Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“I can sit over by the table,” I offered.
“Would you be more comfortable?”
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Okay.” He carried the tray over to the small table and then pulled out the chair for me.
“Thank you,” I said, wrapping the sheet around me before walking over and taking my seat. He pushed in my chair and then bent down and kissed the top of my head.
“I need to make a couple of calls, but I’ll only be in the other room. If you need anything, please just call me.”
“Where is my phone?”
“I put it on the charger. The battery was dead last night. It’s been powered down. Were you expecting calls from anyone?”
“My bosses and well…”
“I was hoping to hear from my father. It’s been so long and I’m worried.”
“Don’t be worried. We’ll get down to finding him soon. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
As he left the room, a twinge of pain entered my chest. Would I always be so needy around him? Mesmerizing. He was mesmerizing.
I ate my food in silence for a moment, but then I remembered my phone. I should probably check it and call my bosses. “What was I going to say?”
“Tell them you moved away and you won’t be coming back to work,” Elio answered, stepping back into the room.
“I thought you had calls to make.”
“I do, but I needed this.” He came over and pulled me into his arms and planted his lips on mine. “God, I needed that,” he growled against my lips as he lightly pulled back.
“I did too,” I uttered, clinging onto his dress shirt with my lips grazing his chin.
“Finish eating or you’ll forgo breakfast and I’ll fucking forget we have plans this morning.”
“Can we?”
“Are you trying to stall getting married?”
“I don’t even know when we’re getting married.” I huffed and moved back to my plate tray, taking a long drink of my juice.
“I’m sorry. I suppose you would like to know we’re getting married tonight.”
“Tonight?” I gasped. “So soon?”
“It’s as good as any other.” That’s right. I’m just a pretty prize for a debt. “Unless you want to wait.”
“No, let’s get on with it,” I replied with the best smile I could manage. As attracted as I am to him, I need love. Maybe one day he’ll feel that for me, but until that time I was a perfect wife who killed two birds with one stone.
“So where is this wedding?”
“We’ll be going to the courthouse in just a few hours. That is why you need to get a move on.”
“What am I going to wear?” I asked him, standing up in just my sheet.
“As sexy as you look in that, I’d rip a bastard’s eyes out for even looking at you like that. Besides, I don’t think your uncle would appreciate seeing you in such a delectable state.”
“Should I pick something I brought?”
“No, I’m taking you out after you get dressed. Then we’ll head on over to the courthouse.”
“Wow, you’re not wasting any time.”
“As I told you yesterday, we wasted enough time. I don’t want a soul to stand in my way. We have an appointment at the county courthouse that closes at five.” We weren’t in Chicago, so I had no idea how many shops there were or anything, but a part of me was nervous about all of this.
“Now, as much as I want to stay and admire your beauty, I have some important things to do before we leave.” I nodded and went back to my phone. I powered it on and saw I had several messages from a number I didn’t recognize.
Hello, you stupid bitch. You think you can run, but we’ll find you soon. You have a choice. You can come back, or we will get you. If we have to, we’ll kill everyone you care about, including that alcoholic father of yours and your dear uncle. Not to mention those bastards who helped you escape.
It was Perez. I dropped the phone and tried not to panic. They probably already killed my father, but I couldn’t take that chance. How was I supposed to go back there, and why did he want me to go home anyway? I already knew what he wanted, and my stomach lurched at the idea. The disgusting image of another man touching me after Elio made me sick. I had to figure out a way to flee and keep my family safe.
I sat the phone down and headed into the bathroom. Elio would be back in the room to check on me. Quickly, I turned back around and snagged my phone off the table. I didn’t want Perez or Calhoun to call and Elio to see, or for him to check my messages. My phone was password protected, but it didn’t stop someone from seeing the beginning of a message or answering a call.