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)
"You'll have to," Zane says stoically. "If you have a problem with that, I can call Mr. DeLuca. After all, you are on his property, enjoying his hospitality now. Since Ms. Kratos is with his wife, I'm sure he'd be interested in hearing how you don't think he can guard his wife better than you can. Oh, and not to mention the fact that Ms. Kratos is also the fiancée of his Capo and, as such, is under his complete protection.”
The other man grunts, seeming to catch on that his arguing this point would be a losing battle. One that he doesn't want to deal with if it means crossing my husband.
"We'll be right behind you," he says.
"I'm sure you will," Zane says with a smirk watching the men move to the SUV before motioning for Helen to get into the car.
Helen smiles up at him. "I think I like you."
"If you ever find yourself single, we'll talk," he says as she slides in.
I step up to the door, looking at him as I shake my head. "If Marco hears about this, you might lose your pretty smile."
Zane cocks an eyebrow at me. "Can I just ask that you never tell Mr. Deluca you think I have a pretty smile."
I snicker as I slide into the car next to my best friend. Zane and Levi climb in the front and a minute later the car takes off.
"Well, I don't have to ask you how things are going on your end. You're practically glowing! I take it Antonio makes a much better husband than Doyle Kelly."
I don’t have to pretend to shudder as that man’s name makes my stomach roll. "He was horrible. Antonio saved my life. I can't believe my father sold me to a man who traffics women to be sex slaves.”
Helen pulls off her glasses, looking at me intently. "I asked my brother about him once I got your email. Did you know he's been married six times, and each wife, with the exception of two, has just disappeared? Apparently, the man just petitions the church for annulments."
"Those poor women," I tell her shaking my head. "What happened to the other two?"
She gives me a knowing look. "One died in a boating accident." She uses air quotes when she says accident dryly. "The other is locked in a sanitorium. The marriage was annulled due to her being declared legally insane."
"What did she do to get put in there?" I ask, realizing that if Antonio hadn't found me, I would have either died by Kelly’s hand or my own.
Helen shrugs. "Who knows? Probably just breathed wrong."
I shudder again, making note to show my husband all the gratitude I can muster tonight.
"So, I know you look happy, but how are you really?" Helen asks, changing the subject. I’m glad. I don't think I can stomach any more talk of him.
"I'm happy. Probably happier than I've been in my entire life. I love him," I tell her, feeling my cheeks blush.
Helen reaches over, pulling me into a hug. "That's all I've ever wanted for you, Melina. If anyone deserves that, it's you."
"You deserve it too, Helen."
"Yeah, well, I don't know if love is in the cards for me. I mean, I've been engaged to Marco forever, and he didn't even try to come to see me. It mattered so little that I just wasn't important. He was supposed to visit for the first time this month, but your father sent him to America for your wedding."
"I'm sorry, Helen," I tell her, feeling guilty.
Helen waves it off. "No. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm glad he was with you so you wouldn't be alone. That doesn't mean being engaged to someone for four years and knowing they don't even care enough to meet you doesn't sting, though."
I chew on my bottom lip, worrying it as I weigh my friend’s words.
"Marco is a very controlled person. There's a chance—a very big one—that he was waiting until you turned twenty-one."
“I was thinking that, too. Yet, I was twenty-one when he chose to come to America instead.”
"Well, you get to meet him while you're here," I tell her, hoping that it helps her feel better—even just a little bit.
"Yes, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do."
“That sounds ominous.”
She nods. "Father said if, after meeting Marco, I didn't want to go through with the wedding, I didn't have to. Apparently, the deal hinged on merging business interests with your father and he no longer wishes that to happen."
"He doesn't?" I ask in surprise.
"I’m afraid news is all over Greece that your father sold you to be… well…."
"God," I hiss.
"I'm sorry, Lina."
I shake my head, pushing away my embarrassment. "It doesn't matter. My old life doesn't matter to me anymore. My life is here with my new family."