Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Butcher grunts a response, clearly not buying it.
He follows after us. He stops when we enter the library but lingers in the doorway. I know Butcher wouldn’t hurt me, but he still freaks me the hell out. There is an emptiness behind his eyes.
Carina grabs a laptop off the table. “You stand here.” She actually places me in front of the chair in the corner of the room before she drops into it.
“What are you doing?”
Carina opens the laptop and wiggles her fingers. “Gonna see if we can get a peek into the Larone home. You said your father has cameras throughout the house.”
“Yes, but not his office or any place he conducts business.” At least I’d never seen any there. They were all over outside, as well as the common areas and hallways. I always felt like we were being watched except in our bedroom.
“Carina,” Butcher barks, having heard everything we said. I spin around to face him.
“I can only have the computer in here, and it’s monitored, but no one is monitoring it now.” Carina says from behind me as Butcher closes in on us. “Don’t move, Angelica.”
“Give me the damn computer,” Butcher demands. He looms over me. Carina is tucked in behind me. Is she using me as a shield? Against the Butcher? The hell? I thought we were friends. Carina continues to click away on the computer.
“He can’t touch you,” Carina says smugly. She is using me as a damn shield. Butcher tries to reach around me to grab the laptop from her, but I move, putting my hands up to push back. He steps away so my hands don’t connect with him.
“See?” Carina snickers.
“Damn it, Carina.”
“It’s fine. I’m just checking on her sister.”
“You and that fucking computer,” he grumbles, trying to make a grab again, but I reach out to touch him, and once again he steps back.
“It’s like I have a superpower.” I can’t help but laugh.
“May the force be with you.” Carina giggles from behind me.
We might be laughing now, but once the men get home, I don’t think that will be the case any longer.
17
ANTONIO
“This isn’t what I’d expected.” Constantine shoots a glare at Gilly. “I thought you’d trust the man whose daughter you married.”
“Trust is in short supply.” I wave the server away once he’s filled my wine glass.
“I heard about what happened after the wedding.”
“You did?” I ask, raising my eyebrows in mock disbelief.
“I was surprised.”
“Interesting.” I lean back in my chair, the room silent except for the two of us and a few pots and pans clanging in the kitchen.
“How is that interesting?” He dips a piece of bread into the olive oil and takes a bite.
I shrug. “I simply find it interesting that your daughter and brand-new son-in-law were attacked in broad daylight yet you neither came nor called to see how your daughter fared. Wouldn’t you find that interesting?”
He stops chewing, his eyes narrowing. “I knew she was all right. I’m not completely out of the loop. You both made it back to your place across the river.”
I take my butter knife and carefully slice a piece of bread from the loaf. “I hope you understand that I take this attempt on our lives very seriously and intend to find the perpetrator and kill him in short order.” I tap my bread into the olive oil, then chew it, my eyes on Constantine.
The old man clears his throat, his gaze darting to Gilly. “That’s why I wanted this meeting. I need to know what you’re doing to protect my daughter.”
“Which one?” I ask.
He sips his wine. “Bianca is safe at home, which is where she’ll stay until the Frangiones decide to marry their eldest to her. She’s my pride and joy.”
I feel the insult, but not the sting. Whatever he may say, I know my bride is worth far more than his opinion of her. He’s just too foolish to realize it. He’s also too foolish to realize he gave me a piece of information that not even Angelica knew: He intends to give Bianca to the Frangiones. They’re a vicious pack of thieves, cutthroats, and human traffickers, ones I’d never lower myself to associate with. So why would old man Larone seek an alliance with them?
The waiter brings our pasta dishes, the Parmesan melting into the semolina noodles beautifully. It’s a shame to let it go to waste.
I push my chair back and stand.
Constantine’s second shifts on his feet, his hand edging toward his gun. I’m not worried about him. Gilly will drop him if he dares draw a weapon.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Constantine, but I will tell you this: Angelica is mine, and she will be the queen of my empire long after you’re nothing but dust.”
He sputters, wine spraying from his lips.