Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Wild with rage, I glared at him.
He stopped in front of me. “What more can we do to make this right for Kash?”
I clenched my jaw. “Who else has harmed her?”
Dima gazed around. “I believe all of her enemies are dead.”
An angry glint flashed in my eyes. “And what about the Diamond Syndicate?”
“We stood strong for her today.” Dima put his view back on me. “There is no question that we are loyal to her and the Killer Crows.”
“Gypsy should have never gotten that close to her.”
“That is your fault just as well as mine.”
“What the fuck did you say?” I charged for him.
Leonardo and my other men jumped between us.
Dima remained where he was. “I didn’t intend to disrespect.”
“I will fucking kill you!” I shoved Leonardo aside and got out of his hold to have three more of my men grab me.
“Santino!” Don Enzo roared behind me.
I gritted my teeth and gave up with fighting against my men, yet I still didn’t turn around to face him.
Don Enzo’s voice pierced the smoky air like a sharp blade. “We’re done, Santino. Go home to your fiancé.”
* * *
Late that night, I returned home. Kashmere was still in a deep slumber, exhausted from the mental turmoil and horrific experience.
I relieved Rue and Dane and then took a shower to get rid of all the blood and ash. Warm water poured around me, washing away some of the grime.
Still, I scrubbed my body frantically, desperate to get rid of all memories of this day.
But how could I forget?
Tears streamed down my face as I thought back to that vision of Kashmere from earlier today—the tattered white fabric of her bridal gown clinging to her body, her exposed breasts adorned with bruises, her hair in a tangled mess, and two guns trembling in her hands. That image would be forever burned into my memory.
I cried for the first time in a very long time. And those tears I shed could not quench the fires of rage swirling in my soul. I doubted that it would ever burn out.
More people should die over this.
In the shower, my cries sliced the air like sharp blades. I slammed my fists against the wet tiled wall, needing to hit something. Blood sprouted around my knuckles.
I want to kill more people. No one should live due to what happened to my queen.
The valley’s chaos and destruction left in its fiery wake would never be enough. Not enough people had been made to pay for Gypsy’s crimes against Kash.
I wanted the world to suffer.
But, I couldn’t think of who else to kill, who else to make pay.
All I could do was finish the shower, dry off, put on silk red pajama pants, crawl into bed, and hold Kashmere tightly in my arms.
And instantly her warmth radiated through to my body. It anchored my darkness and even swallowed up some of my vengeance. With every breath, I drank from her soothing energy. Her presence reassured me that even in the midst of despair, there was still hope for our future.
A fierce determination burned within me as I held my beloved queen close, swearing to myself that no harm would ever come to her again. I would lay down my life, if need be, to keep her safe and protected.
Soon my mind quieted as I tried to go to sleep.
And in that silence a hushed whisper came from the metal shuttered balcony doors. “Santino.”
I raised my head and gazed at the blocked balcony opening.
The sound came again. “Santino. Come to us.”
I should have been scared and shaking, but I had researched their tales of sorrow. My heart ached for the atrocities they endured.
The lingering ghosts of Crownsville filled the lake with an oppressive darkness, a reminder to this city of the inhumane cruelties that had been inflicted upon them for no damned reason. The ghosts refused to be forgotten and terrorized those who dared to venture near the lake, a walking testament to their endurance and strength in the face of tragedy.
I appreciated that a lot.
But what would they want with me?
“Santino.”
I shouldn’t have. . .but I quietly left the bed. My bare feet padded against the carpet as I crept over to the balcony doors. The metal curtains blocked the view and there was absolutely no way to move them.
Last time I tapped at the curtains and rattled the shutters, light green light had spilled from the top corners of the metal as if someone on the other side of the balcony had shone a green flashlight in my direction.
“Santino.”
I gently knocked at the metal.
A strange, sharp noise cut through the other side of the metal shutters.
I raised my eyebrows.
The green glow brightened at the corners. Then, something rustled on the other side. “Santino.”
“What do you want from me?” I gritted my teeth.