Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I stare at her as horrible facts sink in. “Ryan won’t find another job that pays that well, not with the current unemployment rate. And what would you do? You said yourself, that ship has sailed. What about Celeste and Brad and their future? Not to mention that Ryan will go to jail for murder if the truth comes out.”
“Angelo Russo won’t dare to tell the truth,” Ryan says. “He’s guilty too, remember?”
How can I forget? That image is burned into my brain. The nightmares still haunt my sleep.
“What are you suggesting?” I ask. “That I go on the run?”
“We stand up to him.” Ryan straightens. “We say no. I’d rather be dirt fucking poor than deliver you to that monster.”
I consider that, what it will be like for all of us to start from scratch, to have nothing and work our way up. I don’t care about the comfort or the money. If I can’t find a permanent job, I can always do small jobs to pay the bills. I don’t need much.
But what about Brad and Celeste? Celeste doesn’t earn a salary. A child costs money. There are things to consider, things like medical care and an education. Mom will have to lower her standards and give up her status. We’d have to let Doris go. Poor Doris. Will she find another live-in job in George? At least she has unemployment insurance. Mom will have to sell the big houses and buy a smaller place, maybe an apartment near Mattie and Jared. Thank goodness Jared isn’t involved in the business, or he’d be relying on Angelo for a salary too.
Mattie and I will have a bit of money when the investment funds we inherited pay out. I can always use that cash to buy a studio apartment. If Ryan can’t find another job, I can put that money at his disposal. Or we can rent a modest house in a middle class suburb, and I can board with them again until we’re all on our feet. That way, we can still afford to keep Doris on.
Right now, a modest house in a middle class suburb sounds amazing. Like a dream.
“It’s doable, Bella,” Ryan says. “We’ll survive.”
Mom scoffs. “At least then that devil won’t have a sword to hold over our heads any longer.” She comes closer and pulls me into one of her rare hugs. “We talked about it a lot after you ended up in hospital. We all thought this way was the only solution if the push came to shove.”
I chew my lip. “Including Mattie?”
My mom holds me at arm’s length. “Mattie agrees.”
“What about the shame?” I ask. “Your wealthy friends are going to look down on you. They won’t invite you to their parties if you’re not adding value to their guest list.”
Mom lets me go. “I’ll make new friends.”
“I appreciate that you’re all willing to make such huge sacrifices,” I say. “Let me think about it, okay?”
Ryan gives me a dark look. “When will Angelo be back?”
My throat constricts. “Tomorrow.”
“Then we know what to do.” He kisses the top of Celeste’s head. “You women stay here. Tomorrow at first light, I’ll go to Cape Town to talk to Angelo.”
“Do you think he’ll just accept it?” Celeste asks in a small voice.
Ryan rubs her arm. “We won’t give him a choice. What’s he going to do? Dad is dead. If he decides to leak the truth about the bribes, we’ll just have to keep our heads high.”
“You’re an accomplice in the bribes,” I point out.
“It’s my word against his. I can always claim I didn’t know what Dad was doing. There’s no evidence proving that I was involved.”
I search my brother’s face. “It will be a hell of a scandal.”
“We already dealt with the scandal of Dad’s affair and his so-called suicide.” Ryan chuckles. “What’s another one?”
“That’s very brave of you,” I say.
“I was willing to swallow my pride and not disillusion you about where the money came from as long as he didn’t bother you again.” Ryan frowns. “When Celeste and I moved back here, he rented the villa with a very clear instruction that he wanted you to live there. I had no idea he’d come back with a fucking ring.”
My gaze shifts to the diamond that sparkles insistently on the rug, its light refusing to be extinguished, no matter how sinister the reasons that bling is meant for. It’s at least four or five carats, worth a small fortune. I’ll have to return it to the villa and leave it there for Angelo to find.
Bending to pick up the ring, I say, “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t know.”
“Ryan is right,” Mom says. “You better stay the night, Bella. It’s too late to drive back.”
She doesn’t say it’s probably safer for me here, but that’s what we’re all thinking.