Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
There’s no need to even think about that yet. It’s going to be negative.
But as my eyes flutter open, my stomach drops. Two pink lines appear on the tiny test screen, and I already read the instructions. I know. I know what that means. Everything just got a lot more complicated. I grab the positive test and shove it into my purse, trying to breathe steadily as I open the bathroom door. I need to find my dad, and I’ll have to tell him the truth.
“What took you so long?” Frank’s voice startles me, and I realize he was waiting outside the bathroom.
“Sorry,” I mutter, sidestepping as he takes another step toward me. He has me cornered, blocking the exit, and I don’t know why. My heart pounds in my ears as alarm bells go off internally when I meet his dark gaze. The threat is there, deep within the black of his dilated pupils.
“Why don’t we just step back in that bathroom, Liz?” He gestures to the open door. “You should probably know that I don’t buy it unless I test drive it first.”
I shudder with fear and disgust. “N-no. You need to get out of my way.”
“No. You need to get that cute little ass of yours bent over the sink,” he growls, a strong hand closing down on my arm. “Now. A good wife is submissive, and you’ve already failed that test.”
I try to pull away, but he only holds me tighter. “Let me go, or I’ll scream.”
“Oh baby, that’s not gonna do anything here. I get what I want. This is my house.” He leans forward, his hot breath making my stomach lurch even more violently than before, and I spit on him.
“Bitch!” he shouts, pulling back his hand to hit me.
Seconds later, he’s ripped away, a blur shooting past me and knocking him to the ground.
“What the fuck?” Vitali bellows just before Troy’s fist collides with the side of his head, knocking him out cold.
I blink, hardly able to process what the hell just happened, adrenaline pumping through my veins. “What? Did… did you kill him?” I squeak as Troy straightens himself. His tuxedo is wrinkled and sprinkled with blood from Frank’s nose.
“No,” Troy says sharply, looking over at me. “But he’s definitely going to be out for a while.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes, and then it hits me. I’m pregnant with his baby—Troy’s baby. “I… I think we need to talk.”
“I think so,” my dad’s voice booms down the hallway, “and someone better start talking now.”
Before I can tell the tale of Frank trying to force me into the bathroom and Troy coming to the rescue, Troy steps forward, rubbing his knuckles.
“I’m in love with your daughter.”
CHAPTER 24
Troy
Henry looks like he might kill me, and Liz looks mortified as the words leave my lips. But me? I’m fucking relieved. It’s about time that the truth be told, and don’t even get me started on what’ll happen to Frank Vitali later.
“This is madness,” Henry seethes, his face growing red. “You gotta be fucking with me right now.”
I shake my head, stopping Liz as she steps toward him. “No, I’m not fucking with you. The night you found her at my house was not a pleasant catch-up. It’s when this all started.”
“You’ve been lying to my fucking face,” he shouts, throwing his hands up in the air, but at least he’s staying put instead of charging at me.
“Not really. I just never mentioned what was happening. I didn’t intend to fall for her. I never intended to—”
“No wonder you didn’t want her married off to Vitali, and now what? You think he’s just gonna get up and be cool with what happened?”
“Dad, please…” Liz’s voice comes out timid. “I… I was going to marry Vitali. I was.”
“And what? Keep sleeping with my best friend?” His anger shifts to Liz, and I step in between them.
“Don’t take this out on her,” I growl. “Leave her out of it.”
“Oh? So you’re going to tell me that I can’t speak to my daughter about what the hell she’s been doing with you?”
“I’m just saying to keep your anger directed at me,” I say coolly, even though my heartbeat is pounding in my ears right now.
“Frank was going to rape me,” Liz says, her voice cracking with emotion. “That’s why Troy hit him. It wasn’t about the marriage. I said I was going to marry him. I swear.”
Henry’s expression shifts to pure confusion, and then he shakes his head. “What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?” His voice comes down about ten notches, and I relax a little. If this is the worst of Henry’s temper I get, we’ll all be just fine.
“I don’t know, but Vitali will be waking up at some point,” I say with some regret in my voice. It’s not regret for punching him, just that he might see the light of day again.