Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Looking completely unbothered by my words, Leo turns around and walks out of the bedroom while grumbling, “I’m good with that, too. Do as you please, principessa.”
My phone beeps again with an incoming message, and a moment later, I hear a door shut down the hallway.
A sob sputters from me, and lifting my hand, I quickly cover my mouth while I glance around the extravagantly beautiful bedroom.
This is insane!
What am I going to do?
Chapter 5
HAVEN
After I read Kristen’s text, I try to call Mom, but her phone keeps going to voicemail.
When the beep comes over the line, I ramble, “Mom! Answer your phone! Oh my God,” I gasp and shove my hand through my hair. “Let me know if you’re okay. I’m at Leo’s mansion, and I have no idea what to do. His place is situated on a hillside, and it has a private beach. I don’t know the directions, because I was too rattled to focus on where we were driving. Call me the second you get this message.”
This isn’t happening!
Feeling claustrophobic, I rush to the glass doors, and for a few seconds, I struggle with the lock. When I finally get the doors open, I rush out onto the balcony and grab hold of the railing. I suck in frantic breaths of the salty air, my gaze darting over the waves crashing against the rocks beneath me.
I turn my head to the right and stare at the private beach that’s nestled between rocks and the mansion. I also have a partial view of the veranda and pool.
The sound and smell of the ocean and beach calm me down until I’m able to think straight again.
Just take it one step at a time.
I have to survive the next twenty-four hours.
Maybe Leo’s anger will lessen, and I’ll be able to have a reasonable conversation with him.
I begin to feel claustrophobic again and pace into the bedroom.
This is not some dark romance book. It’s real life, and Leo can’t just take me and force me to marry him. There’s law and order. Mom will get the embassy involved.
Lifting a trembling hand to my face, I press my palm to my forehead, one thought after the other rushing through my mind.
I can’t believe everything that’s happened today.
Leo shot Luciano. Twice!
And all the blood on Leo’s arms and neck? I don’t think it was his. It didn’t look like he was injured, so it had to be someone else’s blood.
God.
Another chill creeps down my spine, and feeling cold like a block of ice, I walk to my luggage and dig out a cardigan. After putting it on, I glance around the big room that will be my prison cell for the unforeseeable future.
Crap.
The events of the day replay in my mind, and I slump down on the side of the bed. Staring blankly ahead of me, I try to make sense of everything.
“Come to the kitchen,” Leo suddenly says from the open doorway, scaring the everloving crap out of me.
A shriek bursts over my lips as I dart to my feet, my hands curling into fists.
Jesus. My heart.
Then my eyes lock on him, and even though I’m terrified of the man, I can’t ignore how attractive he looks right now. It’s unsettling as hell.
His damp hair is sleeked back, and there’s no trace of the blood left on his skin. The black dress shirt he’s wearing with the sleeves rolled up and matching suit pants complement his powerful body way too much.
When I just stare at him with my heart beating in my throat, he asks, “Did you hear me?”
Wrapping my arms around my middle, I give him a shaky nod.
Leo disappears from the open doorway, and I have no choice but to reluctantly follow him.
The mansion is so big that our footsteps echo, and Leo’s iciness makes the air feel colder than it is. I rub my palms up and down my arms, my eyes glued to the gun tucked into the back of his pants.
When we enter the kitchen, my gaze instantly falls on a block of knives. The second I think about grabbing one, I let go of the idea because I don’t have the guts to kill someone. Besides, God only knows what Leo will do to my family if I attack him.
Feeling utterly out of place, I watch as he gathers ingredients. He starts to prepare dinner, the sight of him doing something so mundane making him look less threatening.
Then he grabs a knife, and he looks dangerous again.
Without sparing me a glance, he orders, “Tell me about yourself.”
My heartbeat speeds up again, and I say the only thing I can think of. “I’m in Italy for vacation. I have a life back home. Let my mom and me go.” My chin quivers. “We won’t tell anyone about today.”