Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Angelo,” Candido calls after him as he storms away. “Fuck.”
“Daddy, I told you I didn’t want to marry him.”
“So you go behind my back? What the fuck is going on? How did you summon him?” he says seethingly, the last part low.
“How did I what?” Ray says in confusion.
“Maybe you and I should go talk,” I say to her father.
He gives a curt nod. I go to tug Ray with me, but she halts me. I look down at her, but she speaks through our bond.
“I want to go up and pack my things. Is that okay? I’ll let you know as soon as I’m done.”
“I don’t want you away from me.”
“I will make it fast and I’ll leave the door open to my thoughts so you can hear me.”
I purse my lips and frown. “Fine.”
“What the fuck? Are yous two just going to stand there staring at each other?” Candido growls.
I turn and grab him by the back of his collar and drag him from the room. His men reach for their guns, but I shoot them all a warning glare.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” he says, holding up his hands.
I take him to his office and shove him inside. He stumbles forward, using his desk to keep him upright. Folding my arms over my chest, I look down at him. I tower way above his six-two.
He reaches for the ring on his right hand—the ring that binds his family to mine. I want to chop his finger off, but I know I can’t. However, the rules say nothing about me scaring the shit out of him.
“You can’t touch me as long as I have this ring,” he says as he clutches it tightly.
“You should take it off and give it to Ray,” I say.
“You would like that. Is that what’s going on? She figured things out and she’s trying to take you for herself? Un-fucking-believable.”
“She knows nothing about us. As I have known nothing about her. Your time is running out, Candido. Whatever you thought you were planning has failed. There are no loopholes for you to manipulate and even if there were, Ray is not an option. You will say your goodbyes this evening.”
“What? You’re not taking my daughter. What is this, some Rumpelstiltskin shit? Get the fuck outa here.”
“It’s not as if you’ve cared for her or taken care of her. I should torture you for the life she’s led.”
“You can’t touch me,” he snarls.
I fly across the room and get into his face, lowering my head to be nose to nose. His eyes grow wide with fear. I can hear the churning of his stomach.
“I cannot put you to ground but do not mistake my ability to find other ways to make you pay. I’ve lived a very long time and know of ways to torture a man for days.
“Let’s not forget, I can heal you and start all over again—over and over again. Try me. I’ve been bored for the last century,” I growl in his face.
“What does this mean? Why do you want her? She’s a nobody, she can’t—”
I growl in his face. He shuts up as his face turns pale. Some gangster. Now, his great-grandfather and grandfather were men I could respect. This is a poor imitation of the Riccis I’ve known and served.
I hate this curse and having to serve anyone, but it’s his lack of honor and character that has led us to want to be set free immediately. I’ve always felt he would betray us as soon as he figured out how.
“You’re the only nobody I see. Speak of Ray that way again and I will force you to give her your ring and then I’ll have you put to ground.”
“You can’t do that.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Are you sure you want to test that theory? I am not of the same kind as the legend speaks of that helped your family enslave us. I am a variation of those kings and queens.
“A much more powerful variation. We’ve never challenged the bond before, but now I have a mind to. Do you want to test what those differences mean?”
“N…no.”
“Good, you will run out your time, and the rings will return to us. Then we are done. Your family’s time is up. You can no longer hold us.”
“We still have time. Six more months. Anything can happen in six months.”
“You will be sorry your ancestors ever came across us. That is a promise.”
“No, get away from me.”
I don’t so much as pause to think of who might see me or what is happening. I flash from Candido’s office to where I sense Ray in the blink of an eye.
Ray
Walking into my bedroom, I look around and frown. This has been like my prison for thirty years. Anger rises as it dawns on me that my gut feeling has always been right.