Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“I’m not a big fish, like you. And it’s fine, Jet’s fine.”
“Jet’s not fine. He’s dangerous and I don’t want you to have any contact with him. Why are you out of breath anyway?”
“I ran up the stairs when I saw it was you. Listen. I need to tell you something.”
“Promise me first that you won’t have anything more to do with Jethro Blackstone.”
“Listen, Allegra, something’s going on. I’m not sure what, but there’s just a lot of activity here.”
“What activity?”
“Lots of people coming and going. Governor Moore for one. And my father met with the Blackstones.”
“What?”
“At least, he was at the club. I overheard his driver mention it to one of the other soldiers. I think Michael’s trying to get the money to get you back.”
“By borrowing it from the Blackstones?”
“I don’t know, I just heard snippets of conversation I’m trying to put together. I mean, that’s good news, right? You’ll come home.”
“At what cost? If he borrows money to buy me back, then what?” What happens next? Is marriage to Richard Moore or someone else back on the table? The family is weak. And what about Cassian? Do I want to be freed of him? I should want that. Of course I should.
Cassian’s soldiers allowed Jet’s visit to me. I don’t know if he paid them off, if this was a one-time thing or what, but what if it wasn’t? What if it’s part of a bigger plan. Jet was pissed off at Cassian. He’s declared as much. Would he betray him? Cassian is dangerous. I know that. But is Jet more so? And what about Cassian’s family? What did Jet say? That I could be in danger because of Cassian’s claim on me? I make myself look down at my hand, the nub that remains of one finger. It’s ugly, so ugly. I can almost see that butcher knife still stained with my mother’s blood coming down right before my eyes. See my finger lying beside my hand, the blood, the moment of disbelief before I registered the pain.
Commotion in the outer room has me climbing up off the bed to cross to the door. I press my ear to it and recognize a woman’s voice. Elenora. It must be the dress.
“Amal, I have to go. I’m going to try to figure out what’s going on here, but please just stay away from Jet and his family. Stay away from all of it. It’s not safe.”
“My father isn’t going to let anything happen to me, Allegra. You’re the one who’s in danger. I’ll find out what more I can.”
Someone tries the door, but when they find it locked, they knock.
“I have to go. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful, okay? And don’t switch off your phone. At least I can see where you are if you don’t switch it off.”
“I won’t. Just a second,” I call out. “Please you be careful too.”
I disconnect the call, silence the phone and shove it deep into my backpack before opening the bedroom door.
Elenora is standing inside holding a garment bag high in one hand and a tote in the other and two women follow dragging small cases on wheels. She comes toward me.
“There you are. Everything is ready. You didn’t try the shoes, so I brought several.” She pushes her way into the bedroom and honestly, I’m happy for the distraction, although I’m curious about her involvement as far as Jet’s visit.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
“They will prepare your hair and makeup,” she says, pointing to the two ladies who follow her in and close the door behind them. “The dress is exquisite. We need to make you exquisite.”
I glance at the clock. It’s a little after five. I guess they have two hours to work their magic. Two hours for me to try to unravel the webs each player is weaving.
23
CASSIAN
When I step off the elevator on my floor, I find Elenora followed by two women talking loudly as they leave the penthouse. When Elenora sees me, she smiles, comes to greet me with her usual kiss on each cheek.
“She is ready for you!” she announces. “And she is bellissima!” She kisses the tips of her fingers and gestures in the air before turning to the women and snapping at them to hurry up.
I watch, entertained, as they pile into the elevator a cloud of perfume in their wake.
A soldier sneezes and I pat him on the shoulder. “Any trouble?” I ask.
“All good,” he says. I walk into the penthouse. The main room is empty. Allegra must still be in the bedroom. I make my way in, glancing at my watch. It’s already seven o’clock. No time for a shower.
Allegra walks out of the bathroom just as I step into the bedroom and we both stop, she with a gasp, her hand moving to cover her heart because I’ve startled her.