Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I let out a snort. “No.”
“Yeah-yeah. What do you need?”
“Leave Jason Mitchell’s bank accounts and business, but empty Heather, Amanda, and Austin’s. Also, get into their phones. I want to know what they’re saying to each other.”
“On it.”
“Keep tabs on Jason. If he does anything to help one of those three fuckers, I want to know immediately.”
“Okay.” Then she mutters, “Ugh, Enzo is here again.”
I swear, Christiano’s little brother and Rosie are going to drive me to drink. Fuck knows why they aren’t a couple.
I let out a heavy sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “When are the two of you going to drop this fucking act that you don’t like each other and get married?”
“W..hat… can’t… you… li… ne… bad.”
The call ends, and I shake my head as Little Ricky gets in and starts the engine.
“That it for today?” he asks.
“Yes, let’s go home.”
My phone rings, and looking down, I see Laurie’s name and swipe quickly. “Yes, mia piccola farfalla.”
“I… I…” Everything in me turns to ice as she stammers. “I’m s-sorry.” A sob bursts from her, and fear grips my heart.
“Laurie, what happened?”
Little Ricky speeds up, but when I signal for him to move it, he floors the gas.
“I need you,” she squeezes the words out. “Please.”
“I’ll be home soon.” When I can only hear her quivering breaths, I say, “Laurie? Talk to me.”
“I’m s-s-sorry,” she sobs before hanging up.
I quickly bring up the security feed and see Mom in the living room, talking to Pierre. I swipe through the screens, finally finding Laurie sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, her face pressed into the crook of her arm while she cries fucking hard.
Hit with another wave of intense worry, I dial Mom’s number, and when she answers, I ask, “What happened with Laurie?”
“Nothing.” I see Mom glancing over her shoulder. “She got a message and excused herself. Why?”
“Do me a favor and get Pierre to clear out. I’m on my way home and want to be alone with her.”
“Okay. I’ll just check on her quickly, though.”
“No. Don’t disturb her, Ma. I’ll be there soon.”
We hang up, and I impatiently alternate between watching everyone leave and Laurie’s shoulders jerking as sobs rattle from her while she reads something on her phone I can’t see.
I swear to all that’s holy, if Heather threatened Laurie, she’ll become the first woman I torture to death.
Chapter 21
Laurie
I can’t believe it.
As I read the message again, the heartache tearing through me is too much to bear.
“Laurie!” I hear Adriano call out.
Grabbing hold of the bed, I climb to my feet, my tears come faster while horrible sobs rip through me.
I try to wipe the tears from my cheeks, but they won’t stop falling, and before I can take a step forward, Adriano slams the door open.
He looks absolutely murderous as he rushes toward me.
Just as an awful fear mixes with the unbearable heartache, his body slams into mine and his arms lock around me to his solid chest.
The instant I realize the look on his face is worry and he came running when I told him I needed him, a broken sob rips from my throat and I begin to cry fitfully.
My fingers clutch at his jacket while I press my face into the warm space beneath his chin.
I can’t breathe right, the sobs choking me.
My whole body shakes, cry after cry tearing through me until it feels like my ribs are being crushed.
“Laurie,” Adriano growls. “Who am I killing?”
I cling tighter to him as another wave of unbearable pain hits, desperate to get as close as possible to him.
“Shh…” He murmurs lovingly, one hand gripping the back of my head while the other stays so tightly wrapped around my waist it almost hurts. “I’ve got you, amore mio.”
I’m barely aware of him sitting down on the bed and positioning me on his lap, before cradling me as if I’m the most precious thing he’s ever gotten to hold.
All I can focus on is the heartache and the way he keeps me together while I break.
“It’s okay, mia piccola farfalla. Let it all out.”
I try to talk, but another sob shudders through me, so I just cling to him while he comforts me through the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
Slowly, the sharp sting of shock and heartache morphs into a dull deep ache that makes my chest feel heavy and dark.
Adriano leans a little back, tilting his head so he can see my face while cupping my cheek. “Better?”
When I meet his eyes and see how worried he is, it sinks in that after I called him, he rushed home because I needed him.
He came.
He held me.
He’s worried about me.
Adriano really cares.
His thumb gently brushes the tears from my cheek. “What happened, mia piccola farfalla?”
The grief swells in my chest, choking my voice as I say, “Elise died.” My face crumbles again. “She was my best friend. She was going to come visit in December.” The intense shock hits again, and unable to talk further, I notice my phone lying beside Adriano. Picking it up, I unlock the screen and open the message Elise’s mother sent me on social media.