Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Raya doesn’t hesitate and quickly wraps her arms around me.
When her hand brushes over my lower back, there’s a note of panic in Nina’s voice as she says, “Careful. He’s injured there.”
Raya pulls her arms back and rests her hands gently on my sides, then turns her face up to me. “I was so worried. I think I died a million times this week.”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “I’m really okay.” When my eyes drift over her features, I see the strain she’s taken and the suffering my disappearance caused her. I pull her back into another hug and near her ear, I whisper, “I’m here, and I love you.”
“Love you too,” she whispers, and when we pull apart, Dad’s there to place his arm around her shoulders.
Adriano pats me lightly on my shoulder, and I notice Nina tense up. It looks like she wants to say something, but she bites the words back.
She’s worried about me, and everytime someone touches me, she wants to stop them.
The realization makes a grin spread over my face.
Chapter 14
Nina
With every step I take up the airstairs of the private jet, my anxiety increases and my stomach sinks.
Even though Georgi showed me tenderness after I bumped into the car door, I don’t trust him for one second.
He’s mafia. Men like him only know how to conquer and destroy. End of story.
Sure, he showed love to his sister, but even Boris was capable of feeling love for Tanya. It doesn’t mean shit to me.
“Nina,” Georgi’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and when my eyes focus, I find myself standing between four leather seats facing each other in pairs. He bends at the waist to look at my face, a worried expression tightening his features. “Are you okay?”
No. I haven’t been okay for nine years.
He guides me to a window seat, and when I sit down, he crouches in front of me. “You’re exhausted, mishle. You need to eat something and sleep.”
I do, but I’m not shutting an eye while I’m surrounded by the enemy.
When I don’t reply, he lets out a sigh and takes the seat on my left.
I keep my head down, conscious of all the other people finding their seats.
Suddenly, Georgi leans over me. The air is ripped from my lungs in a very loud squeak, and I turn my torso, trying to cover my daughter.
“I’m just helping with your seat belt,” Georgi says, his tone soft like it’s been whenever he talks to Simi.
“Oh…” I feel his hands brush over my abdomen as he fastens the belt, and I’m shocked when I feel a different kind of nervous. It’s not fear, but a quivering anticipation. Almost like a fluttering sensation.
My eyes dart to his face, and when mine lock with his hazel ones, a kaleidoscope of butterflies takes flight in my stomach. It’s so sudden and unexpected, I have no time to brace for it.
Caught completely off guard, I quickly turn my head away and stare out the oval window.
No, Nina. Just because he’s been kind to you and Simi and giving you false promises, doesn’t mean you can let down your guard.
As Mr. Torrisi and Raya sit down across from us, Simi stirs in my arms. My attention snaps to her, and when her eyelashes lift, and she sees me, a toothy smile appears.
“Mama.” She rubs the side of her face against my chest before sitting up. Her fingers begin to move, rubbing the silk, as she glances around the cabin, then she whisper-shrieks, “Are we flying?!”
“Not yet. The plane is about to take off,” I say, keeping my tone soft as well.
She leans forward and places her hand on Georgi’s forearm, then whispers to him, “We’re going to fly!”
He leans closer. “Why are we whispering?”
“So we don’t upset people,” she replies.
My heart constricts painfully in my chest.
Georgi moves his left arm, and I see the pain flash over his face as he brushes his palm over her braid, where some strands have come loose. “You don’t have to whisper, printsesa. No one will dare get upset with you.”
“Why?”
Georgi playfully boops the tip of her nose with his fingertip. “Because I say so.”
Simi looks at me, then loudly announces, “Mama, I need to pee-pee.”
“Softer, malka,” I hush her.
“But Georgi said I don’t have to whisper,” she argues as she begins to wiggle her body out of my hold to climb off my lap.
I help her to her feet before undoing my seat belt.
Simi doesn’t wait for me and darts away, but not looking where she’s going, her foot hits Mr. Torrisi’s shoe, and she trips.
Both Georgi and Mr. Torrisi react. Mr. Torrisi grabs hold of Simi while Georgi sucks in a sharp breath that has my eyes flitting between him and my daughter.
Simi pushes against Mr. Torrisi’s hands and worms out of his hold, her face going pale from fear.