Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I pull away just to look at her, and she wraps her hands around my face, squeezing my cheeks. “Are you okay? Is he treating you well?”
I smile. “Yes, better than I could have hoped. Better than Lucio would have treated me.”
She swallows. “That monster over there nearly got you killed.”
I place my hands over hers. “He’s not a monster, Mom.”
“Does he hurt you?” she asks.
I shake my head vigorously. “No. Never. He doesn’t even dare to touch me.”
“Good.”
I look her up and down. “And you? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. I just fainted during the wedding because I was in shock.”
“When Matteo’s men came in to steal me away, I couldn’t get to you in time. Matteo dragged me away from there, and there was no time to speak to anyone, let alone say goodbye—”
She shushes me. “It’s okay, honey. I’m okay. Lucio just threatened me. Said he’d destroy our family if I didn’t bring you back. Like I could ever.”
She glances over my shoulder at Matteo, who is still kneeling at his mother’s grave. “So that’s your husband now.”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Yeah, well, to me it looks like he forced you to marry him.”
“I know, but Lucio was about to do the same thing.” The thought of kissing that man ever again makes bile rise in my throat. “Lucio just wanted me to get Father’s money,” I say, swallowing back the fear of telling my mother something so crucial it could hurt her if she knew, but I have to trust her.
“Oh honey, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she says.
“Because I didn’t want you to get hurt,” I reply.
She hugs me again and coughs a few times. “You don’t ever have to worry about me. I’m your mother. I can take care of myself. I worry about you. I should have protected you from him.”
I cry into her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
She rubs my back, and we stand there for a moment, just taking it all in. I’m so happy she’s safe and that I’m back in her arms.
She pulls away again. “Tell me if I need to do anything. I will rescue you out of this situation myself if I must.”
I love her. “No, Mom, it’s fine. Matteo’s treating me well. It’s just that Lucio never stops trying to get to us.”
Her hand clenches. “That son of a bitch.”
I love it when she swears.
“I don’t want you to do anything,” I tell her. “Please. I just want you to stay safe. He’s dangerous. Let us handle it.”
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “What if Lucio comes after you again?”
“He already tried. But Matteo’s men are strong. Matteo won’t let him,” I say. “But don’t tell anyone I told you about Lucio’s true intentions. Okay? Please. He’ll have you killed.” I grab her arms to make sure she looks at me instead of Matteo. “You have to promise me not to tell a soul. Not even my father. Okay?”
She nods a few times. “That’s going to be easy because your father and I haven’t spoken in years.”
I let out a sigh too. “Yep, and that’s exactly why Lucio wanted to marry me.”
“Just for the money your father has?”
I nod.
“That bastard,” she says, making me laugh again. She hugs me tight. “God, I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too, Mom,” I say.
Behind her, a man in a suit snaps his fingers, and I recognize the badge on his chest with Matteo’s emblem on it.
So it was one of his men who brought my mother here.
This was Matteo’s idea all along. That’s why he brought me to this cemetery. It’s the perfect place for a secret rendezvous.
I hold my breath as my mother pulls away. “I guess it’s time to leave again, isn’t it? I really wish we had more time.”
I nod a few times. “I know, but we’ll see each other again,” I say even though I’m not entirely certain. I have high hopes. “Matteo’s doing the best he can, and he wants you safe as well, for my sake.”
She glances over her shoulder at the guy staring at her while he’s checking his watch like he’s in a hurry. “He’s gonna drive me home again. At least, that’s what he said. I don’t know if I can trust these guys. They give me the creeps.”
“I’ll go back with Matteo. I’ll talk to you again later, okay?” I reply.
“Promise me,” she says.
“I promise, Mom. I’m safe. You stay safe too. Don’t talk to Lucio or anyone else from the Agostini family.”
She nods, then turns and walks to Matteo’s guy, who guides her all the way through the cemetery back to the second car. She sits on the passenger’s seat while he closes the door behind her, and she waves at me through the window with a lukewarm smile on her face.