Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“I’m not controlling Zoey.” I level her with a stare. “And she isn’t going anywhere.”
Xanadu stands, her hands going to her hips. “You can’t keep her here against her will. I don’t care how many goons you’ve got, I’ll fight until my last breath to—”
“No fighting.” Zoey scrambles to her feet, though I keep her tight to my chest. “I’m not his hostage, Xanny.”
“Wake up, Zoey. He kidnapped you. He’s working for the guy who wants the money I took.” She holds her hand out to Zoey. “Let’s go. Let’s get the money and take off. Do all the things we talked about. Okay?”
For a fraction of a moment, fear overcomes me at the thought of Zoey going with her sister, choosing her instead of me. But I don’t give in to it. I know down to my bones that Zoey belongs with me, and I have to have faith that she feels it too.
“Xanny.” Zoey shakes her head. “We don’t have to go. Leone has kept me safe this whole time, and he can do the same for you.”
“We don’t need him,” Xanadu scoffs. “Come on.”
“You’re wrong.” Zoey lifts her chin, her shoulders back. “I need him.”
My heart, that broken husk, seems to beat anew when I hear her words.
“I love him, Xanny. Nothing will change that. I’m staying.”
Xanadu drops her hand, her eyes watering as she looks at her sister. “You can’t mean that.”
“I do.” Zoey reaches for her hand and takes it. “But you can stay, too.”
Lenny gives a slight nod from his spot in the doorway, though he doesn’t say anything.
“Stay here with one of the most dangerous mob kingpins in the world–that’s your idea of safe?” Xanadu swipes at her eyes and pulls her hand from her sister’s grip. “Do you even hear yourself?”
“I love her, Xanadu.” I stand with Zoey. “I know you don’t believe me, but you need to trust your sister. What we have is real. I never would’ve thought it was possible for me, but the moment I saw her, something in me just knew.” I shrug, my arm aching with the movement. “So she isn’t leaving. I can’t let her go.”
Xanadu’s gaze bounces between Zoey and me.
“Please, Xanny. Stay. We need to make a plan.” Zoey steps toward her. “Please?”
Xanadu focuses on her. “Can we talk in private?”
Lenny glances at me. I nod. “Go and talk to your sister, Zoey.” That fear tries to creep in again, but I shove it down.
Zoey wouldn’t leave me. Not when she holds my heart in her hands.
“Okay.” She gets on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
Xanadu strides out, and Zoey follows.
“Want me to keep an eye?” Lenny asks.
“From a distance. Don’t interfere. Just make sure they’re safe.”
I force myself to sit down, even though everything in me is screaming for me to follow Zoey. But I can’t. Instead, I have to trust her. And I do. With my life. With everything that I am.
20
ZOEY
“You know he’s got cameras all over these trees?” Xanny points out one of them.
Up close to the house, it’s all open with perfectly mowed grass that has those fancy lines in it. There are flowers and bushes placed all around. Some run along the house while others line the driveway. I’d noticed the pink ones out back that surrounded a bird bath. I mentioned how pretty they are to Leone one morning when eating breakfast. Now they line the entire patio area. Those are the things I’ve been noticing. Not the cameras in the trees.
“I don’t see them.” I squint, trying to see what she’s talking about.
“Yeah, most people want you to know they’ve got cameras to deter you, but not Leone.”
I mean, there is a giant gate with guards on it. I think that makes it pretty clear he doesn’t want people trespassing, but I don’t mention that to her.
“But you said you saw it.”
“I knew what I was searching for.”
I fight to not roll my eyes. I came out here to listen to what she had to say, and I need to do that.
“Honestly I like that he has the cameras. He’s keeping me safe.”
“This is bad, Zoey.” Xanny drops her hand.
“What? Why? That’s what you’re not getting. It doesn’t have to be bad. Leone can fix it.”
I wish for once she’d see me as a woman and not the little girl she has to take care of. That she would realize I have my own opinions, and I also have my own dreams.
“I can fix it too!” She raises her voice. “I’m sorry.” She takes a deep breath.
“You don’t have to be sorry, Xanny. You’re allowed to shout at me if you’re mad.” She shakes her head in response, not agreeing with me.
“I’m not a child anymore, and you’re not my mother.”
“You’re still a bit of a child, Zoey, and I’m not saying that to be mean. It’s partly my fault. We might live in a trailer park, but I sheltered you because we didn’t have much of a choice. We couldn’t let people know about you. You did all your schooling online ‘cause we couldn’t send you in case we got busted. You lost out on getting to know people and interacting with them.”