Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
She ripped it all away, though, leaving me with a fist-sized hole in my chest and memories I’ll never be able to scrub from my mind.
In an instant, I became a Mafia prince. Heir to the Arturo family’s considerable wealth and privilege, but also their secrets and their corruption. Locked inside the family legacy with death as the only way out.
I guess my grandfather was right when he said you can own a person. Even though he’s gone now, his name owns me. His family—the Arturo family—owns me, and I’ll never be free of them.
A flash of dark hair soaked in blood appears in my mind. The girl—Elyse, according to the papers scattered on my grandfather's floor—is right there with me. I almost pity her. If I was kinder I would’ve let her die, but I didn’t, and now she’s just as trapped in this darkness as I am.
A crazed laugh bubbles out of me.
At least I’m not alone.
I snicker to myself and continue drinking. I don’t stop until the bottle is empty, and all I’m left with is the warmth of the alcohol chasing away the memories and pain.
It's funny how things can go from bad to worse in an instant. The next night, I get a phone call from the hospital. At first, I’m confused, but then I meet my real mother, and as if God hasn’t hurt me enough, He arranges things so I arrive just in time to witness her passing. Something inside me died that day, whether it was whatever remaining pieces of my heart existed or whatever juvenile thoughts about the life I might get to have now that I was free from my grandfather still lingered.
It all becomes grains of sand in an hourglass when I learn the truth about my sister, Maybel Jacobs. She needs me, needs my support and strength. It may appear that I’ve lost it all, but I’ve gained something in return, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anything happen to her. My fate might be sealed, but if I have to choose between freedom and protecting the only remaining family I have left, I will always choose her.
1
Elyse
There is no one I hate more than Sebastian Arturo. I thought my father was the most loathsome person on the planet, but I learned fairly fast that it's that smug asshole with his icy personality…that beautiful man who I swear is broken inside and out who is the epitome of hate.
Who cares if he’s my boss? If he saved my life? If he provides me a place to live?
None of that matters or negates the fact that I absolutely loathe him. Considering the life I've had and how I've spent the last ten months since I was brutally beaten and shot by my own father, that's really saying something.
The sound of the door slamming in the foyer still rings in my ears. He always fucking slams the door, as if its presence and the fact that he had to open it at all is offensive to him. I guess I should be used to his crazy antics by now, but unfortunately, I’m not.
I inhale deeply through my nose and try to let it out slowly to release the anger that kindles the moment he comes near me, talks to me, or even looks at me.
Not that he's going to grace me with his presence today.
The second the thought flits through my mind, the door to the staff wing flies open and slams against the wall again, making me flinch. Shit. Apparently, we’re doing this again. I swear the guy is always one second away from losing his damn mind. I wonder what his vendetta against doors is and why he slams them to announce himself.
Having played this song and dance a time or two, I know I have only seconds before he comes stomping into the room. I’m tempted to cower in the corner, but I’ve learned cowering doesn’t stop the inevitable from happening. If someone wants to hurt you, they’ll do it no matter what.
Quickly, I move toward the dresser, gripping the edge of it to steady myself. My knees tremble, and a sheen of sweat forms against my brow, both telltale signs of fear. It’s been difficult to handle the anxiety that comes with living with someone like Sebastian. Fear has been the one thing that helped me survive this life, and I’m so used to living with it and letting it guide my every choice that even though part of me knows I have nothing to worry about when it comes to Sebastian, I can’t shake the lingering panic.
Yes, he's dangerous. I know anyone standing within ten feet of the man would assume he’s a menace, but instinctively, I feel safe with him. Which is strange, considering I want to stab him in the eye almost daily.