Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Suddenly, I feel like I’m going to be sick all over again, because I have no doubt my father was up to this. I need to call him. I need to get away from Nico and call him to tell him we know and that I will declare a war on him my damn self. I didn’t do my part, but that didn’t matter, because he was never going to wait for me to even try. He was marrying me off so he could kill us both. So my brother could reign over Seattle, as my husband has no family, no legacy, but I do. That son of a bitch.
“I need… I need a minute.” I drop the folder and take off to the bedroom. I grab my phone from the nightstand and start pacing as the line trills, the ringing seeming never-ending.
“Ahh, my daughter. I see you came around. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“You tried to kill me and my husband. What happened to the deal? You wanted me to tell you his routines and infiltrate his business so you could take over, but you tried to kill me before I even got the chance. You bastard!” I yell.
“Emelia, what did you think would happen if I let you live? You could have become pregnant with his legacy, meaning your brother would only get temporary control over Seattle. What needed to be done had to be done. It’s a shame my men failed to mention you left early. What a stroke of fate. Lucky you.”
“I hate you. I married him so I could help you kill him. But you never needed that. You’re sick, and I will watch him kill you. I will make sure you get what you—” My phone is ripped from my hands, and I spin to see Nico. His face is red, his neck thick with veins, and the rage in him is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. How much did he hear? He grips my phone so hard it cracks in his hand, the glass breaking before he drops it to the ground and stomps on it.
“Nico… I can explain.” As these words leave my mouth, he takes the gun from the back of his jeans and lifts it straight up to my head.
“You liar! You fucking lied!” he yells, the entire room echoing with it.
“I didn’t, Nico. I promise. Just let me explain.” Tears stream down as I hold my hands up in surrender and back into the wall he’s cornered me in.
“No need to explain, wife.” The way he says it holds the utmost disdain. What was once used as an endearment of ownership and love is now once again filled with hate. “You are a rat, and what happens to rats in this world, baby?” he growls, his lip furling, and I begin to shake uncontrollably. I knew this day would come, but I really thought it would be my father holding the gun on me.
“Nico, please. I had no choice, but I immediately knew I wouldn’t do what he asked—”
“Shut up! You betrayed me, Emelia. And traitors, you know what happens.”
I nod and beg for mercy.“Please, Nico. I knew early on that I wasn’t going to betray you.”
“Liar! You made me open up to you. I told you things, because I loved and trusted you! I should kill you!” I flinch and close my eyes when he cocks the gun. But when nothing comes, I open them slowly. That’s when I see the gun pointed at his own temple.
“Nico?” I ask, horrified.
“I won't kill you. In fact, I should do something much worse.” He pushes the gun harder against his head, and his eyes darken.
“Nico, what are you doing?” I cry.
“You said you love me.”
“I do, Nico. I love you more than anything. I would never hurt you or betray you. Please believe me.”
He gets closer to me now.“Yeah, baby, you love me? Huh?”
“Yes, Nico! I love you! Please come back to me. I can explain everything.”
“No. I don’t believe you’ll tell me everything, but I do know one thing.”
“What? Tell me, please, what?”
He smiles sinisterly.“I know you love me, but it’s too late, baby, and I know a punishment much worse than killing you.”
“What?” I repeat, confused out of my mind and terrified.
“I watched my mother die slowly when she lost my father. Her love for him was so deep that she couldn’t bear to be without him. I should pull the trigger and end it all. Kill myself. And then you can suffer like she did until you die and join me in the fucking afterlife.”
I see him slowly putting pressure on the trigger, and I scream out, “Nico! Please, stop. Please. It’s us. You have to let me tell you! I love you. Don’t do this to us.” I cry so hard I feel it deep in my chest.