Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
My hands wrapped around her wrists as I pulled her to her feet. “You have one second to tell me where your sister is, you miserable excuse for a human being, or I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
She covered her face and cried. “I told you. This was all her idea. She wanted your money for herself. That is why she pretended to be me at Carnevale and why she kissed you in the gazebo. It was all part of her plan to steal my identity and trick you into marrying her instead.”
The false gesture was ruined when I watched her peek over her fingertips to see if I was affected.
My hands curled into fists at my sides in an effort to keep from striking her. Judging by the slight smear of makeup over her cheek, someone already had. “I will ask you one more time. Where is she?”
Her well-manicured hand, long nails painted a glossy black, pressed over her heart. “After escaping my father, I finally made my way here. The moment she saw me, she became enraged. She knew her plan had failed and that I was your true bride.”
Jesus Christ.
I stared at her hands. How could I not have noticed Ella’s hands sooner than I did? Unlike her sister’s claws, Ella’s nails were short and unvarnished. More than likely because of her cello playing. I twisted my head to stare at the cello in the corner. Her beloved cello.
Antonia sidled closer to me, her perfume an unpleasant, rank cloud. “I tried to stop her. You must believe me. I begged her not to set the fire.”
My gaze snapped back to her. My family’s pain and grief were too raw, too fresh for me to restrain myself any further. My arm snapped out and I grabbed her by the throat. “You manipulative bitch. I’ll see you rot in hell for Alfonso’s death. And so help me God, if you’ve harmed Ella in any way...”
Her scarlet lips turned up in a smile. Then she bared her teeth as she laughed. “Well, this is interesting. A man only behaves like this when he’s had a taste of pussy. Did my sweet, innocent sister give up the goods?”
I matched her smile, taking great pleasure in saying, “Well, it’s only fitting that a wife would sleep with her husband.”
Her eyes widened before she ran her claws over my wrists, drawing blood. “You’re lying.”
I released her and backed away, afraid of what I would do if I continued to hold her life in my hands. “Am I?”
Her gaze narrowed as her chest rose and fell with her heavy, angry breaths. “I’d have heard about a wedding.”
Trying to turn the tables on her, I said, “Fino didn’t tell you?”
“No, he didn’t tell—”
So she was working with Fino, which meant Judge Marzio Delluci may or may not be involved as well.
She tilted her head as she sneered. “Very clever. Much more clever than I gave you credit for. Fine. Whatever. Good luck tricking me into telling you where your precious soon to be dead wife is.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh, you’ll talk. Trust me.”
Antonia fluffed her hair. “Doubtful. And besides, you better be nice to me. Once my sister is dead, Dante and my father are going to make you honor your original agreement and marry me anyway to avoid a scandal.”
I’d had enough of this.
Snatching her by the forearm, I pulled her out of the room and down the hall.
She dragged her feet. “Where are you taking me? I’ll scream!”
Clenching my fist, I pounded on the bedroom door at the farthest corner of the villa.
After a moment, it swung open.
It was clear from my father’s expression and Liliana’s naked shoulders peeking out above the covers that I had interrupted something.
My father frowned. “What the fuck is going on? Why is Antonia here?”
I ground my teeth. Of course he would recognize Antonia immediately. Fuck, I was a goddamn fool those first few days with Ella.
Shaking off my disgust with myself, I said, “Ella is missing. She’s involved. I need your special interrogation skills.”
He nodded. “Let me get my tools.”
Antonia yanked on my grip, but I held steady. “God, this is so pathetic. You honestly think this scare tactic is going to work on me?”
Fear made her voice quiver at a higher pitch.
I leaned closer over her, as I raised one eyebrow. “You don't think so? I give you less than a minute.”
My father reappeared. This time in jeans and a shirt, holding a weathered, leather knife roll. As he shifted it in his hands, the metal tools inside clanked.
Antonia’s face paled as her knees buckled.
CHAPTER 51
ELLA
The click of a latch.
A scrape of metal as a slim tray slid along the floor.
Then the bang of the door.
Four meals.
Two days.
For two days, I’d been kept prisoner in multiple windowless holding cells, one no different than the other.