Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“We’re in the southwestern region of Italy. Atrani is the smallest town in the country.” He led me to the edge of this massive deck. A pool was on the left, a grill, tables, and chairs on the right. “Over here is the Dragone River. It runs through this valley.”
“Why did they name it dragon?”
“My mother told me that the people named it that because a dragon would fly down in that area, blow out fire, and hide all night.”
“What was he hiding from?”
Laughter fled Chase’s lips. “I never asked.”
“How could you not ask?” I shook his arm a little. “If a dragon is fucking hiding, then you better be hiding too.”
“Are you aware that there are no such things as dragons?”
“Hey, I’m just saying.” I blocked the sun out of my eyes as he got behind me and wrapped his arms around my body. “What’s over there?”
“The church of San Salvatore. There’s a captivating marble fountain close by and tons of gardens and lemon groves.”
I inhaled and swore I smelled lemons all around me. “You came here a lot?”
“Every summer until I turned thirteen.”
“What happened at thirteen?”
He released me. “Let’s eat breakfast. You have to be hungry.”
“Chase?”
He kept his back to me. “Yes, tesoro?”
Okay. I need an English-to-Italian dictionary. Who knows what he’s calling me?
“Are you going to avoid all my questions today?”
“No, not all of them.” He walked off.
I rushed after him and met his pace. “I don’t like secrets, especially when my man keeps them from me.”
“Is that what I am to you?”
“Y-you’re. . .okay. That’s off topic.”
“You want to know my secrets then tell me you’re mine.”
“I don’t need too.” I raised my injured arm. “I have this right here that tells me I’m currently in the need to know. The secrets stop here. I want to know everything.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?” I placed my hands on my hips. The injured one appeared much more awkward looking in that stance, but who had time to look bold?
“No. You don’t get to know everything about me,” he said.
I tried to keep the hurt look off of my face. “Why not?”
“Some things aren’t necessary to know.”
“I disagree.”
“Then we’ll agree to disagree.” He turned off and left again.
I raised my voice to stop him. “Why is there a gun buried with a body?”
He paused for a few seconds. The face he showed me when he turned around was not one I would ever want to see again. Darkness lived there, more than I knew could exist on his face. “Keep your voice down when you say things like that here.”
“Why?”
“I thought I hated hearing the word no come from your lips, but now I’m starting to despise your whys as well.”
“That’s not an answer to my question, Chase.”
“Someone died by the gun.”
“Who?”
He tapped his fingers against his pants. “That’s a not need-to-know answer.”
The street in me was just begging to come out. I could see myself right there, snapping my fingers, switching my head, and damned near close to slapping the mess out of him. “Need to know basis, my ass! One of your women shot me, and it might have something to do with this mystery gun and body.”
“I’m sorry.” He walked up and embraced me. “If it does, I’ll tell you.”
“You’ll tell me regardless.”
“Is that right?” He seized my lips.
I pushed him away. “No. You don’t get to change the topic with your mouth. I want answers, starting with the buried body and ending with whatever is in those two rooms.”
Chuckling, he backed up. “First, never move away from my lips like that again.”
I flipped him off.
“Second, those rooms and this alleged body that you’re talking of—”
“Oh, now it’s an alleged body.” I raised my hands in the air. “This is bullshit.”
“The rooms and body don’t even relate to each other.” His voice came out with a smooth, calmness to it, yet stress and anxiety spread across his face.
“So there is a body?”
“Let’s talk breakfast.” He left me there. Just like that. No further discussion. If I’d been a cartoon character, black steam would have burst from my ears.
My brother and Vivian stepped outside. Both wore all white. Troy had on these vanilla pants and a top that kept rippling with the breeze. The color went perfect with his caramel skin. Vivian wore an ivory sundress.
I gave them a thumbs up. “You coordinated your outfits?”
Troy frowned and gazed down at his clothes as if seeing them for the first time. Vivian laughed and strolled over to the pool. “Troy’s in a bad mood. I wouldn’t mention my name and his in the same sentence. I’m to be treated like a leper.”
Chase chose that moment to pass them and escape back into the house.
“Troy,” I signaled for him to come over.
“I’m your dog now?” He headed over taking his sweet time, probably because I called him like that.