knowing exactly how to respond. On one hand, it was nice to know that she had not inadvertently insulted Massimo's grandmother. But on the other hand, finding out that La Strega took pride in being called a 'witch' only made her more formidable in Ysabel's eyes...and just as with most famiglia business, she wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing or not.
"My assistant speaks the truth, Ysabel. I am not easily offended, if that's what you are worried about." The older woman's gaze then turned cunning. "But perhaps I'm wrong, and you are worried about something else? Maybe you are wondering why I chose you over your sister?"
"I know it's not my place to ask—-"
"But it bothers you all the same, sì?"
"I feel guilty—-"
"And that is quite remarkable of you," Potenziana said archly, "considering how your own flesh and blood has stolen my grandson from you five years ago."
Ysabel jerked in her seat. Stolen?
"It is unfortunate that I was only made aware of this recently. I would have rectified the situation immediately if I had known—-"
Ysabel shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand what you're saying, signora."
"Five years ago, Massimo met a girl on Halloween night. He believes that girl...is your sister."
Pain ripped through Ysabel at the older woman's words. There was a part of her that had always suspected this, but she had never allowed such doubts to take root.
"How?" Ysabel whispered.
"I'm afraid that's where I come in, signorina." It was Cattleya who spoke, and her calm voice was now tinged with regret. "I was at Mammina's a few months ago—-"