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)
“Your insult to my wife is one I can’t abide. However”—I button my suit coat—“I will grant you mercy this one time, only because I want my angel to be happy.” I lean down and brace my hands on the table. “But if you come for us again, I will bury you, old man.”
“How dare you!” He stands, knocking over his wine. “You’re no one! A nobody who begged for my scraps, and I gave them to you. Now here you–”
I lunge across the table and grab the front of his shirt, then yank him toward me, spilling the food and sending plates crashing to the floor. “You will never speak of my wife that way again.” I spit in his face and shove him backwards.
He goes flailing and lands hard on his ass.
“Gilly, we’re done here.” I stride past Constantine and out of the restaurant as he howls with rage.
He’s lucky I didn’t put my butter knife through his eye. There’s only one thing stopping me–Angelica. I won’t disappoint her or hurt her, even though my vengeful nature demands justice. My kind of justice.
But for her, I walk away. I have to. Because she means more than any old man’s insults ever will.
“—didn’t let me come to the wedding. I was so crushed.” A woman’s voice floats through the hallway.
Gilly raises a brow at me.
I shrug.
“I know! I was already so sad to be married off to a stranger, and then when I realized you weren’t there like we’d planned, I had a come-apart, and then I fell apart again when I got married.”
I walk to the library, the door open as Angelica and Carina speak to a woman via Skype. It must be Bianca. Clever Carina, striking while she knew Constantine would be busy with me.
“Dad locked me in my room and told Roman to watch me.” Bianca shivers.
“Ugh, I hate Roman. He’s the worst.” Angelica leans forward, her gaze glued to her sister. “But are you okay?”
“Me? I’m the same. I’m more worried about you. Mom let it slip that you ran into trouble after the wedding, but she wouldn’t tell me anything else. What happened? Is it your husband?” Her voice lowers. “Is he cruel to you?”
“Oh my gosh, no!” Angelica laughs, the sound easing the tension that was radiating through me after the meeting with her father. “He’s actually … well, he’s really sweet. He’s kind of jealous. I mean, he doesn’t let any of his men so much as look at me. It’s funny, really. And you met Carina. She’s awesome.”
“I am.” Carina grins, then glances at me. The grin falls away as she realizes the trouble she’s in.
That’s when I notice Butcher. He’s been standing completely still against the back bookcase, his eyes on the screen, the most intense look I’ve ever seen on his face. What the fuck?
“I wish I could be there with you, to be honest. I hate it here, and Mom–” She gasps and leaves the screen, then comes back in a hurry. “Dad’s home, and he’s shouting downstairs. I have to go.”
“I’ll see you soon.” Angelica’s voice breaks, shattering off a piece of my heart. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Bye.” Bianca disappears, and Angelica sits back in her chair, then covers her face with her hands and lets out a wail.
I hurry to her and kneel in front of her, pulling her hands away. “My angel, don’t cry.”
Carina slips away and out of the library, just as quick as Diablo when he’s in trouble.
“She’s trapped there. She didn’t say it, but I can feel it. She’s scared. We have to get her out.” Tears run down her cheeks, and I wipe them away.
“We’ll get her, angel. Your father is backed into a corner. I didn’t realize it, but he’s far more desperate for money than I knew. I don't know what he’s got himself into, but he’s in deep.”
“Wh-what makes you say that? Because he let you marry me?” She sniffles.
That brings a wry smile to my face. “Yes. I didn’t deserve you and never will.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” I kiss her hands.
“Then what?”
I don’t want to tell her this, but it’s best if she hears it from me. “He intends to marry your sister to the Frangiones.”
Her breath hitches, and the color leaches from her face. “No,” she whispers.
I had hoped she didn’t know their reputation. But clearly, she does.
A noise behind me catches my attention, and I turn to find Butcher stalking from the room. He blows past Gilly and stomps out the house, the garage door slamming behind him.
Gilly gives me a questioning look. I shrug. I have no fucking clue what just happened, but I know it can’t be good.
18
ANGELICA
“Antonio, no.” I grip the front of his shirt. “Please.” Tears sting at my eyes thinking about my sister being at the hands of the Frangione family.