Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I found none of the things my client told me about him. He seems to be a businessman with a little family he’s raising. Nothing to trigger me and make me want to end his life.
“You are a very special and powerful woman. The answer is no. You don’t want to do what you’re being asked to do.
“He’s a friend of your family. He will be a friend of yours. If you do this, you will lose everything you’ve been hoping for,” she says as her eyes refocus.
“Excuse me?” I breathe.
She moves in closer and leans into my ear. “You don’t want to kill my husband. He is connected to your future. Don’t make things more difficult than they need to be.
“You will already have a challenge on your hands with your husband. There will be at least two more years before you can remain at his side, but if you do this, you will lose him forever,” she whispers.
She pulls away and I search her gaze. How could this woman know any of this? I glance around the room to see if her husband is watching.
Did he put her up to this?
“How can I know your words are true?” I ask.
“You will mean a lot to my son. I would never take that from him. He will know what’s possible for him because of you.”
“You don’t have a son. You have a little girl. You are lying to me.”
She places her hand against the full fabric of the dress she’s wearing. It is then I can see the bump forming. Okay, she’s having a boy.
“No, I am not lying. After this daughter, I will have a son. His name will be Sammy. You will mean as much to him as your husband and brother-in-law.
“I can’t prove any of this today, but you will know I have told you nothing but the truth when you see the dancer within the music. When you see her, not only will you know I have spoken nothing but the truth to you, but you will also know you have to be the strong one and walk away.
“Before my time is up, you and I will meet again. Then you will know that we are your family, not your enemies.”
“Walk away from what?”
“Him. The one who bears the dancer. If you stay. He will lose his life saving yours.”
With that, she turns to a returning Maribel and rubs her baby bump. Her eyes light up and a warm smile comes to her lips. She turns to me and winks.
“Friends for life. They will be family too.”
Maribel looks after her as she walks away. I watch Sam pull her into his embrace and kiss her forehead. I knit my brows as I watch the two.
“Who was that and what’s with these white people? No one has asked if they can touch my belly before doing so. It’s just plain rude,” Maribel says beside me, causing me to snicker.
“She is a friend of a friend,” I say and shrug, not knowing how else to explain.
CHAPTER 30
Following Advice
Symphony
Three months later …
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Adriano asks as we climb into the car after arriving in Italy on a private jet.
I’ve come to see my husband. After four months of thinking about it, I decided to follow Maribel’s advice. I still don’t know if I will ask for a divorce, but I’ve considered it.
“This is where he is. It is where I need to be,” I reply.
Adriano sighs and shakes his head. “She is sure to get me killed,” he grumbles under his breath.
“I have not seen a single member of my family this year. If they are too busy to come to America, I have come to them.”
“Fanculo, have you thought that maybe things here are keeping them from coming to you?”
“That is likely, but I can only be sure if I’m here to find out.”
“You are here for him. You have stepped into danger because he is a coward and ignores you exist.”
“Enough. You will not speak of my husband like this. Michael and I have our issues, but that is our business,” I growl.
The car falls silent. I have started to pop the band on my wrist. Adriano’s displeasure with Michael is something I am very aware of.
I don’t need a reminder. Not now. I’m nervous enough.
I lied to Maribel. I told her I hadn’t seen my husband since I was sixteen because I was too embarrassed to tell her what happened the last time I saw him. I was twenty-one and freaked out because my husband gave me cunnilingus.
Things have been so strained between Michael and I since that night. I want to fix things. I want to be with him.
I believe Maribel was right. I need to go to Michael and let him know how I feel. I have chosen to ignore Ellen Mairettie’s warning. I have nothing to prove her words mean anything.