Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
I should never have listened to him. In the past, Papa had radical plans to free us completely from the ties to Italy. I believed him. When I was younger, he painted these beautiful stories about how we’d never have to live a life within the confines of an organisation, even though ours was one of the more infamous. But it wasn’t because my father was a hero, it was because he broke the most important rule within our world.
More shots ring out, but then there are some that come from the house, and I hear it—death. Lifting my head as much as I can, I glance out at the perimeter of the estate, but I can’t see anyone from where we are.
“All clear.” A few of the soldiers who work for Judah come sauntering past as they shoulder their weapons and head indoors. Suddenly, I’m left shivering on the ground as Judah stands, and offers me a hand. I don’t expect him to help me up, and I don’t know why he’s doing it, but I gratefully accept.
He tugs me to my feet before gripping my face between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes are dark, filled with rage and malice.
“Such a pretty little spy,” he hisses in a low, sadistic tone. “Too bad you’re going to have to pay for Daddy’s sins.” There is no denying I’ve fucked up, but he wouldn’t kill me. Surely not. “Take her to the dungeons.” He shoves me away from him just as Kai steps out onto the lawn.
I stumble into the arms of that man I’ve come to learn is so broken, so tortured, I wanted to save him. But looking up into his dark stare, I realise the person who cared for me is no longer present. In his place is a stranger.
“Judah, please listen to me,” I plead as I’m pulled in the opposite direction. “Please,” I beg once more, but the man who I’m meant to be marrying in a few days is no longer paying attention to me.
Yes, I have made a mistake, but it’s not what he thinks it is, at least, I’m sure it’s not. The email from my father told me one thing, that he’s going to free me and end the reign of the Veniers. But he didn’t tell me how. All I had to do was to lure Judah outside, which I didn’t do, but instead, he forced me into the garden.
“Kai, please, if you just listen to me, I can fix this.” My words, though, they fall on deaf ears because as much as I would like to explain myself, none of these men will hear me. When I see Valen, I meet his frosty glare, and I pray he’ll be the one to actually take on board what I need to say. “Val, there are things that are out of my control. You have to talk to—”
“Time for talking is over, princess,” Valen says to me and I’m shocked at how hostile his tone is with me. I’ve never seen him like this, not with me at least. “You’ll have your time to state your case, but right now is not it.”
Kai drags me behind him and I’m tempted to fight him off, but even if I did, there is nowhere to run. There are no escape routes for me because every man on this estate will have now been told about my double-crossing.
“Like father, like daughter,” Kai whispers as we reach the cold underground dungeons. And I’m shoved into the same room where they held me hostage for a few hours not that long ago.
I didn’t think I’d ever be here again. And yet, I find myself in darkness. I don’t fight, I don’t scream. My father did this to me. He’s the one who put me here. Anger bubbles up inside me and it’s about to erupt. All my life I saw him as a hero. I looked up to him, and I believed in the stories he told me.
It was my naivety that forced me here. I should have questioned more. There were no facts that my father gave, but he convinced me he was the good guy. And what daughter would discount her father’s testimony?
I jump when my cell phone vibrates in my pocket. I forgot it was there, and I think Judah didn’t realise I had it on me. When I pull the device out and glance at the screen, I want to scream. My father’s number glares back at me. It’s a message, one I don’t want to open, but one I know I have to read.
078 543 56980: I’m sorry, my sweet pea. I’ll come to you. Just wait and do nothing rash. There are things at play you’re not privy to, and when I can, I’ll explain.