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)
His eyes narrow on me for an unnerving moment before he slowly shakes his head. “Come with me.”
What?
Feeling nervous as hell, my tongue darts out to wet my lips. “Where?”
Without answering, he turns around and proceeds to leave the building with Tiny and Big Ricky right behind him.
I’ve never seen Mr. Rizzo at Mass before, so this can’t be good.
I can feel the other parishioners' eyes on me, but I know none of them will step in to help me. Confused and scared, I reluctantly follow after the man.
There are overgrown gardens at the front and sides of the cathedral, and at the back is a very old cemetery.
My stomach turns to lead as I follow the three men to the back, but I keep a safe distance as Mr. Rizzo looks at the weather-worn tombstones.
I wrap my arms around myself, and as the silence stretches, my body begins to tremble.
Father, don’t let this man kill me on holy ground.
Actually, don’t let him kill me at all.
After the longest minutes of my life, Mr. Rizzo tips his head at Tiny and Big Ricky. My fear multiplies when his two guard dogs wander off to give us some privacy.
A breeze picks up, making the fabric of my dress billow around my legs. My hands slap down against my sides, and I quickly grab fistfuls of the fabric to keep it in place.
When he still doesn’t say anything, I ask with a quivering voice, “Why did you want me to come with you?”
With one hand in a pocket and the other lifting to rub over his jaw, his eyes narrow on me again.
Jesus, I’m going to die of a nervous breakdown if he doesn’t speak soon.
A frown forms on his forehead then he says, “You look tired.”
Wow, what a way to say I look terrible.
Feeling self-conscious after his comment, I give him a frown of my own while shaking my head. “Honestly, this is nerve-wracking. Can you please tell me why you want to speak to me?”
Keep your mouth shut, Tori!
Maybe it’s because I feel so trapped and scared all the time that I’m starting to slip up.
I must imagine it, but the corner of his mouth almost lifts in a smile before returning to the usual grim line. It was only for a split second.
Mr. Rizzo steps closer to me, his body moving like a wolf that’s stalking his prey. Intense fear ripples through me, and my breathing speeds up.
When he stops in front of me, he tilts his head and locks eyes with me. “Your brother paid me a visit yesterday.”
“Stepbrother,” I correct him.
I hate it when people refer to Giorgio as my brother.
Mr. Rizzo’s right eyebrow lifts, and I quickly apologize, “I didn’t mean to interrupt you, sir.”
“You can call me Angelo.”
I’ve never heard anyone call him by his first name.
Caught off guard, I blink at him.
He folds his arms over his chest and looks downright terrifying as he stares at me.
“Giorgio has informed me you’re untouched.”
What. The. Hell?
I continue to blink at him as my face goes up in flames, and embarrassment sets my insides on fire.
I can’t get offended because the capos of the Cosa Nostra have a right to know the status of any woman who’s of marrying age. In most cases, they must give their blessing when a marriage is arranged, which means this conversation is nothing out of the ordinary for Angelo.
Feeling red from my toes to my hair, I nod.
Please, please, please, Father. Don’t let this man arrange a marriage for me. Then I’ll never get away from Giorgio.
Angelo’s eyes narrow again. “You’re a virgin?”
Oh, geez.
I nod again.
“You’ve never dated?”
More heat pours into my cheeks as I nod for the third time.
When he suddenly moves his hand to my hair, I instinctively flinch from the years of abuse I’ve suffered from Giorgio.
Crap.
Angelo pauses for a moment, his gaze sharpening on my face before he twirls a curl of my hair around his finger.
“You flinch as if you think I’m going to hit you.”
His comment makes my insides turn to ice, and the tremble in my body grows.
Unable to tell a lie on holy ground, I admit, “You scare me.”
He lets go of my curl and murmurs, “I don’t find pleasure in hitting women.”
His words don’t make me feel any better.
Chapter 4
Angelo
For the past two weeks, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Vittoria.
After Tiny found out everything he could about her, I had them bring in Giorgio. The fucker was quick to fill in the blanks where she was concerned. It’s clear the man has no loyalty to his family.
But not willing to just believe every word coming out of Giorgio’s mouth, I needed to hear it straight from Vittoria. I know she’s too fucking terrified to dare lie to me.
I drink in her beauty as the wind ruffles her curls. Even though her soft brown irises are trembling with fear, she doesn’t break eye contact.