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)
Shrugging, I shake my head again. “When we got to Sicily, everything was fine. My uncle and aunt were happy to see us. I left Vittoria with them so I could go to a meeting, but before I got to Sangrioti, I got a hysterical call from my aunt.” I take a sip of the alcohol before I continue, “She said Vittoria tried to run away, and when they locked her in a room, she shoved Uncle Maurizio over the balcony.”
They all look at me with shock on their faces.
“Seriously? Vittoria killed Maurizio?” Renzo asks.
I shake my head. “No, she could never commit murder. I’m waiting to hear her side of the story.”
“Where is she?” Damiano asks.
“She’s passed out upstairs.” I lean back against the couch. “Big Ricky is watching over her.”
“Maybe she killed Maurizio by accident?” Franco asks.
I shrug. “It’s a possibility. We all know Maurizio had a quick temper. He could’ve attacked her, and she fought him off.” I narrow my eyes. “No, Maurizio would’ve killed her. He’s stronger than her.” I rub a hand over my face. “Fuck. I just want her to wake up.”
“You said your aunt is dead as well,” Damiano mutters. “How did she die?”
“She tried to feed me a pathetic lie, and when I called her out, she admitted they wanted me to marry Valentina Toscano. They tried to get rid of Vittoria.” I suck in a deep breath of air as I recall what happened.
“Angelo,” Dario says, and I realize my thoughts drifted off.
I clear my throat before I down the rest of the whiskey. “Aunt Gloria tried to pull a gun on me, and Big Ricky killed her.”
“Christ,” Franco mutters. “That’s fucked up shit.”
“Yeah.” Renzo shakes his head in disbelief.
“I’m sorry, brother.” Damiano gives me a compassionate look. “Sometimes the ones closest to us become the biggest threats.”
Truer words have never been spoken.
We’re all quiet for a moment before Damiano says, “You should take a few days off. We’ll keep an eye on your businesses.”
I shake my head. “I can’t ask that of you.”
“You’re not asking shit of us,” Renzo grumbles. “We’re offering. This is how the brotherhood works.”
“I’ll take care of the club,” Dario chuckles.
“Leave the strippers alone,” I playfully warn him.
“Hey, if they throw themselves at me, who am I to say no,” he jokes.
“I’ll check in with Salvatore and the fleet,” Renzo offers.
“I’ll keep an eye on the restaurant,” Franco quickly stakes his claim. “Let Eddie know he can contact me if he needs help with something.”
When my eyes lock with Damiano, he says, “My ass will keep an eye on you to make sure you get some rest.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Thanks, brothers.”
This is what makes the Cosa Nostra so fucking strong – the fact that we have each other's backs.
Together, we’re unbeatable.
Chapter 34
Tori
Running down an empty stretch of road, shadows darken as they creep toward me.
I open my mouth to scream, but there’s no sound.
Pressure builds around me, and it feels like I’m being chased, but I can’t see anyone.
Intense loneliness engulfs me, and suddenly, I’m wearing a wedding dress.
Black ink slowly spreads up from the seam of the dress, and my body feels heavier and heavier as I try to walk.
The ink reaches my neck, and I gasp for air as I stare up at the black sky.
Unable to open my mouth, my panic and fear become so intense it feels like I’m being strangled.
“Noooo!” I slam into something hard as I startle awake. My breaths are nothing more than gasps.
“I’ve got you,” Angelo’s voice rumbles above my head.
Oh, God. No!
As I realize I slammed into Angelo’s chest, and I feel his arms around me, all the terror and trauma come rushing back.
Maurizio telling me how my corpse will be eaten by worms.
The struggle on the balcony before falling over the railing.
Maurizio’s fingers grasping at my dress.
The sickening thud.
Seeing his body broken over a boulder.
The fear of falling to my death and the struggle to pull myself onto the balcony.
The fear of being stopped as I escaped the villa.
The terror of running away from Angelo.
Darting into traffic to escape Angelo.
Him grabbing hold of me.
“Are you–”
Instinctively, I try to scramble away from him as a cry tears from my throat.
“Baby!”
His hold on me tightens as I frantically push against his chest, but not being able to break free, I resort to begging, “P-please. It w-was an accident. P-please, Angelo.”
He’s going to kill me.
He’s going to kill me.
He’d going to kill me.
The devastating thought has me pushing and straining to escape his tight hold.
Keeping an arm locked around me, he uses his other hand to grip hold of my chin. “Open your eyes, Vittoria. Look at me!”
As I grab hold of his wrist, my eyes pop open, and the second I see his face, I start to sob uncontrollably.