Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
It shouldn’t have been possible, but her skin lost the little color that was left. “He wants me.”
“He wants you?” I echoed, my chest tightening at her answer.
“My brother offered me up to this guy. Like an arranged marriage so that they’ll join forces.”
I shook my head. “He can’t do that.”
“Oswald doesn’t seem to care about what he can and cannot do. Or what I want.” Opal’s soft laugh held no humor. “Heck, how I might be treated when he ships me down there doesn’t even matter to him.”
Her last sentence echoed in my head as the server set our milkshakes on the table, but neither of us reached for them. When she was far enough away again, I asked, “What does that mean exactly?”
Opal’s hand shook as she traced the tines of her fork. “Douglas has a reputation for being abusive. Especially to women. And I’ve heard rumors that he has some, um”—she swallowed hard, and her tears threatened to spill over again—“dark tastes. In…you know…the bedroom.”
I gasped, feeling as though I was frozen in my seat, my eyes blinking rapidly while I absorbed this information. “You can’t go.”
Opal quirked a brow. “You, out of anyone, should know that I can’t just tell my brother no.”
“Come to New York with me,” I blurted, desperate to find a way to save my friend. “I’m staying with Nic and his family. Oswald would be crazy to try to steal you back from the head of the DeLucas.”
“Oswald might not be that crazy, but from everything I’ve learned about Douglas, he is. In the end, I won’t be safe, and your family will end up in a war they shouldn’t have to fight.” Opal reached for my hand and held on tightly. “But there may be another way you can help.”
“How?”
“I need to disappear, and I was hoping your brother could make that happen.”
I had never asked Rafa for a favor as a Mafia underboss, only as my big brother. But there was zero hesitation before I answered, “I’ll go talk to him right now. I’m sure he’ll agree.”
Relief mixed with the panic that had been in Opal’s eyes. “You really think he’ll be willing to help me?”
“I’ve known you since I was five. You’re practically family, and that means everything to the DeLucas,” I assured her, trying to put a confidence in my voice that I didn’t quite feel. The truth was, getting Rafa to agree was probably going to be a battle. But it was one I was determined to win.
She gripped my hand hard enough to hurt, but I didn’t pull away because I knew she needed the connection right now. “Thank you so much.”
“What are friends for?” I half-heartedly teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Opal’s lips curved up the tiniest bit, and she reached for her milkshake to take a sip. Determined to get her situation resolved as soon as possible, I tossed a twenty-dollar bill from my purse onto the table and slid out of the booth.
“Rafa is home right now, so I’m going to head back to talk to him. Do you want me to call or text when I know when he comes up with a plan?”
The conviction in my tone eased some of the tension in her shoulders. “I’m not sure which is better. For all I know, he’s reading my texts and tracking my calls. The only reason he was okay with me coming today was because he knows you’ll be gone when he marries me off, so he didn’t want to raise any red flags with you. He warned me not to say anything.”
I nodded. “Okay, wait here then. If he finds out I left and came back, just tell him I got my period and needed to change pants or something like that.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Yeah, that would get him to back off for sure.”
“You may need to be ready to move quickly. I don’t know what kind of timeline you’ll be looking at.”
“I can leave at any minute. I don’t care about anything I’ll have to leave behind.” She jumped from the booth and wrapped me in a tight hug. “Except you. If we can’t talk again, please know how much I’ll miss you, Gabbi. You’re the best friend a girl could ever ask for.”
I sniffled into her neck. “I’ll miss you too, but at least I’ll know you’re out there somewhere, living your best life.”
I was filled with determination as I strode out of the diner and flung open the passenger door of the SUV Vincent had used to drive me here. His brows drew together. “Thought you were gonna be a while?”
“Change of plans. I need to get back.”
The ten-minute drive to our estate felt as though it took twice as long. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop in front of Rafa’s house, I practically leaped from the passenger seat to race inside.