Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
I jump, guilt painting my cheeks with heat.
She frowns. “No phones at the table.”
“Sorry.” I put the phone away. “I’m expecting a message from Colin.”
Lying became easier as the months passed. I’m doing it now without as much as wincing. Guilt still plagues me, but not nearly as much as in the beginning. I guess you grow immune to it after a while.
The pleats on her brow smooth out. Somewhat pacified, she says, “You can check your messages at home.”
For the rest of the evening, I push the food around on my plate while I think up a hundred reasons why Angelo forgot my birthday. It’s the anniversary of our first meeting after all. Doesn’t that hold any importance for him?
Dad excuses himself when we have dessert to make a call outside.
“What’s so urgent that it can’t wait until the morning?” my mom asks when he gets back. “Does your CFO still work at this hour?”
Ignoring her, Dad waves over a waiter and orders a coffee.
Things have been hectic at the office since his junior accountant was murdered. Dad is still battling to find a good candidate to replace him. The ones he employs don’t stay long. I overheard Ryan tell Celeste that the staff turnover has never been as high.
The online article said the police suspected that the victim was hijacked on his way to work. The assailants must’ve thrown him over a cliff. His body washed up two weeks later near Buffels Bay. I shiver at the thought. The traffic police later spotted his car on a highway near Cape Town.
They arrested the driver, who claimed he bought the car from a private seller. The seller had been convicted of several car thefts throughout the Western Province. He’d been arrested on charges of theft and murder but was released due to a lack of evidence. These crimes happen so frequently that no one blinks when it’s on the news any longer. It’s the first time it happened to anyone in our close circle though.
While Dad settles the bill, I drive home with Mattie and Jared. Jared kisses Mattie goodbye and leaves just as Mom and Dad arrive. Dad goes to his study to work for another hour, and Mom and Mattie go to bed. I have a shower, dress in my favorite T-shirt and boy shorts, and go downstairs to say goodnight to Dad.
“Happy birthday, darling,” he says with a smile, shutting his notebook in the drawer before switching off his desk lamp. “I’m going to call it a night too.”
Dad locks the doors and sets the alarm as I go in search of Pirate, who now has access to the garden as well as the entire house. As it turned out, my mom outgrew her allergy.
Pirate comes out of the lounge when I call him, knowing there’s a treat waiting for him. I tuck him under my arm and carry him upstairs.
When I get back to my room, my phone pings. I leave Pirate’s snack in his bowl and rush over to retrieve the phone from my bag.
It’s the wrong phone. It’s Colin. My shoulders slump.
Colin: How was dinner?
I sigh. Thank me later for sparing you from sitting through that.
He sends a laughing emoji. I would’ve liked to go.
Trust me. You wouldn’t have enjoyed it.
Night, Bella.
Smiling, I type, Night, Colin.
I dump the phone on the nightstand and check the other one.
Nothing.
After switching off the light, I crawl into bed with Pirate, as always, taking comfort from his warm body pressed against mine. I’m about to doze off when my phone pings again.
Rubbing my eyes, I reach for the phone to tell Colin to go to sleep, and then my heart jumps in my chest.
It’s not Colin.
I grab the other one from where I’ve hidden it under my bed.
The screen lights up with a text message from Angelo.
Open the gate, bella. I’m outside.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Sabella
Angelo Russo is here, outside, in front of my gate.
I want to believe it, but I’m scared to. If it’s a joke, I won’t be able to handle the disappointment.
My heart hammers in my chest as I throw back the covers and get out of bed. I open my door and stick my head around the doorframe. The hallway is dark. No light falls from under Mattie’s door. At the end of the hallway, my father’s snoring is already coming through the door of my parents’ bedroom.
Not daring to switch on a light, I walk barefoot through the house. The moonlight that falls through the big windows illuminates my way. I stop in the kitchen to check the screen on the intercom. Angelo Russo stares right into the camera, his face a clear black-and-white picture that steals my breath and makes my palms sweat.
He’s here.
A mixture of excitement, surprise, and anxiety slams into me. It takes a moment to find my bearings and to somewhat calm my breathing. I don’t even want to think about my dad’s reaction if he finds out.