Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“You’ve been through a lot, Angelina.”
I nod, not sure where she’s going with this.
Holding my gaze, her brows draw together in a look of concern. “How are you holding up?”
I wait for Romeo to censor her, or tell her not to interfere, or something. He’s so in everyone’s business, I’m surprised he doesn’t interfere at all.
“I’m okay,” I say in a little voice. “Thank you.”
“You’re one of us now,” she says. “I’ve heard all that happened. Whatever you need, you come to me or any of us. You have brothers who will defend you to the death, even if they’ll swipe the scones right off your plate and go all caveman bossy about your safety. And sisters who have been in your very shoes.” She smiles sadly. “Well, except for the baby part. But we’ll get there.”
“Thank you,” I tell her warmly, a little choked up. God but it’s been a day. “And you will.”
“Orlando.” Romeo looks straight past me to his brother.
Orlando nods.
“Take her upstairs. You two have had a long day. We all have. And tomorrow, we meet to discuss what happens next.” Though Romeo’s implacable features are stern and unyielding, there’s a ferocity in his eyes that tells me he’s loyal to his family. He’d take a bullet for my husband, and I can’t help but love him for that.
Orlando swallows hard. “Thank you.” His voice is all husky. I wonder why.
We go upstairs hand in hand. The house is strangely quiet, the only sound the voices rising and falling in the dining room.
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
“Romeo’s dismissed the rest of the staff for tonight.”
Ah. They’ve suffered a loss of one of their peers. I imagine it’s sobering.
“Is he sure that everyone’s safe here?”
“Absolutely. We have cameras trained on every inch of this property.”
“And yet… someone was able to get in here and overtake your staff.”
He nods. “She had inside help. The other reason Orlando dismissed staff for the night. We’ll see who returns to work tomorrow and take it from there.”
I feel as if they’re all playing a game of chess and I’m still playing checkers. I’m looking ahead to the next move, and they’re making moves that will result in the ultimate checkmate.
I think about Elise… Orlando says she’s safe. She’s probably safer than I am, anyway, and that’s one thought that consoles me.
The baby within me is safe.
And somehow, despite all the odds…so am I.
CHAPTER 20
“If music be the food of love, play on.” ~ Twelfth Night, Shakespeare
Orlando
A few days pass before I take Angelina to Elise. I feel strange about seeing the woman I was supposed to marry, the one who’s now betrothed to Tavi. And I want to be sure things are safe for Angelina before I do. Elise may have been her childhood friend, but she’s being kept prisoner against her will, I murdered her father, and Tavi had her bodyguard murdered. She’ll have to be watched very closely.
Tavi and Romeo have her stationed in a guest room in the most remote part of The Castle.
“At least she isn’t in the dungeon anymore,” Angelina says as we make our way to see her.
“For now.” I have no idea what Tavi and Romeo have planned, and I will not interfere. She’s escaped with her life, and that’s what matters for now.
Angelina walks beside me and holds my hand. Her cheeks are flushed pink with the pregnancy glow I’ve heard about, and her belly’s gently rounded. My chest swells with pride walking the corridor with her.
She sighs. I don’t ask her why. I know it will take some time for her to get used to our ways. She may accept them for herself, but fear for her friend. Sometimes there are no good choices. Sometimes, you pick up the pieces after tragedy and make the most of what’s left.
I’m hopeful, though. So hopeful. My brother, as Don, has made better choices and led our family more confidently than my father did for decades.
“Are there… like, rules or restrictions for what I can say?” she asks when we reach the door where uniformed, armed guards stand by.
“I wouldn’t mention anything about the wedding just yet. Not sure she knows.”
“Ah.”
She stands closer to me when the guards step forward. “Sir, are you going in?” Romeo’s actually taken one of our capos off his job to stand guard. I doubt it’s Elise himself he fears, but repercussions from the Regazza family. Mario’s working on communication about what’s happened, and so far, so good.
“Yeah, we’re going in. The Don’s given us his blessing.”
One nods to the other, confirming this, but they’d likely take my word for it as well. They stand back and open the door.
Elise Regazza stands by the window, staring out of the large frame. Sunlight shines in her hair, illuminating it. From here, she actually does look like Angelina, the same shade of hair and skin tone. But when she turns to me, she looks nothing like her at all. She’s pretty, but she isn’t my radiant wife.