Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
The breaths rasp over my lips, and I drop to my knees from the force of destructive emotions reaping chaos in my chest.
I trusted them.
“Find Vittoria Rizzo!” Big Ricky shouts the order to the guards. “Seach every part of this fucking island and bring her back unharmed. If anyone lays a hand on the boss’ wife, I’ll fucking kill you myself.”
Uncle Maurizio and Aunt Gloria fucking betrayed me.
Vittoria. My angel.
I gasp through the unbearable heartbreak and deceit that’s darkened my world to black.
“Boss.” I feel Big Ricky’s hand on my shoulder. He crouches beside me. “Angelo!”
My eyes snap to his.
“We have to find Vittoria.”
He’s right.
I climb to my feet and shake my head in an attempt to regain my composure. “How did she get away from the villa?”
Big Ricky pulls out his phone and makes a call. I listen as he orders, “Ask the guards how Vittoria escaped the villa.”
My eyes lock on the man who’s used his body to shield mine, who’s killed to keep me safe, who’s been there every step of the way.
He sees me staring at him and gripping my shoulder, he squeezes it.
He’s my common sense right now. He’s taken control of the situation because he knows I need a moment to process the cluster fuck of a nightmare.
Suddenly, he ends the call. “Tori took one of the cars. Maurizio instructed them to let her leave.” He looks up at me, then says, “We’ll find her.”
It takes another minute for me to regain control of my emotions, and shoving the shock to the back of my mind, I think clearly for the first time since shit went down.
I yank my phone from the breast pocket of my jacket and quickly dial Vittoria’s number.
The first attempt goes to voicemail, and I hang up and try again.
Finally, she fucking answers. “I-I’m so s-sorry,” she sobs.
“Where are you?” I demand, my tone hoarse from the blow I’ve suffered.
“I-I’m s-sorry. F-forgive m-me.”
“Where the fuck are you, Vittoria?” I shout.
The call ends, and I let out a frustrated growl.
The tracking device.
I had a tracking device placed in both our wedding rings so Tiny and Big Ricky could find us in case shit ever went sideways.
Thank fucking God.
I quickly log into the app, and a second later, the red dot shows clearly on a map.
“Fuck!” Big Ricky exclaims. “I forgot about the tracking devices. Where is she?” He steps closer to take a look at the phone screen.
The signal shows she’s at the airport.
“Let’s go,” I growl, and without giving my uncle and aunt's bodies another glance, I stalk out of the villa.
Ignoring the backseat, I climb into the passenger side while Big Ricky slides behind the steering wheel.
As he speeds away from the villa, I shake my head. “What the fuck were they thinking? That I’d believe some bullshit story of Vittoria leaving me?”
“People do desperate things in desperate times,” Big Ricky mutters.
They were fucking stupid. I told Uncle Maurizio I love Vittoria, and still, he tried to get rid of her.
Thank God he didn’t kill her.
My innocent little deer.
The love of my fucking life.
“I can’t believe it,” I murmur as the shock hits once again. “Vittoria must be scared out of her fucking mind.”
“We’ll find her,” he assures me.
Jesus fucking Christ.
A breath shudders from me, and I struggle to accept that my family betrayed me. They tried to get rid of Vittoria.
I just need to fucking hold my wife again.
Fuck, she must be so fucking traumatized!
Christ, baby. I’m fucking sorry.
Chapter 31
Tori
Reaching the counter, I’m breathless as I ask, “When is the next flight to America?”
The attendant frowns as she looks at her computer screen. “Where in America?”
“I don’t care. Anywhere.”
Her eyes dart over my face. “Are you okay?”
I nod and squeeze the words out. “I lost…I lost my husband.”
I lost Angelo.
A heartbreaking cry threatens to rip free from my throat.
He sounded so angry over the phone. I just know if he finds me, he’ll kill me.
Oh God.
Another wave of trauma, fear, and heartbreak shake me to my core.
Compassion softens the attendant’s features. “I’m so sorry.” She quickly checks the screen again, then says, “There’s one boarding right now with Swiss Air. It’s destined for Minnesota. Will that be okay?”
I nod frantically. “How much?”
“One thousand six hundred euros.”
I quickly take the envelope from my handbag and give her the cash and my passport. “I’ll take it.”
My heart beats out of my chest, and I keep glancing around me while she processes the purchase.
Don’t let them find me.
Please, Father. Keep me safe.
When the attendant prints the ticket, she says, “I’ve upgraded you to first class at no extra charge.” Giving me the ticket, her smile is filled with sympathy. “Do you have any luggage you have to check in?”
I shake my head. “I’m traveling light.” Because in my panic, I forgot to grab my luggage from the car. There’s no time to go back to the parking area.