Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I stood. “Good idea.”
I stopped by the computer room and in minutes knew where the plot was located in the cemetery. Downstairs, I got flowers for Effie. I would give them to her after she was done.
In the car, that restlessness continued. The day felt ominous. It had to be the continuing weather. The dark, gloomy skies were beginning to get to me. That had to be it.
My phone rang and I hit speaker. “Aldo.”
“Roman,” he said, his voice panicked. “Fuck, where are you?”
His voice made me anxious. Aldo never panicked. “We’re almost to the cemetery. What the fuck is wrong?”
“Gregory Santini called. Fucking Timothy lied. He’s hooked up with Marianne. She got to him. She isn’t dead, Roman. She’s here in Niagara Falls. Timothy is with her—his tracker went off. Gregory was calling us to warn you.”
“Speed up!” I yelled at my driver. “I need to get there now!”
“I’m on my way with men, Roman.”
I hung up. By the time he got there, this would be over.
Ralph stepped on the gas, the car lurching forward so quickly I was flung back in my seat. I grabbed the gun always with me in the car and checked the chamber. I called Alex, roaring in frustration when the call went unanswered. I tried Effie’s number, only to have it go to voice mail.
I shut my eyes, tamping down my panic. If Marianne got to Effie before I could stop her, I had no idea what would happen. I needed to get to my wife. To save her.
If I didn’t—
I couldn’t finish that thought.
I would. I would rescue my wife, and this time when Marianne was dead, she would stay that way.
I would make sure of it.
EFFIE
I was stunned. Marianne walked toward me, her face drawn up in a sneer. “Not happy to see me, little sister?” she asked, sarcasm evident in her voice.
“You-you’re dead.”
“Ah, the rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” She grinned, the action making her look evil. “I should know. I started the rumors.”
“Why?” I asked.
She laughed, the sound making me shiver. “To draw you out.” She waved the gun in her hand. “I knew you’d be here today.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. You never did.” She marched toward me, the gun in her hand aimed directly at me. I stood, backing away from Alex. He was dead, his phone lying on the ground beside him, his blood covering it.
“Effie. The perfect little princess,” she ranted. “God, I hated you.”
“Why?” I asked again, desperate to keep her talking. Praying someone had heard the shot and would come investigate.
“My life was great until you showed up. Then it was all about the baby. Effie. I had to share my dad with you. You took my new mother away from me. It was only supposed to be me.”
Even after everything she had done, I was shocked at the hatred in her voice.
“I always loved you.”
She laughed again, coming closer. “You were always an idiot. I’ve been trying to get rid of you my whole life.” She smiled widely. “The incident where your crib railing fell down and you rolled out. That time you fell in the pool and almost drowned. The night that tree limb just missed you. The incident with the poison. I tried so hard, but I always failed. I thought I’d succeeded this time, but you had to fucking get rescued.”
“That…that was you? All those accidents?” I sputtered. I had always thought I was just unlucky. Marianne had been responsible all those times?
“But you saved me.”
Marianne sneered. “Made me look good.”
My God, she wasn’t simply a narcissist: she was psychotic. Deranged.
She tossed her hair. “There is no rescuing for you this time, little sister.”
“If you kill me, Roman will hunt you down.”
She laughed. “I have my own protection now. Roman will join you soon enough.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Roman was too protected. She kept talking, her voice furious and high-pitched. Her eyes were wild, her gaze jumping around.
“How you got him to marry you, I have no idea. It should have been me. He should have seen what I could do for him.”
“He married me because he loves me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Then he’ll pay to get you back. I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to take you, and Roman is going to pay big to get you back. I want his money.” Her smile grew. “He just won’t get back the same little princess I took from him. By then, it’ll be too late.” She chortled in twisted glee. “For both of you.”
My stomach lurched, and I covered my mouth with my hand. “I can get you money, Marianne. Roman has lots. Tell me what you want, and I’ll get it. But don’t touch me. Please.”
“Like I believe you.”
I heard the screech of tires and some shouting. Noises I was certain were muffled gunshots. I turned my head, positive it was Roman’s voice I heard. I gasped as Marianne rushed forward, grabbing me by the hair and yanking me toward her.