Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“I love you, Liz. Everything I do is for you.”
“I know. I love you too. Later.”
I hang up and pull up my playlist. I scroll for the song I’m looking for and crank the music up. Jessie Reyez’s “Figures” comes through the speakers. I won’t lie. I’m hurt. Old wounds have opened and surfaced.
Dante
I climb out of the back of the car as we pull up in front of the house. Bella is probably in bed by now. I’ll take a shower, go to kiss her good night and then I can have a drink to settle my demons.
There’s a fine line between knowing who I have to be and being who I am. I’m starting to crave this shit again. That dark place is taking over. I could have handled tonight differently, but I wouldn’t have been satisfied.
My mind turns to Lizzy. I want to bury myself in her light. These last few months have allowed me to get to know her. She’s smart and resourceful. Gio is right, there’s something in her eyes, but I’m having a hard time believing it’s what I think it is.
I push into the house and music blares from the direction of Lizzy’s gaming room. It’s a bit loud. I’ve never heard her play music so loud before. Not to mention, it’s a melancholy tune. My hackles go up.
I jog up to my room and grab my tablet to check in on her channel to see if I can find out what’s going on. It’s not live. I clench my teeth and toss the device down on the bed.
I need to get out of these clothes and shower. However, the need to go check on her is so strong. I strip out of my clothes quickly and head for my bathroom. I make quick work of a thorough shower.
When I step out of the shower, I look into the mirror. My hair has grown a bit and my face is covered in stubble. I have a few meetings this week. I’ll shave and go for a cut in the morning.
I head for my closet for a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. I only stop to check my tablet one more time.
Finding Liz still isn’t on, but hearing the music still floating through the house, I toss the tablet back down and head to check on Bella. She’s sound asleep. God, I love this little girl. It’s because of her I can’t allow myself to be consumed by this dark world we’ve inherited with our last name.
“I love you,” I whisper against her little forehead.
Rage fills me as I think of the fact that someone’s threatening my family, my daughter. For her and her safety, I’ll become that guy all over again. Bella stirs a little and tightens her hold on her teddy bear.
A smile comes to my face. It’s the same bear she built with Liz. I turn and head to find out what’s going on with our angel. Her face may be enough to pull me from this funk.
“What’s wrong, mio Angelo?”
The same song is still playing. My thoughts turn to Jacob. Gio works fast. I know this is his work. I feel it.
However, I don’t like that it may have hurt Lizzy. Honestly, I was only using Jacob as an excuse. I hope like hell I haven’t caused her pain.
I get to the door to her game room and place my palm against it as I listen to the words of the song that’s still on repeat. I know I’ve fucked up as the words sink in. I ball my fist that’s pressed to the door. After another few beats, I knock.
There’s no answer at first, so I turn the knob. The music is pretty loud, she may not have heard my knock. The door cracks open as I turn and push in. I stick my head in and find her sitting on the floor, curled into a ball. Her knees pulled into her chest and her arms held tightly around them as she rocks herself back and forth.
She tries to wipe away her tears on her sleeve but not before I see her face covered in them. I step fully into the room and close the door, so the music doesn’t reach upstairs. I clear my throat and shove my hands into my pockets.
“Everything okay?”
Her full lips tremble as she purses them, and more tears fall. She shakes her head, apparently not able to speak. I move closer and squat before her, placing a hand on one of her knees.
“It’s been a shit day for me too. You want to come have a drink with me and tell me about it?”
She wipes at her tears with her hoodie sleeve again, then stares at me as if she’s undecided. I reach to run my fingers along her temple. I nod toward the door.