Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Maybe it’s the last few months of anger and frustration that had unlocked the darker side of me, the side that I always knew was there. Whatever, I’m not looking too closely at my motives right now. I’d spent months studying the Ricci family, getting the lay of the land, learning what I needed to about each and every one of them so I could, in turn, use that knowledge to my advantage.
This was a completely different scheme to the one I’d been plotting for years, so it had taken some time, which it probably wouldn’t have if she who should not be named hadn’t gutted me and sent my life into a tailspin. I know everyone thinks I’ve given up on finding her, I don’t allow her name to be mentioned, and any time it is, I evacuate the scene.
But nothing could be further from the truth. It hurts too damn much, is all. The kind of pain that shouldn’t be exposed to prying eyes. I never knew I was this weak, but I went to sleep thinking about her and woke up the same. I have to fight hard to concentrate on anything else, but the ankle biter is a constant reminder; he misses her too.
Sometimes I’d find him curled up in the bed in her old room at my family home even though I moved him into the guesthouse with me. He always finds his way home, though, since we’ve become codependent on each other.
I had to move out of the house; I couldn’t even stand to look at my bed, not once her scent disappeared from the sheets anyway. Everywhere I looked, she was there, and I’d grown tired of seeing the looks of pity and fear in my family’s eyes. Especially my sisters. It had taken me a long time to convince them that I don’t hold them responsible for hooking her up with Diego, but I know they blame themselves.
Plus, every once in a while, one of them would slip and bring her up, and it got to be too much. I’m sure that’s because of a lot of guilt on my part, guilt, and feeling like I’d lost a limb or some other very vital part of who I once was. Gianna!
I pushed back memories of her face and turned my focus to what was up ahead. If things go as I hope, I’ll have to have all of my faculties about me. Right now, I was about to walk into the lion’s den alone, with no backup and no real way of knowing if it would all blow up in my face.
Half an hour after deplaning, the driver pulled up to a little café that I’d learned old man Ricci likes to visit every morning to have a cup of coffee and a pastry while sitting in the sun with the morning paper. This is it; this is where it all begins. You’d think I’d feel some kind of way, maybe a bit hesitant, even nervous, but instead, I felt a rush of adrenaline that made me step out of the car with confidence and purpose.
Everything depends on what happens here today. Well, as far as this particular scheme is concerned. If this doesn’t work, there’s always plan B. I was about to use the information I’d learned about this man’s family against him and them. Like, the fact that he was not so pleased with his son and was having second thoughts about passing the reins off to him.
I saw his goons as soon as I stepped onto the pavement, but I walked into the place, ignoring them, not acknowledging their presence in any way. Of course, they were on the job, and I’m a new face, so they paid attention. I went up to the counter, ordered my coffee and danish, and walked back outside to a table that was strategically within old man Ricci’s line of vision if and when he should look up.
It didn’t take long. I knew the minute he looked up from his paper; I felt the moment he did a double-take. “Young man!” It was the first time I heard my supposed grandfather’s voice, and it was filled with the surprise and uncertainty I was expecting.
I took my phone out and pretended to make a call, and he got up from his table. The two goons flanked him, and he held his hand up to hold them back. “Young man, do I know you?” I looked up at him for the first time with disinterest.
“Excuse me?”
“Your face. That’s Ricci, no? Yes, you’re a Ricci. I know your face. It’s mine; it’s my son’s face. How do you have this….”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I got up, walked around him, and left. First phase of the plan done; now it’s up to him to figure out who I am. I made sure to walk slow enough for his people to get to their car before getting into mine. I’m sure if my driver was watching in the rearview mirror, the smile on my face would’ve sent shivers down his spine.