Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Your fiancée?” London whispered.
The girls in the studio murmured to one another in a wave of approval.
Geno took Amaranthe’s hand and turned her wrist over to bring up her fingers, showing off the ring. She understood that he wasn’t just warning Jenny he would retaliate against the teen, but that he would take down the entire family if anything else were done to his fiancée. She was beginning to understand just how ruthless the Ferraro family could be under the right circumstances—when they were protecting the ones they loved.
The idea that Geno Ferraro could love her astonished her. Her gaze jumped to Salvatore and then Lucca. They were there to defend her as well. Even though she found Geno’s voice and demeanor chilling, she still felt wrapped up in a warmth she’d never known before.
“Jenny knows Amaranthe is my fiancée, London. She knew when she defied her, refusing to stop bullying the other girls. She knew it when she refused to call you after having been given a direct order. She knew it when she tried to punch Amara. And she knew it when she tried to get you to say something derogatory to her,” Geno accused, never once raising his voice.
“Jenny.” London barely breathed her daughter’s name. “How could you?”
“Mom, just pay him off. Pay whatever they want. I have to dance. I don’t care who she is or if they’re sleeping together. Just pay them whatever they want.” Jenny’s eyes filled with tears, and her voice hit a whiny pitch.
Amaranthe could see the teenager was very used to manipulating her mother. London hesitated and looked imploringly, first at Geno, who gave her his expressionless mask, and then to Amara.
“I’m sorry,” Amaranthe said as gently as possible. “She can’t come back. She went way over the line.”
“I wouldn’t allow her back even if Amara insisted on giving her another chance. First, she isn’t sincere. Those are crocodile tears,” Geno said. “And second, she tried to physically assault my fiancée. That’s unforgivable. Take her home, London, before I insist Amaranthe press charges against her.”
“No.” Jenny spat the word out. “No! Mom, pay them.”
“Money isn’t going to work,” Geno said. “Please take her home, London.”
“You’re going to be sorry. You think you’re so high and mighty, but you’ll see,” Jenny threatened. “You aren’t the only one with friends.”
Lucca threw his hands in the air as if he couldn’t take one more moment of the teenage tantrum and slipped out the door of the studio. Fiero went with him, straight to the car parked at the curb, opened the door, his body blocking the view of the Ferraro brother for just a moment. Then Fiero closed the back passenger door and leaned against the vehicle his hands loosely at his sides, looking deceptively casual. It was impossible to see inside the dark tinted windows where Lucca had supposedly entered the back seat.
They’ll contact her online, Salvatore warned Lucca. You’ll have to stay very close. She isn’t going to wait. She’ll text them the moment she gets her phone back.
They won’t text her openly. They’ll have a meeting place that can be permanently erased, Amaranthe said. She’ll need privacy.
I’m on her, Lucca said. The little brat won’t see me. I’ll get the information for Lanz and Deangelo. They’ll be able to track whoever is behind this. There was absolute confidence in his voice.
Watch yourself, Geno cautioned.
“London, I’d take your daughter’s phone and devices away from her and actually punish her this time. She should have consequences,” he added aloud.
“Fuck you,” Jenny snarled, following her mother out of the studio.
London hastily shut the door before her daughter could say anything else. Amaranthe watched the two walk up to a sleek little Porsche, Jenny screaming at her mother the entire time.
She turned back to the other students and held up the hand with her engagement ring, a smile on her face, determined to get them all laughing again. The girls could be romantic, and they all thought the Ferraros were the epitome of Prince Charming. It wasn’t difficult to get them to admire the ring and then show off their talents for Geno and Salvatore.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Stefano stared in silence at the water glittering like diamonds for a long time. The sun was setting, turning the surface a mixture of orange and red. The sky had even more colors, with various shades of reds and pinks in addition to the orange. It was rare to see those colors in the sky, even over the river. Although the sky looked clear, Geno wondered if another storm was moving in.
“It’s too late to give you advice, Geno. But if I could, I’d tell you not to fall head over heels in love with that woman. Look at me. Look what Francesca’s done to me.” He sounded mournful.
Geno just managed to keep from laughing. “Francesca is the best thing that ever happened to you, Stefano, and you know it.” He kept his tone very mild. He had no idea what kind of mood his cousin was in, and he wasn’t taking any chances.