Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
For a lot of women, giving up a baby is the right thing to do. But I’m not sure if I’m in that category.
I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even realize we’re heading away from the city until we’re on a major road speeding toward the suburbs. “Sorry, uh, Dante? Where are you taking me?”
“The Rossi Mansion per Renzo’s instructions.”
“But I didn’t pack any of my things.”
“Don’t worry, that’s been handled already.”
I open my mouth to protest, but of course Renzo had his people break into my apartment and steal my things under the guise of moving. I click my teeth together and sit back, unable to voice my protest. Even when I’m pissed, I still default to keeping my head down, staying silent, making myself small. That’s how I stay safe and unnoticed. I can’t get in trouble if nobody even realizes I’m around.
But the problem is, Renzo noticed me, and now it’s like he can’t stop watching.
Dante navigates the car to Manayunk. It’s a hilly town right on the border of Philadelphia County, about as far from the city while still technically being within city limits. Old houses, ancient shops, and cute little main streets crisscross a tree- and bush-studded landscape. The car takes us through the center of town and down a small side street with an enormous green park on the right and more huge trees on the left kept at bay by a tall, black metal fence with sharp-looking spikes at the top. I notice more than a few cameras along the perimeter. Slotted through the forest is a gravel road, and the town car pauses only for Dante to punch in a code that opens the gate.
“Here we are,” he says as we pull down a long driveway and into an open parking area set out before the biggest, most beautiful house I’ve ever seen in my life.
My jaw drops. I can’t breathe for half a second. How can a place like this exist in Manayunk? This town’s been around for a really long time, and I always figured every inch of it has been developed. But the Rossi Manor sits in the middle of what looks like untamed forest.
The structure itself is Victorian in style. A big porch rings the front. Multiple peaked roofs press up against the tree line, and a huge turret in the center with several stained-glass windows sparkles in the dappled sunlight. It’s a light gray color, kept pristine.
“Right this way,” Dante says, suppressing a smile as I keep staring at the house. I manage to climb out of the car without tripping over myself, which is a small victory. He takes me in through a front foyer, beautiful and oozing natural charm, with hardwood floors, oil paintings on the walls, and fresh flowers on the end table. It smells like polish and incense.
“How many people live here?” I finally manage to ask, forcing the words out as Dante takes me up the central staircase.
“Renzo’s here most of the time. Saul, Carlo, and Gian come and go, but none of them actually live here. Then there’s Stefania, but she’s away at the University of Pennsylvania right now.”
“Stefania?”
“His youngest sister. You’ll meet her eventually.” We walk past multiple rooms, most of them with closed doors, but I catch glimpses of spare guest bedrooms, a room with nothing but a piano, and a home gym. “There’s also his mother and a small staff that’s always around too, including her nurse. You’ll meet all them eventually.” He opens a large door at the end of the hallway and ushers me inside.
It’s a lush, gorgeous master bedroom, much more comfortable and cozier than I ever would’ve expected from a guy like Renzo. A big, four-poster bed dominates the far wall with a sitting area near the door, a fireplace, a thick rug, lots of brass and metal decorations on the dressers and walls, and two more doors for the bathroom and the walk-in closet.
“You’ll stay here,” Dante’s saying as I stare at everything, head dizzy. I’m too overwhelmed to argue. This is clearly Renzo’s space—I should be in one of the other rooms we passed in the hall. I’m sure we’ll get that worked out soon. “Your clothes are in the closet already and your other stuff’s in boxes. Although there wasn’t much.” He makes a face.
“My boyfriend stole everything.” I wander over to the far wall and realize after a moment that it’s the front of the turret I saw from outside. A reading nook is built in beneath the window. A padded bench, lots of pillows and blankets, and a small shelf with a few well-worn paperbacks. “He took it to his snake friends.”
“Snake friends? Right, uh, well, this is the place.” Dante lingers near the door. “You need anything else?”