Total pages in book: 260
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
The very thought makes my heart hurt.
They killed him.
I take in a sharp breath. At least Alec’s shoving against my back eases slightly as we approach the door. My uncle may have some influence, but it’s not enough. Not anymore. He let them hurt me. He was proud to tell me that Gio was dead.
I hate him. I hate all of them. I haven’t said a word to any of them. The only thing on my mind is how to get out of here. But I have to kill my father first. That is the only thing I’m focused on. The only thing that’s kept me alive since I’ve been back here, locked back in my room.
He hasn’t even tried to talk to me. He doesn’t give a fuck.
The only company I’ve had is my uncle. I couldn’t talk to him though. I didn’t say a word as he told me they were waiting to kill him. It was all about him. Why he couldn’t come to my rescue because it would have put him in danger.
I understand it. I do. But I don’t care.
All the years I spent here made me weak. Gio gave me a reason for living. He gave me a strength I never knew I had.
And now he’s dead.
My uncle’s hand rests on my shoulder, halting me in front of the door. His hand is rough and cold. He leans forward and talks quietly, “It’s going to be alright.” His soft words sink in, resonating in my very being.
I look him in the eyes. “No it won’t,” I say, and he flinches from my simple response. “It’s never been alright.” Truer words have never been spoken.
My gaze is ripped away as the door flies open, revealing my father.
I don’t drop my gaze. It takes everything in me not to glare at him. My hate has grown and consumed me. The wits I had before that kept me safe from his anger have all vanished. Beat me. Whip me. Humiliate me. I don’t care. The last thing I do will be to put this man in his grave.
“Grace,” he says, and his eyes are narrowed and his yellow teeth show through his sickening smile.
I don’t respond. Instead I walk in, ignoring him and preparing for whatever it is he’s going to do to me.
I only take two steps in and then I freeze. My legs go numb, and my knees threaten to buckle. I gasp, covering my mouth, my heart and body going cold. My eyes prick with tears. But I can’t let them come. He’s here. He’s alive.
My uncle grabs my waist and keeps me upright. My body’s trembling.
He’s alive.
“Gio!” I call out to him, and try to run to him. He’s not okay. His face is bloodied, and he has bruises and cuts all over his body.
I can’t stand the sight. Every inch of my body prickles with terror, and my blood runs cold. My uncle squeezes my forearms and pulls my back into his chest. I try to elbow him in his gut. I fight him, kicking and yelling for him to let me go. I can’t take my eyes away from Gio though.
“Grace,” he says and his voice is full of conviction as he struggles against the binds holding him to the chair. “Don’t touch her!” he screams. Just hearing his voice mends a broken piece of my soul. My voice cracks, and the words refuse to leave my lips.
I finally tear my eyes away from him and fall to my knees, my hands gripping my father’s shirt. “Please! Let him go!” My heart squeezes in my chest. If he ever loved me, he’d save him. A sob rips from my throat.
“He didn’t do anything, please-” The back of my father’s hand whips across my face. The force of the blow is so strong it makes my head spin as I land hard against the ground.
“You fucking cunt.” I open my eyes, and through my blurred vision I see Alec’s cruel smile and then my father’s.
My heart collapses. They’ll never save him.
I repress every emotion in me other than hate. A black void starts taking over.
I can hear the screaming. Gio and my father. The legs of the chair Gio’s tied to are scraping against the floor. But it all turns to white noise. My body heats and an anger I’ve never felt grips hold of me, bolting me to the floor as it seeps into my blood.
“You’re a fucking rat!” my father hisses as he crouches closer to me, close enough to hit me again. My head flings to the side, and my lips pulse from the impact. The stinging pain shoots from my heated cheek down my throat. I anticipated it though. I only use it to fuel me and my growing rage. My tongue darts out, and the metallic taste of blood fills my senses.