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)
The moment the flight attendant walks away, Mr. Torrisi says, “It’s time we talk, son.”
“Sure.” Georgi relaxes while everyone else looks at him.
I scoot closer to the window and watch Simi as she picks up a crayon and starts to draw.
Chapter 15
Nina
“Tell us what happened,” one of the other men says, drawing my attention away from Simi.
Thankfully, she doesn’t understand English, but I can’t stop myself from listening to the conversation.
“You know what happened. I was taken, tortured, and now I’m fine.”
“Why did you bring the woman and child?” another man asks.
I bristle, ducking my head a little and praying to a God who’s never listened to me before.
Don’t let this get ugly in front of Simi.
“I took them.”
“What are you going to do with them?” This time it’s Mr. Torrisi speaking.
“They’ll live with me. They’re mine, so just drop the subject. I won’t tolerate a single argument regarding the matter.”
His.
It terrifies me because I don’t know what it means for Simi and me.
“Fine. What are we going to do about Boris Pavlov?”
“And Anton Belinksi,” Georgi adds. “I’ve told Rosie to find out everything about the fucker. I’m going to take a couple of days to heal before hunting them.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re taking some time to get better,” Raya suddenly joins the conversation. Then I’m surprised when she asks, “If Nina and Simi are going to stay with you, can I get to know them?”
“I’d like that.”
Georgi’s tone is much softer, and it has me sneaking a peek at his face. Seeing the warm smile he’s giving his sister, I feel a pang of loss for something I haven’t had since Mom died.
“Nina is here to stay,” he adds with finality in his voice. “I’d appreciate it if you all made her feel welcome.”
“Introduce us,” one of the other men says.
“Nina.” I lift my head obediently, and Georgi gestures at the two men who seem to be around his age. “That’s Augusto Vitale and Adriano Rizzo. They’re my best friends and also capos. You’ve met my father, Renzo Torrisi, and my sister, Raya.”
Capos.
That’s all I hear right before there’s a rushing sound as my heart speeds up dangerously fast.
“No, don’t be scared,” Georgi says. “You’re under my protection.”
I don’t believe that for a single second.
“What information did they try to get out of you?” Mr. Torrisi asks.
“Our routes and contacts. Which ports we used, and what the meeting with Atanas was about.”
“And?”
A frown forms on Georgi’s forehead as he locks eyes with his father. “And what?”
“Did you tell them anything?”
Georgi’s quiet for a moment, then he turns his head to look at me. “When you drugged me, did I give any information?”
I quickly shake my head. “No. You were quiet at first, but then you slipped into a hallucination or bad memory about a fire.”
His eyes narrow slightly. “What did I say about it?”
I swallow hard, keeping my eyes on him. Looking at the other men is just too unnerving. “Ah…you said you couldn’t wake them. I don’t know who. You called for Raya and turned very aggressive when the guards or Boris came near you.” A breath quivers over my lips. “You lunged at me.”
His expression darkens. “Did I hurt you?”
I shake my head. “No, I jumped out of the way before you could get to me.”
“Good.” He exhales a relieved breath that leaves me utterly stunned.
He looks genuinely glad that he didn’t hurt me.
“Are you okay reliving that night?” Raya asks.
Georgi nods. “I can’t remember what I saw while I was drugged.”
“Hold up,” Adriano mutters. “She drugged you?” He levels me with such an intimidating look, I shrivel into my seat.
Oh shit.
“She had no choice,” Georgi informs them. “Whatever part she played in my abduction, captivity, and torture was to keep her daughter safe.”
“Yeah? That makes me worry about what else she would do,” Augusto says. “Like killing you in your sleep?”
“No.” The word bursts from me in a surge of panic. If they think I’m a threat, they’ll kill me right now.
Georgi lets out a chuckle. “Seriously. You think this five-foot-nothing woman can take me down?” Another chuckle. “Please. That’s insulting. Besides, she could’ve tried last night, and she didn’t.”
“There’s always tomorrow,” Adriano mutters. “Maybe she let you take her so she can get a front row seat to how the Cosa Nostra operates.”
NoNoNo!
The humor vanishes from Georgi’s face, and he leans forward, his tone harsh. “You have no fucking idea what she’s endured in that house of horrors. Back the fuck off. I won’t have any of you scaring her.”
The tension in the air thickens so much that it makes my fear spiral out of control.
Right now Georgi is defending me, and it has me doing something I would never do under different circumstances. I press close to him and try to hide behind his right arm.