Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“What?” I gasp.
“Yep,” she says. “Apparently, the wife is always considered a suspect, and they obtained a search warrant for their house.”
How the hell did all this happen? It feels like Lorenzo just killed Eric, yet they’re already knee deep into their investigation. But then I look at the time on my phone and see it’s two o’clock in the afternoon.
Holy shit! We slept the day away.
“Did they find anything?” I ask her.
“Her search history showed she was looking for info about his life insurance policy. And the gun that was used to kill him has her prints on it. They asked to see the cameras that surround the house, but they were down, and there are texts on her phone, where she’s complaining that they’re broke and she needs to find a way out.”
“Oh my God.” I cover my mouth and shake my head.
I know she didn’t do it, but the evidence is damning. I gotta give it to Matteo—he’s good.
“Well, if she did it, she suffers the consequences,” I say.
“I agree,” Nicole says. “And even though my father got what he deserved, I’m struggling because he wasn’t always like this. He used to be a good dad.”
She sniffles over the phone, and my heart breaks for her. I might hate him and agree that his death was justified after what he did, but I can relate to still loving your parent, even when they aren’t worthy of it.
“Ugh,” she groans. “I’m supposed to be putting together a funeral for him, but I just don’t have it in me. He wasn’t a good guy, and after that recording was leaked, everyone knows it. Who would even show up?”
“Maybe nobody,” I say honestly. “But like you said, he was your dad. You need to say goodbye the way you feel is right.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “I guess I’ll do something small, in honor of the man he used to be. But it’ll be bare minimum.”
“If you need anything, I’m here.”
And I mean that. Nicole has become a close friend, and if she needs me, I’ll be there, even if it’s to help plan that piece of shit’s funeral.
“Thank you.”
We hang up, and Lorenzo pulls me into his lap, bridal-style.
“How do you feel about your mom going down for the mayor’s murder?” he asks carefully.
“I think Matteo couldn’t have picked a more deserving person to frame. That bitch tried to sell me. Instead of stopping her husband, she went along with it, and when it didn’t pan out like they’d hoped, she called me selfish for not letting that psycho bitch take me.”
“If they find her guilty, she’ll go away for years,” he says. “You sure you can live with that?”
I don’t have to think about it when I say, “Yes,” because if it’s between my mom and Lorenzo, I’m going to choose him always. “She made her choices, and now she has to deal with them.”
Lorenzo nods in understanding and then tightens his hold on me, pulling me closer to him for a kiss. It quickly intensifies, but when I remember how late it is, I gently push him away.
“As much as I’d love to have sex with you, I have to eat, shower, and get ready for my shift at the casino. And I’d imagine Leo is missing his dad and wants to come home.”
Lorenzo sits up straighter, his brows furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean, your shift? After what happened last night, you’re not going back to work.”
I jerk back at his demand, as if I’d been slapped. “Like hell I’m not going back to work.”
I try to clamber off his lap, but he refuses to let me escape.
“Vanessa, you were almost raped last night. I understand your need for independence, and I’ve supported it, but we’re done doing shit your way. That could’ve been Leysa last night. And instead of you being raped, you could’ve been taken. Until she’s found and her heart is ripped out of her chest, you’re done working outside of our home.”
“Oh, okay. Since you say so.” I scoff and push off him hard enough that he lets me go. Then I climb off the bed and get to my feet, needing space to have this argument.
“Don’t act like this,” Lorenzo warns, swinging his feet around and standing as well.
“Act like what?” I hiss. “Like I need to make a living so I can pay my bills and finish my degree?”
“Like a fucking child,” he barks, then flinches when he realizes what he said.
“Fuck you!” I turn on my heel to leave, but Lorenzo catches me before I can make it out.
“Don’t do this,” he murmurs, his arm encircling my waist and pulling my back against his chest. “I’m sorry. Your independence is one of the things I love about you, but it’s also what’s going to get you taken and trafficked.”