Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“What exactly happened between him and Dante?”
“You did.”
Her reply takes me aback. “What do you mean?”
“Your brother wanted to honor the contract with Mr. Stein.” She raises her eyes toward the sky. “May that old coot never find peace. You can say Mr. Morici fought for you, and he won. Your brother didn’t take the loss kindly.”
“Joni died?”
“Heart attack.”
Instead of compassion, all I feel is relief. That man has always creeped me out. “What about my father’s company?”
“Your brother squandered it all. Dante saved it.”
“You did it again. You called him Dante.”
She looks away. “He treats me well. He’s like a son to me.”
“Then why do you call him Mr. Morici in front of me?”
She irons down her apron. “Habit, I suppose.”
We fall silent again.
I bite my lip, my thoughts returning to my brother. “Do you have Leander’s number?”
She gives a start. “You shouldn’t call him. Mr. Morici—Dante—strictly forbids it. Leander chose his side, and it wasn’t yours.”
“I just—”
“You don’t want to go there.” Her tone is almost angry. “You should leave the past alone. If you’re worried about him, trust me when I tell you he doesn’t deserve your concern.” She takes my hands in hers, squeezing them as she pins me with a worried expression. “Promise me you’ll stay away from Leander. Don’t betray Dante like that. If you do, it will disappoint him terribly.”
I frown. “I’ll never betray my husband.”
She gives my hands another squeeze before letting them go. “I hope you mean that.”
“Of course I do.”
Her smile is wistful. “No matter what?”
“I said my vows when we got married. I’m not going to break them.”
“One day, you may want to, but when that day comes, remember what you told me today. Remember that Dante has always done everything he did for you.”
The insecurity I tried to bury rears its head again. “Did Dante do something I should know about?”
She pats my cheek. “All I’m saying is that marriages go through ups and downs. You’re still on honeymoon. I don’t want you to give up when times get tough. Dante is a good husband and father.”
There’s no doubt about that, but there’s more to her words.
“Will you look at me?” She blushes. “Here I am, overstepping my boundaries. I hope you’ll forgive me. It’s just that with your mother gone—” She shakes herself out of what she was going to say with a wiggle of her shoulders. “I’d never insinuate that my advice could substitute a mother’s.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. It’s good advice.”
One of the guards walks up to us. His muscles suggest that he can throw the garden table like a frisbee. Unlike the bodyguards who wear suits, he’s dressed in a brown army T-shirt and camo pants.
“Mrs. Morici.” He nods at Emily. “Mr. Morici called. He won’t be able to accompany you to the doctor today. I’ll escort you.”
My pulse quickens. Dante never misses my appointments. He always insists on driving me himself. “Did something happen?”
The man’s smile is impersonal, but his tone is friendly. “There’s been a holdup at the office.”
I blow out a sigh of relief. Dante must be caught up in work or a meeting.
“I’ll watch Noah if you want to go get ready,” Emily says.
My, “Thank you,” is directed at both of them. “Do you mind giving me ten minutes?”
The man checks his watch as he considers the question. “We have time.”
Very diligent. I suppose that’s why Dante chose him to take me.
I freshen up and say goodbye to Noah before leaving him in Emily’s care. Dante never takes me anywhere without bodyguards, but today I’m leaving with double the number of men. Dante is probably being overcautious as he’s not here himself.
Dr. Chad uses deeper hypnosis today. She says it’s a good sign that I haven’t had a panic attack for a while. I’m profoundly relaxed when I leave her consultation room. I always feel as rested as if I’ve had a whole night’s uninterrupted sleep.
The guard waits in the reception area, dominating one of the designer chairs that’s too small for his muscled frame. More men stand at attention in the hallway. They follow as the guard escorts me to the car. He opens the back door and waits until I’m seated before he gets behind the wheel.
Another man gets into the front. I gather it’s his job to watch the surroundings while my guard drives. A car with more guards goes ahead of us while two more follow once we’ve pulled out of the parking lot into the road.
It’s just after three, but I check my phone in the hope that Dante has sent me a message.
Nothing.
I call him, but his phone goes straight to voicemail.
Catching the driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror, I ask, “What’s your name?”
He hasn’t said a word to me since we left the house.