Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I have a moment of internal panic. Am I that easy to read? I don't even know what to think about my feelings. They are complicated, just like this situation. But I didn't want to broadcast them to everyone. I don’t really want Antonio to know. I’d like to find out how he feels about me first. That just seems… safer.
“You don't know that,” I respond defiantly. It only seems to make her more amused.
“I do know. Heck, I used to be you.”
“Yeah, right," I laugh and now it’s my turn for disbelief. The two of us are night and day. We’re as different as different can be. Besides that, I’ve seen how her husband looks at her. She’s crazy if she thinks there is anything similar about us.
“I was. Do you know that Niko and I were in an arranged married?” Emilia asks, watching my face closely.
“That's not completely unheard of. My brother Marco is in one of those,” I reason, refusing to tell anyone about my own arranged marriage. That’s too mortifying to share. There’s a chance that she might already know, but I’d just as soon not find out.
“You're right, but I was sixteen when the contract was drawn up. Even as I became increasingly attracted to Niko, I didn't want to marry him."
“Then, why did you?” I ask, needing to know what led to her changing her mind. Even if our stories aren’t the same, it might help me figure things out more.
Emilia looks down the hallway but seems a million miles away as sadness creeps into her face, pulling her mouth into a frown. I touch her arm gently.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry,” I tell her. "You don't have to tell me."
“No, I want to tell you,” she insists as we stop in front of an elevator door. "It might help clear your mind so you can listen to your heart."
“My heart is telling me to run,” I confess, swallowing down the lump of panic bubbling up in my throat. I hadn't meant to say that out loud, but if she's willing to help me, I might as well be honest.
The elevator opens silently as Victorio steps out to join us.
“Vic, go stand by the door. I want to talk to Melina alone for a second,” Emilia says as Vic sighs heavily.
“You're going to get me fired, Emmie.”
“If you don't help me out here, I might have to tell Angelina that I lied and you're not one of the good guys,” Emilia says, still smiling as she shrugs.
I must hand it to her, she knows how to play hardball with these guys. It's commendable and something I never had the courage to do around my father’s men. If I had, it probably would have gotten me killed.
“You wouldn't,” Vic says, staring her down.
“Probably not, but if you piss me off, the chance is still there.”
“You have two minutes,” Vic grumbles as he turns and walks towards the door.
Emilia smiles at his back, almost making me laugh despite feeling lost.
“I need to cut to the chase. My father and Niko were attacked in Greece. My father—he, uh, he didn't make it,” Emilia says, tears shining in the corners of her eyes.
“Oh, my God. I'm so sorry!” I console, wanting to hug her. “Was this when Antonio was there?”
“Yes. That's what took him so long to find you. Antonio was trying to hold me together as well as grieving my father.”
“Hold you together? Isn't that Niko's job?” My jealousy rears its head, and the question falls from my lips before I can stop it.
Emilia laughs, taking no offense to my rude question. “Niko was wounded in the attack. He was in a coma.”
I gasp. “Emilia, you've been through so much.”
“I married Niko when he was unconscious, but I don't regret it. It took almost losing him to know I didn't want to waste more time questioning everything. I loved him, which brings me to what you must ask yourself and the reason I told you all this to begin with.”
“What's that?” I ask.
My mind whirls as I take in everything she just told me. How tragic it must've been to lose her father and have to marry a man who wasn’t even alert to talk to her. I mean, he could've died as well. Here I am, feeling sorry for myself when things could be so much worse.
“Melina, ask yourself if you would be okay walking away from Antonio and losing him forever.”
“Emilia…”
“If you love Antonio that should make your choice simple,” she adds.
“I just don't see why he's pushing so hard on marriage,” I answer dejectedly. Everything would be fine if he could just give me time. I’m not asking for forever here. I just need some time to make sure we are on the same page instead of being scared about how hard I will fall when he's not there to catch me.