Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
"Don't think I won't," he roars, and his dark voice is so intimidating I take a step back, grabbing the perfume bottle in case I have to protect myself. He takes a step toward me and I lift my hand with the bottle, my arm trembling as I hold it in front of me as a makeshift weapon.
Just then, there's a sharp rap on the door. Before either of us can answer, it flies open, and Angelo looks like he's about to strangle the guard who bursts into the room until the man speaks up.
"They know where we are," he says in Italian. "They're coming."
"Merda," Angelo curses before glancing at me with contempt. My heart speeds up. Could he mean Ryder and the Bernardis? Am I finally going to get out of my latest prison?
Before I have a chance to ponder this information, Angelo grabs me by the waist and barks at the guard to take me to the stables. Confused, I tuck the bottle of perfume into my pocket and try not to fight the guard so as not to hurt the baby. He pushes me downstairs in a hurry. There's no time to grab any of my new belongings.
In the stables, two horses are prepared – one for me and one for Angelo.
"Can you ride?" he barks at me, striding into the stables and putting on a helmet.
"I did when I was a child," I admit.
He shakes his head. "It's dangerous enough for you as it is. You're coming on with me."
The thought of losing my baby this way fills me with fear like I've never known. Before I can stop myself, I kneel in the hay and turn my pleading eyes to Angelo Giordani. "Please, don't make me ride it. I don't want to hurt the baby."
"That's the least of your concern," he tells me coolly. "And there's no other way to get where we're going. Now come on."
I scream as a guard manhandles me toward a horse. At least the enormous animal is calm, undisturbed by the sobs that are now racking my body. I'm placed on the horse, my hands tied at the wrists so there's no way for me to fight this. Angelo sits behind me just as we hear tires screeching on the driveway outside.
"You have to leave now, Signore," the guard speaks before rushing us out into the open. "Hurry!"
Angelo kicks the horse into high gear and suddenly we're leaving, riding along the house's gardens while screams, shouts and gunshots erupt from behind us.
I know I'll get in trouble for it and yet I can't stop myself from calling out Ryder's name in pure desperation. But Signore squeezes my hip so hard I'm certain he's left bruises, and that shuts me up as the horse wildly continues our journey.
There's a crossroads a little way off, with an asphalt path leading away into the village and a dirt road going uphill. My heart beats faster than ever as I dig through my dress with my hands tied until I find the bottle of perfume. I could be doing this in vain, but I have to try – have to do something to bring Ryder on my trail.
I allow the heavy glass bottle to slip between my fingers, swallowing thickly as I hear the satisfying crunch of glass on the gravel beneath the horse's hooves. Angelo doesn't even notice, and before I know it, we're too far away to see if my plan worked.
The sickly sweet scent of violets that brought me comfort my entire life feels nauseating now. It permeates the air, threatening to expose what I've just done.
I hear more screaming behind us and Signore curses before forcing the horse to go even faster. I have no idea where we're going – this escape plan isn't thought out well and I'm terrified I'm going to get hurt in the ensuing battle that will surely follow.
I swallow my fear down. I must stay strong for Ryder's son growing inside me. I can't lose hope now.
Wherever we're going, Ryder is going to find me. Already, there is no doubt in my mind that the vehicles I heard earlier belonged to the Bernardi famiglia.
I know my betrothed will do anything to get me back – I can feel it in my heart. Our connection burns just as brightly as it once did. Now all that's left for me to do is pray Ryder will find me in time.
I've had my first taste of Signore's wrath, and I don't want to stick around for the second course.
Something tells me I wouldn't survive it... After all, he hurt Sophia, and I thought he cared about her. But he just proved he only gives a damn about himself.
Once this is all over, I promise myself we'll have our revenge.