Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
It’s sick.
There’s a black car waiting and I have the sudden epiphany that if I get in there, I won’t ever be free again. I yank backwards, nearly stumbling, scrambling for the sidewalk, blindly freaking out—
“Mommy, what’s the matter?”
I look up to see the tall woman, Theodora, holding Hattie’s hand.
Rafe looms by my side. His face is thunder and death. It’s beautiful and horrible all at once. He holds out a hand.
“Get up, wife. We’re leaving.”
“Mommy?” Hattie sounds scared. “Did you fall?”
“I’m okay, baby.” I let Rafe help me up. “Mommy slipped, that’s all.”
“I fall a lot,” Hattie says proudly to Theodora. “But I don’t cry. Sometimes I cry. I cry a little but not a lot.”
“That’s a strong girl,” Theodora says.
Rafe leads me to the car. We’re about to get in when an older man comes hurrying toward us from the venue, smiling broadly. Rafe curses under his breath but turns to meet him.
“Ignazio,” Rafe says, tone neutral, bordering on unhappy.
“Congratulations, Don Corvino.” Ignazio hugs Rafe tightly and kisses both his cheeks. He’s in his late sixties, balding, heavy-set, with a wide and charming face. His suit is well cut though and his shoes gleam. “We’re all so proud of what you’ve become.”
“Thank you, Ignazio.”
“Can I meet the bride?” He peers at me curiously. “Hello, dear, it’s nice to make your acquaintance.”
I say nothing as Rafe steers him away. They share quiet words before Rafe ushers the old man back into the building.
“Who was that?” I ask as I climb into the back of the car.
“My accountant.” He follows, hemming me against the far window, and the door slams shut.
“Wait, what about Hattie?”
“They’ll follow.”
“No, wait—“
“Enough.” Rafe’s hand lands on my mouth. He covers it as the car pulls forward. The driver raises the divider between us, sealing me into my coffin. Rafe’s breathing hard, pinning me down. There’s a feral gleam in his eye. “You will listen now.”
I nod, too afraid to fight back.
He moves his palm from my lips, but doesn’t lean away.
“I never wanted this.” He says it like the words hurt, but he’s not softening at all. There’s only rage in his expression. “But it’s happening. You and Hattie were safe for a long time, but that’s over now. This is how I protect you. This is how I keep you safe. We have a long drive to my house, wife of mine, and I will not spend it answering your questions. Do you understand?”
“Not at all.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He forces himself back into his place. “Put on your seatbelt.”
“Hattie—“
“I will cut my own throat before my daughter is harmed.”
“She is not your daughter.” I bite out the words. Anger simmers, battling the terror. “And I’m not your wife.”
He looks out the window, ignoring me now. “We’ll see.” And lapses into silence. I open my mouth to scream, to fight, to do anything at all, but nothing comes out.
I’m exhausted, afraid, and confused. I still don’t fully comprehend how this is happening. It can’t be legal, right? That priest, what we did? This ring?
This dress?
Nothing makes sense.
But some things are true.
There’s a corpse in my house.
And I planned my own wedding.
Now I’m trapped with a monster and I don’t know how I’ll survive him.
10
RAFE
The town car parks out front of my New Jersey compound.
It’s a sprawling estate carved from the heart of the Pine Barrens. Self-sufficient, mostly off-grid. Multiple redundant wells, a slew of solar panels and battery cells, and even a windmill whirling in the distance.
The safest place within driving range.
June hammered me with questions during the trip here. She gave up eventually when I made it clear that I wasn’t going to answer. But god, that woman has done nothing but make this impossible situation even more difficult than it needs to be.
Moments after I step out of the car, Theodora arrives with my daughter, followed by a small caravan of soldiers, Nunzio in command. My guard captain barks orders as the men fan out and take positions around the walled compound.
Theodora’s carrying little yawning Hattie in her arms when June comes flying around the car.
“Baby!” June all but rips the girl from Theodora, hugging her tight. Hattie clings to her mother like a baby sloth. “Oh, I missed you so much.”
“I’m tired,” Hattie complains. “Where are we?”
“Vacation,” Theodora says happily. “I explained on the ride down, remember?”
“Do I have to sleep here?” Hattie doesn’t sound happy. “It looks big and weird.”
June looks to me. I turn to the house. “Theodora, please show them to Hattie’s room. When she’s in bed, bring June to the back sitting room.”
“You know I’m billing you triple for this, right?”
“Like it matters.” I look back once. “Make sure my wife is still in her dress.”
I leave them to handle it.
The house is massive. I don’t spend much time here, however, and it has to be brought up to par. I called ahead and sent several of my personal staff to tidy up and prepare suitable lodgings. My suite connects to Hattie’s room and is set back on the most heavily guarded and safest wing of the whole structure. I bypass those halls though and go straight to my favorite room.