Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“Back in New York. We couldn’t risk being followed.”
“And you’re sure no one followed you?” She raised an eyebrow. My eyes swung to the guard next to her, momentarily wishing he’d vouch for me so we can just get this over with. I knew he was a jarhead like me. That alone should be enough reason for him to vouch for me. He didn’t.
“Look, Mrs. De Luca. . .”
“Sofia,” she said.
“Sofia, I need to get to your daughter before anyone else does.”
“What makes you think I know where she is?”
“Call it a hunch.”
She studied me for a moment. I wasn’t sure what she was searching for on my face, but I knew she wouldn’t find it. I waited patiently for her next question or statement. She’d either try to quiz me to figure out if I was telling the truth about her husband not sending me, or tell me to go fuck myself. Either way, I was prepared. I wouldn’t hurt her, but I’d need to plead my case until she understood that we were running out of time.
“Where’s Russo?” she asked.
“Back in New York.”
“You’re here completely on your own?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Did you volunteer to come?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” She studied me again. I knew exactly what she was asking me. As if to ensure I understood, she added, “Do you care about my daughter?”
Christ. I laughed quietly. I couldn’t help it. I was going to be fucked in so many ways when this fiasco was done. If I survived Giuseppe, I’d still have to deal with Dominic’s wrath. It was a fair question. It was also the only bargaining chip I had left to play with her mother.
“Yes.” It was a simple enough answer and the truth.
She arched an eyebrow. “Does she know?”
“I. . .” I frowned. Did she know? She knew I wanted to fuck her, but did she know I cared about her? I thought of the bathroom that Sunday morning and decided she must have known I didn’t go around holding women while they cried and promising them I’d take care of them. I cleared my throat and gave her another truth. “I think so.”
“Do her brothers know?”
“No.” I rubbed a spot on the back of my neck that felt like it was burning. I wasn’t used to dealing with mothers, especially not the mother of someone I’d fucked. This was making me feel like I was fifteen all over again.
“She’s getting married,” she said with a sad lilt.
“I know,” I said. “I know this is impossible for many different reasons. . .”
“Dangerous,” she supplied. “It’s dangerous. They’ll kill you. Maybe not Dominic, but Giuseppe and Adriano will kill you.”
“I know that as well.”
“And yet, you came alone.” She blinked a couple of times like she couldn’t wrap her head around that.
“With all due respect, Sofia, I don’t need backup.”
She searched my eyes. “Are you willing to die for my daughter?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. I felt as surprised as she looked.
“I’ll tell you where she is.” She took a shaky breath. “But you have to promise me, swear to me, that you’ll keep her safe.”
“You have my word,” I said as she handed me a card. I looked at it. Naples. She was in fucking Naples. “Do you have someplace safe to go?”
“Do you think I’m in danger?” she asked, an edge to her voice.
“I think you know your husband better than I do, but I’d stay vigilant.”
“I need to stay with my mother.”
I looked at the man next to her and nodded. I’d told her I didn’t need backup. If I told her she needed more security, I’d be a hypocrite and it would be a slap in the face to the man protecting her. I had no doubt she’d be safe. Giuseppe was a monster, but I knew he wouldn’t harm his wife or his children. As I walked out of the hospital, I replayed our conversation. Are you willing to die for my daughter? I didn’t hesitate with my answer, and as I tried to analyze it from every angle, giving myself an out, I found none. Once upon a time, I’d been willing to die for my country. I’d always been willing to die for my brothers, bound by blood and shared secrets we’d take to our graves. I’d been willing to protect women I’d been with in the past, of course. If they were attacked, I’d defend them. I wasn’t a fucking asshole. But die for them? Fuck no, I wouldn’t die for them. Yet, I knew, beyond a doubt, that I would gladly give my life to save Lenora. She was too innocent for all of this shit.
18
LENORA
The water was warm as it hit my toes buried in the sand. It was blissful here. The beach was pretty deserted. Few people were fortunate enough to take random weekdays off to enjoy this. I closed my eyes and laughed when I felt a splash on my stomach. I’d been sunbathing when two little kids decided they wanted to build a sandcastle beside me. I peeked my right eye open and found one of them staring at me, his dark curly hair covered in sand.