Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
His smile is nasty. “You look at home here.”
I lift my chin. “So do you.”
His big stomach shakes with his laugh. “Every asset is part of the business. That includes this house. We keep things in the family, you see. What belongs to my nephew belongs to us.”
“Is that why he gave you a key?” I ask with sarcasm.
His reply is flat. “My son was in charge of having this place cleaned after Teresa’s family turned it into a pigsty. He made a copy.”
I don’t ask for what reason. I’m too scared of the answer. I remember the night I met the twins only too well. The man facing me wants me dead.
I never thought I’d be grateful for the cameras in the house, but now I pray that someone is watching. Admittedly, the chances are slim. Angelo won’t be monitoring them—he just told me this afternoon he’d be away on business—and he’s possessive enough not to let somebody else watch me when I could be naked anywhere in the house.
Angelo’s uncle looks around. “I can see why you like staying here. It gives you the freedom to go gallivanting around town.”
I go cold. He knows. Yet he didn’t tell Angelo, or Angelo would’ve mentioned it. Why, if his uncle is aware of my trips to the village, didn’t he enlighten his nephew?
“Is there a reason for this visit?” I pull my cardigan tighter around my body, glad I haven’t showered and changed into pajamas yet. I feel less vulnerable facing him in my clothes. “I’m expecting my husband soon. He won’t be happy to find you here.”
His smile turns patronizing. “Your dearest husband left hours ago by yacht. There’s a big storm on the sea, and it’s moving our way. He won’t make it back before tomorrow.” Watching me with wicked attention, he adds, “If he makes it back at all. The sea can be so treacherous.”
Concern hits me, and then fear sets in. The fear is two-fold. I’m sick with worry about Angelo’s safety, and I’m petrified of being alone with this evil man who knows my husband can’t save me. I’m completely at his mercy.
“What do you want?” I ask, my brusque manner designed to hide how scared I am. “It’s late, and I’d like to go to bed.”
“What did Lieutenant Lavigne have to say?”
Baffled, I stare at him. Of course he knows. If he knows I’m going to the village, he must have me watched. Or whoever is watching the house must’ve told him. Wait. I’m using the secret path now. That means someone saw me sneaking away before Sophie showed me the stairs that lead to the beach. The alternative is that he has informants in the village. I better be careful. Anyway, if everything goes the way I hope it does when I tell my husband my news, I won’t have to hide my comings and goings any longer.
“Why did he come?” he asks when I don’t reply. “How did he know where to find you?”
“I don’t see how that concerns you.”
He advances on me with surprising speed and agility. “He came to get information on my nephew.”
I aim for my escape route, but his hand is around my neck before I have time to spin around. My back hits the wall, the air leaving my lungs with an oomph.
He hovers over me with a menacing gaze. “What did you tell him?”
“Nothing,” I cry out, grabbing his wrist and trying to pull him off me. “I didn’t say anything.”
His eyes bulge. “You didn’t take the deal?”
“No,” I exclaim. “I already told him the first time he took me in for questioning that I won’t gather evidence against my husband.”
“Why?” He sneers. “Because you love your spouse so much? Or because your family’s lives are at stake?”
“Both,” I croak, admitting the truth out loud for the first time.
“Do you expect me to believe you?” He lets me go with a shove. “You’re an Edwards. You’re a traitor and a liar just like your father and the rest of your family.”
Rubbing my neck where I can still feel his grip, I sidestep to the door. “I’m telling the truth.”
His upper lip curls. “You made my nephew weak. He should’ve honored my brother’s wish to kill you. Instead, he dragged you into his home, putting all of us at risk.”
Anger takes over, dulling my fear. “So what then? You’re here to finish the job for your nephew?”
“No.” He grins, revealing yellowed teeth. “My nephew will discover the truth for himself. He has a way of getting information from people. Lieutenant Lavigne won’t last long before he tells Angelo what was said between the two of you outside.”
“You want me to betray him,” I whisper as the realization hits home. “That’s how you want to get rid of me. You’re hoping my husband will kill me himself.” The insight makes me brave enough to step up and face him squarely. “Because you know my husband will kill you if you lay a finger on me, and you just crossed that line.”