Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
She pulls the trigger, and he falls to his back and lets out guttural noises that pull her lips into a wicked smile. He isn’t dead yet, but there is no way he’s getting up anytime soon.
Phillip and the other men come rounding the corner, and I’m on Emelia, taking the gun from her hand. I put the safety on and slide it in my holster.
I grab her face and see her eyes glazing over as she looks at her father on the ground. “Emelia? Baby, are you in there? Baby!” She is zoned out and completely gone.
“Phillip, get Giulio to a hospital, and you two, take care of her father. Somewhere he can't be found.” I bark out my orders before I pick Emelia up. I carry her out of that garage and to the car.
Starting the engine, I keep trying to pull Emelia from her dazed state, but I get nothing. I drive to the hotel and get her inside and in the shower. It isn’t until then that she snaps, and with the loudest scream I’ve ever heard from someone, she unleashes everything built up inside her.
I hold her tight as she screams, not trying to stop her or contain her, just to keep her safe. I let her feel, let her breathe, let her be free.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EMELIA
I wake up to the light coming through the window. My face aches, and my body feels heavy, like I was hit by a car. I look around the room and see I’m alone. I look down at my body, and I’m covered in scratches and bruises, and I’m completely naked.
Slowly, the memories of the night before come flooding back. I remember blacking out in the bathroom, then coming to with my father, brothers, and Natalia surrounding me. I remember Natalia calling Nico, and me screaming for him not to come. I wince remembering the pain from each hit from my brothers and father.
Then… I remember shooting my father. Did he die? I don’t know. I remember the sound of the gunshots and seeing him fall to the ground, but after that, it was like a haze overcame me, a black haze, and I couldn’t hear or really see anything.
Slowly, I get up, moving to the door where a robe hangs. Pulling it on, I tie the belt around my waist and open the door. Nico stands, ending the call with whoever he was speaking to.
“Emelia, you should be resting. Come sit.” He rushes to me and takes my hand, then walks me to the couch. I sit gingerly and look around.
“Where is everyone?”
“The guards are outside the door, and Giulio is at the hospital.”
Panic sets in. Did I shoot him?
“Did I—?”
“No, you didn’t. Your father did.”
“Is Giulio alive?”
Nico nods.“Yes, he will need physical therapy, but he was only hit in the shoulder. He will be fine.”
“And…” I pause, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “My father?”
“He's gone. My men took care of him, and he is no longer an issue.”
“Did I kill him?”
“No, you got him good, but I stopped you, and he was taken away and handled.”
I start crying then, overwhelming emotions overtaking me.
“I'm sorry, baby. It had to be done. He was never going to stop, and he was a danger to us and his own outfit. Okay?”
I look up and I shake my head.“No. I'm free. He's gone. The pain is gone.” I release a deep breath, like it's my first time on earth and I’ve never breathed before. I inhale and exhale so rapidly I almost hyperventilate.
Nico holds me close, rubbing my back and kissing my head all over.“Yes, you're free. Forever.”
“But what about Natalia? And my mother? They surely won't be okay with all this. What if they do something or go to another outfit and turn them against you?”
He shakes his head. “My men caught Natalia as she took off. That’s why it took them so long to get to us. And your mother…” He hesitates, looking out the window.
“My mother what, Nico?” I lean to get back in line with his vision.
“She killed herself, Emelia. My men showed up with your father’s body to show her, and she grabbed a gun and shot herself. She’s dead.” I look around the room. I should feel pain and remorse, but I don’t, and that scares me.
“Nico, why isn’t this hurting me?” I ask him, because I fear for myself.
“Because they were evil, Emelia. They would have killed you. They tortured you all your life. You are free from that hell.” He rubs my thighs.
“I’m sorry.” My lip trembles, and I drop my head to his shoulder.
“Why are you sorry? You’re safe. I’m safe. Everything is okay.”
I look up and cradle his face, rubbing my thumbs along the stubble on his chin.
“No, I’m sorry you lost your parents because of my father. I’m sorry they aren’t here. I’m sorry for everything.”