Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
"No, Matteo," Liv hisses into the phone. "We have to do it tonight. You have to kill him tonight."
"Kill who?" I peel back from the shadows, glaring at the woman I was about to promise all my forevers to. "What the fuck are you talking about, Liv? And who's on the other line?"
"Ryder!" Liv quickly disconnects the call. She looks flushed and flustered – she definitely didn't want me to hear this conversation. But now it's too late. The seed of doubt has been planted in my soul where it festers, waiting for her explanation. "I'm sorry, it was just a friend... a silly joke."
"Is that so?" I move closer, battling with my own indecision and whether or not I should believe her. Something tells me there's more to it than Liv is willing to tell me. But am I really going to doubt her, the love of my life, on the day of our wedding? "Why did you end the call so suddenly?"
"I..." She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. "I was just startled when I saw you there, Ryder. You know it's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony."
"Sure." I still don't quite believe it, and my gaze grows suspicious as I drink her in. Except I can't fight back my feelings for her either, I have to tell her how amazing she looks. "You are absolutely stunning in that dress, Liv. I'll see you at the altar."
Without allowing an explanation, I walk away, alone with the worries and thoughts of her infidelity that have already taken root in my mind.
It's an hour later and I'm standing at the altar, waiting for my bride. There's tension in the air. My father, who is my best man, stands to the side, nervously glancing at his watch. And then there she is – my bride, a vision in white, the promise of so many happily ever afters yet to come.
I smile wide when I see her. I keep smiling as she walks down the aisle in the dress her mother wore to her wedding. But Livia doesn't look at me, not even once. Instead, her gaze is aimed at Father. And when she comes to stand before me, she pulls something from the fabric of her dress – a gun.
"Liv?" I ask, worriedly glancing at the gun. She clicks off the safety, paying me no mind. She points the gun at my father and fires.
I scream. The sound of my own soul-shattering despair shocks me to life and I rush to Father's side. But there's nothing – no blood, no wound. Just a bullet hole in his suit and the bulletproof vest he was apparently wearing under it.
"Get her," Father snarls at me, and I look from him to my wife-to-be in pure disbelief. What the fuck is happening here? "Don't let her get away!"
Liv tries to run off, blanching when she realizes her plan didn't work. She trips over the train of her wedding dress and comes tumbling down. I approach her, allowing the guards to take care of Father. Her gun clatters to the floor and she stares at me with something I've never seen in her eyes before.
Pure, undiluted contempt.
"Get away from me," she snarls. "Don't you dare fucking touch me."
"What did you just do?" I ask softly. "Did you just try to kill my father?"
"She did," Father pipes up from behind. "Just like I knew she would, which is why I wore the vest. Are you ready to confess your sins to my son, Livia? Or will you die a coward?"
"Fuck you, cane." Livia spits on the floor before us while the guests chatter animatedly, shocked by this outburst of hate. "I hated you since the day I was born. You will never forget the wrath of a Giordani."
"You even lied about your last name?" I hiss at her. "Did you tell me the truth about anything?"
Her eyes soften as she turns to look at me. "I really tried to love you, Ryder. But I couldn't. Because you're his son, no matter the blood running through your veins."
"Kill her," Father says coolly, and my heart comes to a shattering stop inside my chest. "Kill her now."
"No!" I roar, grabbing the gun Liv dropped from the ground. "You can't kill her, Father."
"But she shot me," he growls. "Are you actually suggesting we let her walk fucking free?"
"No," I hiss, my expression thunderous as I turn to face the woman I thought I loved, and loved me. "I should be the one to do this. Pull the trigger."
Livia's eyes fill with fear and she outstretches her hands, begging for mercy. "No, Ryder, please! We belong together –"
She doesn't get to finish her sentence because I've already fired off two shots.
Pools of scarlet bleed through her dress, staining the pure white fabric. Livia gasps and blood pours from her mouth. She's as good as fucking dead, just like our love.