Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I’m listening.”
“We’re going to turn this asshole,” Elio says. “We’ll use him to get our hands on Orlando.” Elio’s tone grows savage. “Then you won’t have to convince me to get bloody and cruel. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Who’s going to play the detectives?” I ask.
He names two of our middle-ranking men. “We’ll brief them on what to say,” he continues, “but I thought it’d be better if we didn’t do it. He might recognize us or Vito, Marco, Salvatore, Enzo …”
“You’re right.” I take a breath, calming myself down. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BELLA
Iwatch as Sarah, my afternoon student, beams proudly. She’s just aced the awkward spiccato passage we’ve been working on. Her enthusiasm makes me so freaking proud. “See? The bow bounced perfectly,” I say, smiling as she giggles.
Her fingers dance on the strings. She looks up at me, eyes shining with pride.
“Can we do the minuet next?” she asks, already positioning her fingers for the next piece.
I nod, enjoying her eagerness. We review the bowing technique, focusing on smooth transitions and maintaining a steady tempo. Sarah quickly learns, and her small hands move over the instrument comfortably and intimately.
After the lesson, Sarah’s mother reaches into her purse to pay me. She rummages around for a moment, then her expression shifts. “I must have left my wallet at home,” she says tightly. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did this. I can run home and get it right now—”
I raise my hand. “It’s fine. I understand. These things happen. Don’t worry about it.” Relief touches her anxious features, her shoulders relaxing. I don’t mention that the only way I can be this generous is because of the handsome and possibly dangerous stranger filling my safe day by day.
“Thank you so much. You’re so kind,” she says, her voice thick with gratitude.
“Please, there’s no need,” I say, cutting her off as gently as possible. “It’s really okay. Sarah is such a joy to teach. That’s more than enough.” I crouch down to Sarah’s level, giving her a warm smile. “Keep practicing that minuet, and remember to focus on your bow hold, alright?”
Sarah nods enthusiastically, her eyes shining. “I will!” she chirps, hugging her violin.
Once they’re gone, I sit on the couch, yawning. I haven’t been getting enough sleep for months. I think the money situation always plays at the back of my head. Now, it’s still money, but in a different way. I wish I could stop thinking about that phone call. I wasn’t even supposed to hear it.
When my cell buzzes, I snatch it up eagerly. I expect to see a text from Matt, but it’s Emily. I assumed she’d be staying at her date’s house again. She’s done that plenty of times.
Bella? Are you there?
What’s up? I reply.
I need you to come to this address and bring a bag of my things. Press the buzzer and act casual, okay? Just say you’re here to see Emily and drop off some stuff. Then I should be able to come down and meet you.
I stand up immediately, my instincts pricking. Something’s wrong. Is it that guy?
I’m texting you from the bathroom. He’s being really pushy. He hasn’t threatened me, but every time I mention leaving, he gets weird and aggressive. I don’t want to push him. I’ve told him I’ll stay again but need some stuff.
Okay. I’m on the way. You haven’t sent the address, though.
Crap. Okay. Sending now.
A moment later, a pin appears. I rush into Emily’s bedroom and grab a few things to make it look realistic. Quickly packing the bag, I flinch when another text comes through.
Hurry, please, Bella.
She knows I don’t have a car. Getting to the pinned location will take me at least two hours. No, I can get a cab!
It shouldn’t be longer than an hour. I’m going to call a cab.
An hour? Okay.
“Fuck,” I whisper under my breath. Emily isn’t the sort of friend to come out and say something isn’t good enough, but that okay tells me everything I need.
Wracking my brain, I try to think of somebody with a car that could get me there quicker. Mr. Hudson from across the hall doesn’t drive. Neither does Mom, and that’s it. Isn’t that sad? I don’t have anybody else.
Except, maybe, there’s one person I could ask—a tall, broad, muscular, intimidating man who would put the fear of God into any clinging date who wanted to pretend to be a tough guy.
Now he’s getting angry because I’m “taking too long” in the bathroom. I won’t be able to text for a while.
I won’t be long, I reply. I promise.
Getting over the nerves and the doubt, I go to Matt’s number and click call. As it rings, I try to stay calm and not overthink everything. My mind is torn apart by all the bad things that could happen to Emily. Still, if it was that bad, shouldn’t we call the cops?