Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
I pull the dust cover off the old sofa and curl up in a ball to wait for Diego. My eyes drift closed, exhaustion quickly pulling me under.
A soft sound jerks me awake. I sit bolt upright on the sofa, blinking.
Rain slides down the windows, silvery storm clouds obscuring the moon. I have no idea how long I've been asleep, or what time it is, but it's still dark out.
The sound comes again, like a shuffling from the kitchen.
Diego's here. Finally!
I jump up from the sofa and hurry that way, tears of relief welling in my eyes. God, it feels like it's been four years since I saw him last. I miss him so much. Not being able to talk to him, not knowing if he was okay…I couldn't allow myself to think about it or I would have cracked. But knowing that he's here now feels like a weight falling from my shoulders.
"Diego," I cry, racing into the kitchen.
I realize my mistake a moment too late.
The elderly man in the kitchen isn't Diego. Neither is the giant at his side.
"Genovese," I whisper, staring in horror.
Oh, no. Oh, no.
Genovese meets my gaze, smiling. "Ah, principessa. There you are."
Battista lunges for me.
Chapter Thirteen
Rafe
When the pounding on the front door starts, I'm no longer drunk. I'm not entirely sober either. Regret pulses in my chest as I haul myself to my feet and stumble through the foyer to let them in before they break down the door. I knew they were coming, but I really fucking hoped it'd be after Mattia found Genovese so I could kill him slow.
I pull the door open, and then blink.
"Che cazzo?" What the fuck?
"Where is she?" Diego growls, aiming a pistol at me. The right side of his face is a mess of healing bruises. Courtesy of Genovese, I'm guessing.
"Get the fucking gun out of my face," I say calmly.
"Where is she?" he roars in response.
What little patience I have left after the day I've had flees. My blood pressure spikes, my temper erupting. I grab him by the throat and drag him into the house, knocking the gun from his hand in the process. He takes a swing at me, the edge of his fist glancing off the side of my face.
I slam him up against the wall.
He tries to hit me again.
"Calm the fuck down before I put you down," I snarl, cutting off his air supply. "You came to my house, waving a fucking gun in my face. The only goddamn reason you're still breathing is because of her. What do you mean where is she? She's supposed to be with you." I relax my grip slightly, allowing him to speak.
"She left a voicemail. Crying." He glowers at me. "She wanted to meet at Alvise's place. When I got there, she wasn't there."
"If I let you go, are you going to piss me off?" I ask.
He stares at me, hatred burning in his eyes.
"Mafankulo," I curse. "You want to kill me? Fine. I'm not too fucking keen on keeping you alive at the moment either. You've been pissing me off for two weeks. But right now, none of that shit matters because your sister isn't with me, and she isn't with you either. And Genovese tried to kidnap her from here three days ago. So you can either stow your shit and help me find her or get the fuck out of my way because until she's safe, nothing else fucking matters to me. Nothing!"
"Goddammit," he swears. "He tried to kidnap her?"
"Three days ago," I mutter.
He grits his teeth, eyeing me like he isn't sure if he believes me or not. And then he reluctantly holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
I slowly release my hold on him, stepping back.
"He's offering millions to anyone who brings her to him," I say after a moment, watching him intently. "Any idea why?"
He hesitates.
"I already know about your deal with him to bring me down." I scowl, still furious about that. Diego is a rat, an informant. He's been working with Genovese against my family. If I didn't need him, I'd put a bullet between his eyes right now. If he weren't Amalia's brother, I wouldn't even regret it. But I do need him, and he is her brother. That's the only thing keeping him alive. "Amalia told me everything, so don't try to bullshit me, Butera. Why does he think she's someone else?"
"I want your word that you're helping me kill Genovese regardless of who she is," he says.
"Oh, I'm definitely killing Genovese. I'm taking out his entire goddamn family if that's what it takes," I vow. "As soon as I find that brutto figlio di puttana bastardo, he's dead. I'll swear whatever oath you want me to swear."
"He thinks she's Serafina Cerrito."
"Why does he think that?" I ask, watching his expression carefully.