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)
I was taken in, given everything – a new chance, money, a new life.
In some ways, just like Aurora when she became Nicoletta.
And perhaps she wasn't the villain in her story after all... Perhaps it was her manipulative prick of a father whom I despised from the moment I met him.
My lips tighten, teeth gritting together as I remember what's just happened. My Aurora is gone, taken in the night. And Father is refusing to help me find her.
"Fine," I hiss. "I will find her."
I stop myself before saying more. I don't trust my own feelings right now. Especially not when it comes to Aurora.
I storm out of the office and begin by interrogating the guards, but none of them report anything suspicious overnight. Every guard on duty in the dungeons and outside of the house was shot in the head. This is a house of murder now, yet again. I will kill whoever did this to our men and my woman. I will have my revenge. And once I do, I will lay my claim on Aurora once and for all.
I'm still battling with my own forgiveness, but I'm determined to bring Aurora to her knees again. Only when I have her there will I decide what I want to do with her beautiful submission.
On the way back inside the house, I see a car pulling up in front of the house and Livia exiting. I cross her path as she tries to walk up the stairs into the building, hissing, "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Being useful," she responds, pushing past me and into the house. I follow closely, refusing to say anything but not trusting her enough to let go. She's a suspect in this as much as anyone else. Maybe it was her who made Aurora disappear.
The thought makes my stomach sink. Livia wouldn't just hide Aurora from me, she would have her killed.
The prospect of Aurora being gone hits me in the gut like a punch. I can't accept it, and something tells me deep down I would know if she were dead. But I'm still holding out hope I'll bring her back here, even though I don't understand why. Everything Aurora has told me has been a lie, and I have no reason to trust her. And yet my heart beats only for her, making it impossible to want anyone or anything else.
Livia walks up to Father's office where two guards block her path.
"It's fine," I grunt. "She's with me."
Reluctantly, the guards let her pass and we both walk into Father's office. He's sitting at his desk, watching surveillance videos from last night.
"What's this?" Father furrows his brows when he sees us enter.
I take a seat in front of his desk and nod at Livia. "She wants to be useful, apparently. I'm just as curious as you are to hear it."
"Let's hear it then." Father folds his hands on his lap and nods at Liv. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I heard through the grapevine that that insolent girl went missing last night," she says, and my lips thin out. Word travels fucking fast around the island, but I can use it to my advantage. It means everyone will be on the lookout for Aurora, and if I offer a handsome prize for her safe return, it makes it more likely we'll get her back before something worse happens.
"What of it?" Father demands.
"Well, it seems to me like you're out of a bride for your son." Livia smiles at me before returning her attention to Father. "So, I'm here to offer my services, yet again."
Father bursts out laughing and I join in, shaking my head as I address the brunette. "You can't be serious, Livia. After everything you've done to my family, you really think I still want to be with you?"
She shrugs nonchalantly. "We all know mafia weddings are not about love, they're about alliances. And I would make a good one. I could connect you to plenty of other mafia families."
"We're not interested," I say coolly.
"Tell us more," Father says at the same time, earning a sharp look from me.
"Father... no."
"Let her speak," he says, warning me with a strict gaze. I grit my teeth together. I fucking hate it when he puts me in my place, but my respect for Father is too strong to let me argue.
"I could prove to be useful to you," Livia goes on. "And besides, you need an heir, don't you?"
"Not with you," I grit out.
"Why not?" She offers me a sparkling smile. "I'm beautiful, successful, young enough, and I have the right ties to all the people you need to know in the world."
"She does make a good point," Father pipes up.
"This is ridiculous." I pick myself up from the chair and button up my suit. "If this is the only reason you showed up here today, Livia, let me tell you myself I'm not interested in the slightest."