Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“People are starting to leave. Didn’t think you’d wanna be the last one here. Ride with us? I can drop you at home later.”
I could’ve kissed him for that. “I think that sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”
“I do my best.”
I flashed him a grateful smile, allowing him to link our arms together. Part of me considered going to tell my uncle and grandma goodbye, but then I’d have to go back inside. Sending a text would have to suffice. If this had been a true memorial for Aunt Molly, I wouldn’t dare leave like I this, but the cold hard truth couldn’t be ignored.
“Were you two able to come straight back here?” I asked, needing to distract myself and genuinely curious.
Melody slid a glance my way, taking possession of my other arm. “Funny you ask that because I was told where to go by a man known to work for Escuro.”
“Me too. What’s up with that?” Peyton asked.
So, he’d really told people to stay away from me? “I’ll explain in the car,” I muttered, knowing they would want full disclosure and answers as to why he sought me out, answers I didn’t have.
CHAPTER FOUR
I closed my eyes, soaking up my last few moments of peace.
“Are you going to be—?”
“Nope, you two aren’t allowed to ask me those questions right now, remember?”
I peeled my eyes open to Melody scowling at me from the front seat. “It was about the house.”
“Ugh, not that either,” I huffed in response, glancing over at the home in question. It looked like something out of Martha Stewart magazine, white stucco with light grey accents and a tiny rose garden in the very front. Nothing like it did when my parents lived there.
Peyton broke the silence in the car. "Just to clarify, you're serious about what we discussed earlier?"
I met his gaze through the rearview mirror and nodded confidently.
"I can't just accept things as they are. I need answers and I want to know why the head of a criminal empire is suddenly taking an interest in me.”
Peyton scoffed and Melody's expression turned into a scowl. I raised my hand to stop them from starting another argument. "I'm not saying I'm uninteresting, but there's no logical reason for him to personally greet me upon my return to his city."
"Yeah, I have no idea what that could be about. It's unlikely he has any connection to what happened," Melody replied.
"Well," Peyton said slowly, considering his words carefully. "You are the long-lost heir of the Castello family, and that would definitely catch his attention."
They both made valid points, even though they were slightly flawed. As we ate earlier, I had already thought about it and knew that he couldn't possibly be involved in what happened with my aunt and missing sister.
He had no reason to care or be concerned with who any of us were. However, there was no doubt in my mind that he knew something. I wasn’t desperate enough to ask him yet. I didn’t know how to go about even doing so and I hoped for all our sakes I’d never have to figure that out. No one would willingly consort with the devil unless touched by madness. I looked back at the house and spotted my grandmother not so discreetly watching us from the front bay window.
“And what are we going to do about that?” Melody asked.“ Your nonna is not going to let you become Nancy Drew. You’re all she has left besides Luis, and we all know what a massive cazzo he is.”
I laughed. “I can placate her for now. At least until I’m confident enough to lie to her face.”
Peyton turned and grinned at me slyly.
“What?”
“Your mama would be proud.”
“Would she? My father wouldn’t,” I mused, feeling the familiar pang in my heart when I thought of them.
It had been years, and the ache still hadn’t dulled. Losing Aunt Molly and not having my sister had brought it all back. Grief was like a relentless storm that I couldn't escape. Some days, it raged with such ferocity that it threatened to engulf me. On others, it became a familiar drizzle, a constant presence that oddly anchored me in its persistence. If there ever came a day that the storm ceased; I’d be dead.
“I think they’d both be proud of you for coming back here when you have every reason to run,” Peyton said softly.
I wasn’t so sure about that. My parents had known exactly how brutal and unforgiving their world was. I couldn’t be sure they’d ever intended on having kids, but nonetheless, here I was. “I want to say one more time, whoever is behind this won’t like anyone digging into it. You two don’t have to help me.”
“If you’re doing anything remotely insane and chaotic, you won’t be doing it alone,” Melody countered.