Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
I wish things had happened differently, and that we were never attacked by the Irish, but instead, celebrated our engagement. We would’ve gotten married within a year, and we’d probably have a couple of children by now.
In an attempt to get away from the heartache, I quickly hang the dress again and shut the closet doors before rushing out of my bedroom.
I force a smile to my face when I reach the living room, and while I listen to Bianca calling in our food order, I glance around my new apartment.
With my family’s help, everything is unpacked.
“Knock-knock,” Raya says as she comes in. Her eyes widen, and she gasps, “You’re all done?”
“Hold on,” Bianca tells whoever’s on the other side of the line. “Raya, I’m ordering Thai. Do you want something?”
“What are you having?” my friend asks me.
“Green Curry.”
“I’ll have the same,” Raya replies to my sister. Coming closer, she hands me a package. “Just a little something as a homewarming gift.”
“You didn’t have to.” With a grateful smile, I take the bag and peek inside. Seeing the dusty pink plush blanket, my lips curve even more. “I love it!”
“You can snuggle under it while watching TV.”
“Thank you.”
Mom gets up to take a closer look at the blanket, then asks, “Where did you get it?”
“From an online store. I’ll send you their details.”
Dad steps out of the apartment and joins Alfio, who’s standing right outside the front door. I watch as Dad leans against the banister, his eyes locked on the courtyard below. I don’t like the worried expression on his face. It’s as if he’s waiting for trouble to crawl out of the shadows.
It’s going to take some time for my parents to get used to me living on my own, but once they do, they’ll stop worrying so much about me.
They can’t baby me forever, and it’s not fair to them.
Turning my attention back to Mom, Raya, and Bianca, I spend the next two hours chatting with them.
Raya is the first to leave, and as I see her to the door, she says, “I love everything about your apartment.”
“Thanks again for the blanket.”
“I’ll pop in on Saturday.” She gives me a quick hug. “Enjoy your first night in your own place.”
“Thanks. I will.” Smiling, I watch her walk down the corridor toward the stairs.
Just as I turn around, Mom gets up from the couch. “It’s time for us to leave as well. Riccardo and Gianna are landing tomorrow at five am.”
We were all very relieved when Augusto let us know Riccardo is on his way home. It’s taken a lot of effort not to let my panic and fear spiral out of control like it did when Christiano was shot. Back then, I spent three weeks in the hospital, but this time I only broke down when we got the terrible news.
I know the medication plays a significant role, helping me handle things better, but with Riccardo being shot, the tormenting fear has intensified.
“Should I meet you at the airfield?” I ask.
Dad shakes his head. “We’re taking him straight to the hospital. You can wait there for us.”
“Okay.”
When my family leaves, I blow them a kiss before shutting the door and locking it. I switch on the alarm, then turning around, my gaze drifts over my safe haven.
My books and decorations line the shelves, the familiar sight making the apartment feel less strange and more like it belongs to me.
This is it. I’m on my own.
Walking through the apartment, I make sure everything is precisely where I want it, and once I’m happy, I head back to the living room and sit down on the couch. I kick off my shoes, and pulling my legs up, I fold my arms around my shins.
I let the mask I always wear around other people drop from my face, and as exhaustion sets deep into my bones, silence wraps around me.
Chapter 10
Christiano
I shut the laptop I’ve been working on and lean back in my chair, a headache pounding behind my eyes.
Christ, I’m tired.
I’ve been busy the past week, and it’s not helping that Augusto is starting a fucking war with the Yakuza.
My phone rings, and it draws a sigh from me as I pull it out of my pocket. Seeing Ciro’s name, I accept the call. “Yes.”
“Sienna moved into an apartment in Manhattan,” he reports. “Alfio says she’s going to live on her own.”
What the fuck?
“Send me the address,” I bark before ending the call. A few seconds later, the message from Ciro comes through.
Getting up, I stalk out of the office, and when I leave the warehouse, where men are getting shipments of weapons ready so they can be sent to South America, Nico jogs to catch up with me.
“Where are we going?”
I show him the address, then say, “Sienna moved into her own place.”