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)
Massimo had never spoken to her like this way before, and she finally understood why even La Strega herself described Massimo as the most terrifying among her grandsons.
"It was Ysabel that I met at Halloween five years ago. Wasn't she?"
Ynez was so, so tempted to lie, but the moment Massimo took a step towards her as if he were willing to wring her neck if that was what it took to get the truth out—-
"Y-Yes." It killed her to admit to her deception and trickery, but Ynez also knew Massimo would make her life hell if she was stupid enough to try lying to him again.
"And you lied to me about other things," Massimo bit out. "Didn't you?"
Ynez desperately racked her brains for something to say that would turn the tables around and have Massimo trust her again. But when she saw Massimo's dark gaze drop to her neck as if trying to gauge whether he could strangle her with just one hand—-
"I d-did..."
By the time Ynez finished confessing her every lie, security was already waiting to escort her out of the building, and Massimo didn't even turn her way when she begged for him to forgive her.
"Please, Massimo! I did it for you! I love you! We belong together!"
The sound of her cries only made Massimo want to kill her even more, and the only reason he wasn't punishing her as she deserved because he knew now—-just when it was too late, and so much damage had been done...
He now knew exactly what kind of girl his fidanzata was, and it was not the type who would ever want to see her sister hurt—-even if that same sister had hurt her first.
On his way back to the family estate, Massimo tried calling Ysabel several times, but none of his calls could get through. In his desperation, he decided to call his grandmother, and the older woman answered his call by the first ring.
"Where is she, nonna? I need to talk—-"
"She's gone, Massimo."
The pain underscoring La Strega's voice lashed at his heart...because he knew his grandmother could only be hurting on his fidanzata's behalf.
"I could not force her to stay, you understand? She could not even cry when she asked me..."
The first time Massimo had ever heard heard his grandmother's voice crack was when she had to tell him and his brothers that both their grandfather and father were dead. The second time...was now.
"She was in so much pain, bambino."
His heart threatened to collapse at the thought of Ysabel hurting to such an extent, and all because of his blind stupidity.
"It was just too much to bear, and so when she asked me to help her disappear..."
His fingers tightened around his phone. "Nonna—-"
"Mi dispiace molto." I'm so very sorry. "But I had to say yes."
Fifteen
Miami, Florida
Three months. It had been three months since his own nonna had helped Ysabel disappear, and even though he had already spent a fortune of his own money in search of his missing fidanzata—-
Where are you, Ysabel?
It was often whispered about in Boston that there was no one better than La Strega at making people...disappear. Most times, that typically meant the person missing was already six feet under. But in his fidanzata's case?
Massimo was the one who felt as if he had ceased to exist, the moment he found out that the only way to find the girl he loved was to beat his grandmother at her own game.
Where are you, ciliegina mia?
He had barely slept since she had gone missing, and it was only when he had almost gotten himself run over by a damn school bus that his eldest brother Giancarlo had reluctantly pulled rank and ordered Massimo to choose between two alternatives.
You will end up killing yourself at the rate you're going, and then what? Will you be able to make it up to Ysabel if you are already dead? Do all of us a favor, fratello—-either take a fucking break from searching for her or go on a working trip to Miami.
As painful as it was to admit, Massimo knew that every word his brother had uttered was true, and so here he was, playing the role of a billionaire entrepreneur and killing it. He had just closed another multimillion real estate deal for his famiglia, but the success meant nothing to him.
Where are you, my love?
Massimo bowed to the group of Japanese investors that had partnered with the Marchettis for a project in Tokyo, but as soon as they stepped out of the private room he had reserved for their meeting, the polite smile completely dropped from his lips.
I miss you, Ysabel. I love you. Where are you?
He was about to leave the restaurant when its manager hurried after him. "Mr. Marchetti? There is a Ms. Ynez Ossini on the phone for you, and she says—-"