Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“You seem to have forgotten what forever means.” His eyes drift to the blade jutting out of Matteo’s heart. “Now you know.”
My attention lingers on the silver dagger gleaming under the moonlight. The meaning isn’t lost on me. I recognize the blade, and more importantly, the custom engraving on the hilt. Per Sempre. That’s the promise I made to Angelo when I gifted him this piece shortly after our engagement.
It meant forever.
That word ricochets through me, echoing through the chambers of my mind until the weight of it crushes me. I promised Angelo my forever, and now those words are lodged inside Matteo’s chest.
He’s dead…because of me.
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt him,” I choke out.
“And you promised loyalty.” His gaze drops to the cum trailing down my thighs. “Leave it inside you. I’ll give you some time to change, then we’ll discuss how this is going to work.”
The detachment in his voice makes me feel raw and too exposed. Like a switch, he’s turned off every emotion I thought I felt from him this past hour. In the span of a single moment, it all went up in smoke. And with one last fleeting glance, he leaves me standing there, broken and alone.
19
ABELLA
Ican’t seem to drag my eyes away from Matteo’s lifeless body. A river of blood carves a path from the gaping wound in his chest, soaking his shirt and the ground beneath him. The steady drip splashing against the stone will haunt me forever.
He was beaten badly. So much so that if I hadn’t known him my whole life, I might not recognize him at all. His eyes are swollen and bruised, his nose bent and crusted with blood. A fabric gag bulges from his mouth from behind the duct tape that’s tightly woven around his head. One of his shoulders looks as if it’s been dislocated.
He was brutalized because of me.
A gut-wrenching sob catches in my throat, and I cover my mouth, horrified by this turn of events. This was entirely preventable had I not agreed to his arrangement in the first place. He was trying to protect me, and because I let him, he’s dead.
My eyes burn, and everything hurts. But I swipe the tears away just as fast as they come.
Lock them down, put them away.
Emotions are a weakness, and I don’t deserve to feel sorry for myself right now.
Matteo is dead.
I get dressed and search the table for something to clean myself with. There’s no water, so I settle on champagne. My fingers tremble as I pop the cork, and I nearly choke on the fizz when I bring the bottle to my lips. I gulp down enough to numb myself before I splash the rest on my face.
It’s not the best idea. Champagne is sticky, and it doesn’t do much to wash away the blood staining my skin. But then again, I’m not sure anything can.
How could Angelo do this? How could he kill his own brother?
Maybe I was naïve to believe his ruthless reputation wouldn’t extend to his own family. He’s always been dangerous, but never this cold.
He made Matteo watch as he inked his mark into my skin and fucked me. As I rewind it back, I can see that it was all for show. Putting me on display, making me beg, making me come, and then the worst part...He made me admit that I would choose his life over Matteo’s.
God, I am so stupid.
Of course, Angelo hasn’t forgiven me. His hatred for me burns hotter than the fires of hell, and he’s made that very clear. Now I have to go back to the island with him and live out the rest of my days as a hostage of his vengeance.
I already know how that story will end. When he discovers the truth, he won’t have an ounce of mercy to spare for my feelings.
I stare out over the cliff’s edge, considering the certain heartbreak to come. Is this what my mother felt before she plummeted to her death?
The sound of the portcullis opening has me straightening and wiping my face. I’m a mess of mascara, blood, and champagne. Just how every girl imagines her wedding night.
“You decent?” Nicky calls out from the other side of the wall.
“Yes.”
He enters and grimaces at my face, confirming my thoughts.
“There’s only champagne and wine.” I gesture at the table. “I can’t clean myself up.”
“It’s okay,” he says. “You can do that later.”
I don’t ask where we’re going as he takes my bag, and I follow him through the castle wall. On the other side, Angelo waits with the robed men, who have all lined up to see us off. When he notices I’ve been crying, his eyes flash with irritation. I’m sure he’d rather I didn’t shed a tear for Matteo. Of course, none of the other men lift a brow at my appearance.