Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Haydon is a huge reason, Vittorio. We absolutely can’t have a wedding ceremony until after he’s in custody or dead. Seriously. You have no idea how dangerous or how sick he is.”
“I do know. I made it my business to know. I’ve read every report that’s been prepared on every single death you suspected he was involved with. I’ve studied the reports. I know more about him at this point than he knows about himself. My investigators have put together timelines and traced his travels, using the pictures on your phone. They can place him right at the murder scene of three of the victims at the same time the victims were killed. Somewhere along the line, a year or so ago, he began messing with the camera, making it harder to trace him.”
“He probably figured out that his whereabouts could be traced using the photographs. He’s like that. He doesn’t need a formal education. He was always smart, he just didn’t want anyone, including teachers, telling him what to do.”
He slid his palm down her arm to take her hand. “Let’s go. The sooner we get this over, the sooner we can swim.” He led her outside. “Merry will bring you refreshments. The three women will move your things to the master bedroom. All you have to do is plan your perfect dream wedding.”
Merry had already, at his texted instructions, brought a pitcher of strawberry lemonade, a bucket of ice and a tall glass. Beside it was Grace’s iPad with the planner program on it. She slipped into the chair without arguing further with him.
“I shouldn’t be long.” Vittorio kissed her again, taking his time. He could hurry everything else in his life, but he was never going to make the mistake of hurrying his time with Grace. She was too important, and everything else could take a back seat. His watch vibrated impatiently, telling him his older brother was ready for him, but he ignored the summons.
The third time, he lifted his head. “I love you very much, Grace Murphy.” His thumb slid over the little indentation in her chin. “Marry me soon.”
She nodded slowly, looking a little bemused. “I will, but just know you’re cheating by kissing me. I can’t think straight.”
He was having a little trouble himself. Mostly, his body was making urgent demands, which circumstances forced him to ignore. His watch vibrated again and this time he imagined it trying to shake his entire arm. Giovanni must have arrived. He’d been so into kissing his woman, he’d ignored the car.
“You’re the expert, bella. Plan us a spectacular day. I never thought I’d look forward to my wedding, so give us both our dream day.”
“Men aren’t usually especially thrilled for a wedding that’s considered spectacular by a woman.”
He loved the amusement in her voice so much that he brushed kisses across her eyelids. “This man does.” Anything for his woman. He wanted “spectacular” for her. “Emilio and Enzo are close and while I’m in the meeting, their sister, Enrica, is here if you need anything.”
He preferred being with her himself but had three of the best and most experienced bodyguards the family had to watch over her while he was in his meeting. He strode down the hall and entered the designated conference room. His family was already seated around the table.
“I take it something’s happened,” he greeted.
Stefano indicated the remaining chair. “The Grecos think they’ve found the house where Haydon Phillips is staying,” he announced without preamble. “In the last eight hours, we’ve had several breaks. We’re finding out the whereabouts of the family, so we can go after Phillips safely. He will be less suspecting in broad daylight.”
Vittorio’s pulse jumped. The thought of freeing Grace after all the years of terror was a heady one.
“Before we focus on Phillips, the two missing girls, Eva and Marta Giboli, are in fact with their father. He met them at the airport when they called him, and he flew with them back to Tuscany. They intend to live with him. Eloisa, I would prefer that you deliver the news to their mother and make her understand that it would be best to leave the girls there. They’re old enough to choose and if she insists on getting the State Department involved in getting them back, tell her our family will testify that she didn’t bother to come for help for over two weeks.”
“I will be more than happy to deliver the message,” Eloisa agreed.
Vittorio flicked a glance to his mother. She looked more rested than she had in weeks. She always looked young, too young to have as many children as she’d given birth to. Stefano had tried to talk her into retiring full time from shadow riding. She still took the occasional job, especially since Giovanni’s injury had left them one rider down.