Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
“I didn’t run.”
“Yes, you fucking did,” I snap. “You’re a coward.”
“Olivia was pregnant, I wasn’t going to risk her and our child’s life for a company I didn’t even want.”
“So, you risked Francesca’s instead. Nice brother you are.”
“When Francesca falls pregnant, you will understand why I did what I did.”
I already understand. Not that I’ll ever admit it.
“I admire you, Giuliano.” Bianca smiles. “You stand by your beliefs and I meant what I said. You are the best person for this job.”
I roll my eyes. “Let’s get this straight, Bianca, I tolerate you for Francesca’s sake only. You piss me off and we are not friends.”
She smiles. “Not yet.”
I turn to Enrico. “Move your family home, you’re not going anywhere until Carlo is caught.”
He frowns. “I don’t want a part of this business.”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not fucking getting it.”
“Then what do you need me for?” he snaps.
“Protect your sister for me. I can’t do it all. When I get Carlo you can go, until then I’m not giving you a choice.”
“And if I choose to leave?”
“Then I will kill you myself.”
“Giuliano,” Bianca gasps. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
Enrico smiles, seemingly impressed.
We stare at each other while he contemplates his answer.
“Last chance,” I snap.
“Alright, I’ll stay. But only until he is caught.”
The door opens back up and Francesca appears, she smiles broadly at me and my heart somersaults in my chest. “Ready to go?” I ask her.
Her eyes flick to Enrico.
“I’ll see you back in Milan?” he asks her.
“You’re staying?” She gasps.
He nods. “Olivia and the children will be coming home too.”
“Oh,” Francesca cries in excitement as she pulls him into a hug. “I can’t wait to see Olivia and meet the children. It’s a dream come true.”
Oh please….
I roll my eyes and Bianca flicks me on the leg. “Stop it,” she whispers.
I flick her back. “You stop it.”
She smiles over at me and I nearly smile back.
Nearly.
Francesca
We sit in the airport private lounge waiting to board our plane.
My mother and Lorenzo and our guards are with us, they are sitting by the bar.
Lorenzo is on his laptop and he stands and walks over. “Look at this.”
He passes his laptop to Giuliano and we both concentrate to try to make out the footage.
“It’s security footage from an airport in Belgium.” he says.
We watch as a man in a black cap boards a plane alone.
“Got him,” Giuliano whispers darkly.
I look harder to see that it’s Carlo. “Where is he going?”
“New York.”
Giuliano frowns. “New York?” He thinks for a moment. “Get a team to New York immediately.”
“On it.” Lorenzo walks back over to the bar and my mind is racing a million miles per minute. I really need to speak to Anna.
“I’m just going to call Anna,” I say.
Giuliano nods. “Do you want a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
He gets up and walks to the bar and I dial Anna’s number.
“Chesk,” she answers, I can tell she’s been crying. “Are you okay?”
My heart sinks hearing how sad she sounds. “I am. Are you?”
“Did he really do this?” she whispers.
My eyes well with tears. “Yes,” I whisper sadly.
“I don’t understand how…how is this possible? Carlo is a good man, I know he is. I just….” She cuts herself off before she says anything else.
“Babe.” I sigh sadly. “Carlo is gone, he was spotted in a Belgium airport leaving for the United States.”
“What?”
“Honey…I wish this wasn’t true, but Carlo is….”
“He’s what?” She cuts me off.
“He’s bad, Anna. He isn’t who we thought he was at all. You need to forget that you ever met him.”
She sniffs loudly and I know that she’s crying. She’s been betrayed more than anyone, she loved him.
The stewardess announces our plane is ready for boarding.
“We’re boarding our plane; I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Thank God you’re okay, that was the most horrific twenty-four hours of my life,” she stammers through tears.
“I know, mine too.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too.”
* * *
I stand back as Giuliano opens the door to my apartment, it’s late at night and after the longest day in history and the never-ending flight, we can’t even go to our home in Lake Como until it is combed for bugs and security risks. Carlo was at the property just last week and who knows what he planted.
Giuliano pushes the door open and stands back and I peer inside and hesitate.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Giuliano murmurs as he puts his arm around me and pulls me close. “Everything has been triple-checked.”
I nod, feeling silly. “I’m just….”
“I know.” He kisses my temple. “You’ve been through a lot, you have good reason to be unsettled.”
“Are you unsettled?” I ask.
“No.”
My eyes search his. “Are you telling me the truth?”
He takes my hand and leads me into the apartment. “Now that I know what we’re up against, I’m honestly not.” He puts our bags down and leads me up the hall.