Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
"Don't be." He walks over, coughs into a handkerchief and sinks into a leather armchair. "I will help you get Aurora back, Ryder."
"Why?" I look at him with suspicion. "I thought you didn't want to help."
"For the past few weeks, I've watched you search for her tirelessly," Father explains. "It has convinced me that you can forgive her for everything she's done. I believe you love this girl – more so now than ever."
"Thank you, Father." I'm too dumbfounded to thank him properly, but I also want to talk strategy. "Julian thinks we should wait and plan our attack, but I think we need to strike while the iron is hot and save Aurora while we still can."
"We don't even know where to strike," Father mutters. "Haven't you heard the rumors about the Casa di Giordani?"
"No," I grunt.
"It's a house of slaves, and it moves when necessary. There have been several locations already, all abandoned before someone found out the address. All throughout Sicily and Italy."
"Do you have the address?" I demand.
"Of course not, nobody does," Julian shakes his head. "We will need time to find it. We have some connections, don't we, Father?"
"Your brother Santino might," Father nods. "Consult with him and begin preparing the attack. Our first priority is getting Aurora out of there safely and bringing her back here. Julian, leave us for a moment now."
My brother nods and scampers out of the room. I've been nervous around Father recently, but not today. There's a sense of camaraderie between us and he seems to be in a good mood, which I'm grateful for – and it's more than I can say for myself.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, Ryder," Father speaks up. "I should have known the plan to kill the Carluccis wasn't Auroras."
"What do you mean?"
He sighs, coughing into his embroidered silk handkerchief yet again and hurriedly tucking it into his pocket. "More has come out on the man. He killed before. Was in prison and came out just when Aurora's mother gave birth. She died and the little girl was stuck with him. I don't think she had much choice. We've seized the Carluccis’ properties. The help was instructed to be downright cruel to the girl. One of the maids broke down when interrogated."
"That's awful," I mutter. I can't even begin to imagine the number of years Aurora spent suffering because of her papa's abuse. "We need to get her back."
"I agree," Father nods gravely. "She belongs with you, Ryder. From now on, you have my full support. We'll get your woman back, son."
"Grazie." I'm overcome by emotion and finding it hard to speak, but I manage a grateful smile. Now that I have more information, it's only a matter of time before I get my bride back.
I just hope for Angelo Giordani's sake he hasn't laid a finger on her... otherwise he'll pay for it.
In blood.
31
Aurora
It's been a month and I am still Angelo Giordani's prisoner.
At least he hasn't attempted to touch me yet – a fact I'm grateful for every day.
There's a darkness running through Signore's veins I'm sure everybody can notice. Ryder may be unforgiving and cruel at times, but he's not the least bit like Angelo. Angelo seems cold, cruel to a degree that could kill. And I'm deathly afraid of him.
With every day that he stays away, my fear and anxiousness grow worse and worse. I know eventually he'll touch me, punish me, and try to get me to pay for getting pregnant before I came to this godforsaken house. I can only pray that happens after the baby comes so my son doesn't have to bear the weight of Signore's wrath.
There’s been no sign of Ryder. Of course, I can't even be sure whether he wants me back. For all I know he could have moved on already, not giving a damn about me and the baby he doesn't know exists. But still, my heart holds out hope. Deep down, I want to believe Ryder will come and rescue me.
That morning, I'm once again woken up by Sophia throwing the curtains open. But today she doesn't seem as chipper as she usually does, and merely mutters something in response when I wish her a good morning.
"What's wrong?" I ask. I can't help it, I can tell she's in a bad mood.
"Don't worry about it." When she hurriedly passes me by, I see the light bruises on her skin, and I grab her by the wrist, pulling her back. But the woman wrestles her arm free and glares at me, hissing, "Let go of me!"
I motion to the bruises covering her skin. "Who did that to you? Was it him?"
When she doesn't answer, my blood runs cold. Is Signore truly capable of this? Would he hurt me this way, too, if he didn't know I was pregnant?