Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
He guides us to Nicoletta's bedroom. There’s a huge bed in there, since we often have sleepovers and sleep together. But while Nicoletta trustingly climbs between the sheets, I'm much more reluctant. I can't forget what I saw. The blood pooling beneath Gustavo's body will haunt my dreams.
"Get to sleep, girls," Papa insists, and I get in the bed, too afraid of what he'll do to me if I don't obey. "Good night. I'll wait until you fall asleep."
Nicoletta is already yawning and falls asleep within minutes, but I'm still frightened and once I do fall asleep, it's fitful and I keep waking up. I never thought I'd be afraid of my own papa, but I'm shivering at the thought of what he did to Gustavo.
Finally, I manage to fall asleep, and even though my dreams are plagued by nightmares, it's better to the alternative of dealing with what happened.
My eyes fly open when a hand grabs mine. I shoot up in the bed. Papa is standing over Nicoletta and he's smothering her with a pillow.
"No!" I scream at the top of my voice. My best friend's eyes are wide open, her screams muffled by the pillow. "No, Papa! No! No, don't do this! No!"
Nothing helps, not my screams, not my desperate attempt to push him away. Suddenly, Nicoletta's body goes still. But Papa keeps pressing down. And my best friend is gone. I know he killed her, too.
I collapse on the hardwood floor and stare ahead of me.
"Finally, it's done," Papa mutters, tossing the pillow aside and looking at me. "I should have told you what had to be done, but you also should have listened and stayed in the cottage."
"You killed them," I whisper in disbelief. "You killed Nicoletta."
"No," he hisses. "You're Nicoletta now."
I shake my head, glaring at him. "My name is Aurora. Like my mama."
"Not anymore." Papa gets up and pulls me up too, dragging me outside. He shuts the door and looks at me. "From today on, your name is Nicoletta, and I am Gustavo Carlucci."
"Is that why you killed them?" I hiss. "So we could take their places? I hate you."
His swift slap takes me by surprise, sending me tumbling backward.
"You will obey," Papa snarls. "Or the same fate will befall you. I can do this with or without you, Nicoletta."
I start to sob but he pays me no mind. I run off, but he doesn't go after me.
I hide in the gardens until my tears run dry and my stomach starts to hurt because I haven't eaten. I start to piece together what Papa did and realize I have no choice. He already told me he's going to do the same thing to me if I disobey.
Swallowing my pride and my morals, I make my way back to the house. Papa is there, and he watches me closely as I sit down next to him.
"Hello, Nicoletta," he says, chilling me to the very bone.
"Hello, Papa," I whisper uselessly.
It's done. Nicoletta and Gustavo are back. The only person who really died tonight is Aurora.
24
Ryder
There's no way I can keep Livia away from me for much longer.
She's appeared at the mansion multiple times this week, each time trying to get an audience with me. And as much as I want to deny I ever even knew her, I know I have to listen to what she has to say. Maybe it will shed more light on what Nicoletta and her father did to get here.
So, I agree to meet her. Our scheduled session will happen in my office, which I've deemed neutral ground. I wear a stern expression, sitting down behind my desk with unforgiving eyes. She strolls in easily.
Even I have to admit she looks good. Livia's always been very attractive, and today is no different. She's wearing a tight royal blue dress that clings to her curves, and her silky dark hair falls in waves down her back. She would probably be irresistible to any other man, but not me. I know just what she's capable of, after all.
"Take a seat," I grunt without offering a greeting. "And let's get down to business."
Livia smirks, seductively crossing her legs as she sits down in front of my desk. "So professional today, Ryder."
I ignore her remark and pour myself a stiff drink without offering her anything. I want to make it perfectly clear she's not welcome here unless she has more useful information to share with me. "I'm assuming you know more about the Carlucci situation than you're letting on."
She grins, "Maybe."
"Share what you know," I bite out. "If you don't do it willingly, we have other ways of getting the information out of you."
"Oh, I'm sure you do," she purrs. "I still remember."
The last thing I need right now is a reminder of what a vicious little bitch she is, so I merely stare at her hard until she shrugs with a sigh.