Series: The Rossi Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Mom and Dad? The pieces are starting to fall together. I look at the two girls again. Sophie has her hands on Elyse’s face, cradling her cheeks. Elyse has her arms around Sophie's torso. They both share the same heart shaped face, same button nose, and mousy brown hair.
Could they be sisters?
“No, no I’m fine. I don’t know why they would say that. I mean…they did...” Elyse trails off, like it’s hard for her to talk about whatever she’s trying to say.
“Oh my god, did they try to sell you too?” Sophie asks, concern written all over her face.
“Sell me?” Elyse’s eyes go impossibly wide. “What are you are talking about? They had me kidnapped, but…is that what happen to you? Did they sell you?”
“Yes, they did. They wanted me to marry someone, but I refused. I ended up in the same place Violet was. But like I said, I’m fine now. Tell me about this kidnapping. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’ll explain everything, but first, I have to know, how are you here? Did Damon find you?”
Damon throws his hands into the air, a dramatic look on his face. “Damon didn’t do anything,” he says, talking in third person. “I don’t even know who this is chick is.”
“This is my sister,” Elyse explains, confirming my suspicion. She looks back at Sophie, concern marring her features. “If Damon didn’t bring you here, then who did? Are you okay? Is something going on?”
Sophie twists around to look at me. “Roman did, he brought me here. Him and Ivan saved me…”
Tears start to form in Sophie’s eyes as she relives the memories in her mind and I can’t help but reach out to her. She lets go of her sister and comes over to me. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against my chest. She turn her head to the side so she can still talk to her sister.
“After I refused to marry, dad was so furious with me, he told me that they were counting on the money and that I was going to bring it in some other way. Some men picked me up the same day. They held me prisoner for a few days, and then Ivan took over the place and he let me go. I didn’t have any place to go so Roman let me stay with him.”
I remember the day like it was yesterday. Her trembling body, her eyes that pierced mine, staring straight into my soul. She owned me that day, and with nothing more than a single look. When she should’ve been cowering in fear she was burrowing into my chest. She had been through so much since then and had only grown stronger with each day. I was sure she had no idea how amazing she truly was.
“Thank you,” Elyse says, looking me straight in the eyes. I almost laugh. She is thanking me. I’m the one who should be doing all the thanking. To be able to have Sophie in my life is more than I could have ever wished for. More than I deserve for sure.
“You really don’t have to thank me.” Elyse wouldn't be thanking me if she knew what I had done to her sister two weeks ago but I don’t say that out loud. I want to never think about that day again or how close I was to losing her forever.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie
Dinner is served, but the last thing I want to do is eat. I feel like there is a bowling ball inside my stomach rolling around. The men drink, and nearly all the women have water, or juice. Xander leans back in his chair casually, smiling and talking, and Damon does the same. I watch my sister as if she is going to disappear at any moment. My mind is reeling. All I can think about how she’s supposed to be dead but she isn’t. She’s right here in front of me, smiling and talking.
I can’t believe this is real, Elyse, my baby sister. I thought I had lost her forever and now she is here, with me. Alive and happy…happier than I’ve ever seen her before. I listen to every single word that passes her lips. She explains how she met Hero in college and how our parents tried to get her to come back home. How they had her kidnapped by Hero’s father.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after what they’ve done to me, but I am. I’m surprised because even though my parents were abusive to all of us, it seemed like Elyse had always been their favorite. She would get away with things when the rest of us would get punished. I never resented her for it though. In fact it was entirely the opposite. I was glad they weren’t so hard on my baby sister.