Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Just then my phone began to ring and I was almost afraid to look down at it. I knew exactly who it was, but I didn’t have the courage to check or even to respond. I knew he would be furious with me.
“What’s happening to Dante right now? Has he been released?”
“He should have been,” she said. “Isn’t he the one trying to call you?”
At her words, I pulled the phone out of my pocket. I couldn’t postpone talking to him especially since I would be taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals soon.
I got up and left the room. I stood at the door to my former room but was unable to go in. Instead, I headed over to the bathroom and shut the door behind me.
I pressed the phone to my ear and for a moment I doubted he was on the other end of the line. There was nothing but silence. He was fuming, but I had to do what was best for both of us. Not just me, but him too. What was the use of me being alive if he was dead?
“I’m sorry,” I apologized.
“Why?” His voice was low and controlled, but I didn’t think if he had yelled, I would have felt his anger any more intensely.
“I think it’s best,” I said. “I couldn’t let them fabricate some vile charges and pin them on you. Given your background, a jury is more likely to convict you than not.”
He was so disappointed and angry with me he couldn’t even speak.
“Dante,” my voice softened. Tears burned in my eyes.
“You don’t understand anything,” he said harshly. “You’ve given away the only winning card I had.”
I thought of him washing my hair and hot tears began streaming uncontrollably down my face. My heart hurt. All the warmth and joy I’d felt, I felt as if I’d killed it.
“Why couldn’t you have trusted me just once?” he whispered.
I could have dealt with him raging and livid, even sarcastic and indifferent, but that defeated, hoarse whisper. It broke me. I felt so distraught I nearly blurted out that I loved him and couldn’t bear to see him suffer even for one moment.
Then I heard Detective Mellor call out to me and it snapped me out of my shallow pity party. I had taken this painful decision because I loved him and wanted to do something truly selfless for him, and now I must face the consequences, whatever they may be.
“I'll be fine,” I said. “I wasn’t kidnapped by you and I’ll be sure to let them know. I won’t let them pin that on you. Please take care of yourself, Dante.”
As I ended the call and switched off my phone, I felt sick. I had defeated him. No one could have defeated that magnificent avenging angel, but me. I bowed my head with sadness. The familiar crushing pain of loss gripping every corner of my chest came back with a vengeance.
There was nothing I could do but welcome it back as an old friend. I returned to the living room and saw that two more men had arrived. Were they U.S. Marshalls? They had watchful eyes, but they nodded at me politely. Detective Mellor was on the phone with her back to me and facing the window, but she turned around when she heard me return.
She put the phone away and smiled at me. “Are you ready to leave?”
I looked at the two burly men. “They’re from the U.S. Marshalls, right?”
“Of course,” she confirmed.
I was led to the underground parking lot and put into their SUV and soon, we were on our way. Detective Mellor came with us which I found peculiar but I couldn’t really say anything. In the past, she never came with Matthew and Sarah, but perhaps because of the ambush they were taking things more seriously. My only wish was that wherever they were taking me would be safe enough.
Chapter 54
Dante
“They shouldn’t have let her go,” I muttered tiredly. I felt drained of all strength. I felt betrayed by my men who agreed to take her to the apartment, betrayed by her that she didn’t trust me. I couldn’t understand why she would risk her life. What was she trying to prove? Of all the mule-headed idiotic things to do …
“Maybe it’s for the best,” Foster said.
I glared at him.
“You hired me to defend you. Antagonizing the police was a bad strategy. Not having her in your custody will make your case more winnable,” he explained.
I looked away from him.
“Anyway, after the damage to their reputation, I’m pretty sure they will be extra vigilant in protecting her now.”
I listened to his words but it was as though we were on two different worlds. Didn’t he understand? I wasn’t going to walk away. I was going to get her back and it was going to be so much harder. I picked up my phone again and called Giotto.