Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
She purses her lips.
“Leander bugged the toy,” I explain. “I want to understand how it happened.”
Her eyes flare. “That piece of shit.”
As always, the mere mention of that motherfucker ignites the violence that simmers beneath the surface of my calm. “That’s him in a nutshell.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Why do you think?”
Her nostrils flare. “I wouldn’t put anything past that son of a bitch. He’d kill his own sister if it meant getting her company shares.”
“That’s an accurate deduction, and that’s why you need to tell me what you know.”
“If you want the finer details of that night, you’ll have to ask Tiana. It’s not my place to tell you.”
“I already did.”
“Then why are you asking me?”
I sigh. She’s not going to give me anything. While I want answers, I admire her loyalty. I’ll just have to torture the details from Teszner himself.
Letting her refusal to cooperate slide for now, I say, “The dress fitting for the wedding is tomorrow. Reino will drive you.”
She makes a face. “I suppose I can’t talk you out of it.”
“Out of marrying Tatiana? No.”
“I meant Reino.” She takes two cups from the cupboard and serves the tea. “Can’t Ulysses drive us?”
“I need him here to watch Noah.”
“We can take Noah with us.”
“Sending the two of you out into the streets is risky enough.”
Handing me one of the cups, she tilts her head. “Then why are you doing it?”
“The dressmaker can’t do the fitting here. She wants to make any necessary adjustments on site. There won’t be time for two fittings.”
Jasper takes the other cup and lifts it to her lips before blowing on the steaming liquid. “That’s what you get for rushing a wedding.”
“It is what it is. I want to marry Tatiana before her brother finds out she’s back. Just be there for her, Jasper. She’s going to need you.”
“That’s the only reason I’m here.”
I utter a laugh. “Do you think you have a choice?”
“No, but for what it’s worth, I’m here willingly, Dante. For Tiana.”
“Good.”
She studies me. “What exactly is your plan for her?”
“What do you mean, my plan?”
“What do you want from Tiana, Dante?”
“Tatiana and Noah are my responsibility. I want to take care of them.”
“Is that all?”
I shrug. “I want to get to know my son.” When she only continues to observe me as if she’s searching for a lie, I let out a breath. “I want to make their lives easier and keep them safe. Isn’t that what any father would want to do?”
She narrows her kohl-rimmed eyes. “So you don’t want to kill her? Or me?”
Amused, I smile. “No, Jasper. I definitely don’t want to kill her or you. I missed out on a lot, and I want to make up for that. Tatiana may not see it like this now, but marrying her is the only way of keeping her safe. You know what Teszner will do if he finds her.”
“Fine,” she says slowly. “I believe you.” She steps forward and presses a long, glittery nail on my chest. “But give me any reason to doubt your motivations, and I mean any reason at all, and I’ll off you so quickly you won’t have time to say dead.”
A smile pulls at my lips. “Why, Jasper. I didn’t take you for a killer. That’s my job description. Do you even know how to shoot a gun?”
“Oh, I don’t need a gun.” She smiles sweetly. “If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t do it with a bullet.” Her smile turns pure evil as she leans closer. “I’ll make sure it’s slow and painful. Maybe I’ll slip a little poison in your drink.”
She’s funny. Grinning, I lift the mug to my lips. “Then I better make sure not to disappoint you.”
She taps her nail on my chest. “You do that.” And then she walks to the door.
Looking after her, I shake my head. I’m not sure Jasper is a good influence on Tatiana. I wouldn’t want her to plant any ideas in my future wife’s head.
Jasper pauses in the door frame. She looks back and motions at the cup in my hand. “Oh, and I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.”
With a wink, she’s gone.
That little witch. She can be glad Tatiana loves her.
I don’t think Jasper is stupid enough to try and poison me, but I nevertheless walk to the sink and dump the witches’ brew down the drain.
Chapter
Seventeen
Tatiana
* * *
My wedding day arrives like a funeral. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in Dante’s bedroom, dressed in the gown my groom has chosen for me, I mourn everything I’ve lost and everything that could’ve been but never was.
Like at funerals, I feel like crying.
I never did get that chance—both attending the funeral I should’ve or crying. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t shed a single tear. I just bottled it all up inside. Maybe it was my mind’s way of protecting itself, knowing if I’d let go, I would’ve broken down so completely I may never have found the strength to get up again. Or maybe I was too focused on surviving, scarcely having a moment to breathe let alone give in to tears. I was running with my feet not touching the ground, even when I gave birth to my sweet baby Noah.