AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There are worse alternatives, Margot. But you need to realize that the rules set in place, the protection and security measures that Daniel must go through enable you both to live a fairly normal life. I don’t need to tell you that diseases don’t discriminate. Neither do accidents out of the blue, including on fabulous vacations. And other horrible crimes are inflicted on those who’d been decent human beings their entire life. It makes you question all you have and are, and the beliefs you were brought up with. You can either fall into the darkness of not allowing yourself to live or you can enjoy every precious moment. Be the girl you always wanted to be. Maybe that’s not me or everything I did in my life, but there are aspects of being with Daniel where you can be you, just a version where you don’t need to worry about money or caring for your mother any longer.”
“You mean for a year.”
She bit her lower lip and another stupid lie I’d told myself had been confirmed. Oh, my God.
“This is for a lifetime. He’ll never let me go. Will he?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“You cannot tell him the truth. Ever. He will stop nothing to destroy my family long after I’m gone.”
I shook my head several times. “You lied to me. You purposely led me down a path with deceit. Why would you do that?”
She took my hand into hers, squeezing but with little strength. “Because like you, I would do anything in the world to protect my family. Anything. I gave you a gift. My life. My heritage. My family. They will be your family now. You will have children in my name and you never know, you might find yourself in love with Daniel. You’re the lucky one. Live. Enjoy. Feast. Drink. Dance. Life is far too precious to harbor anger or resentment.”
As an announcement came over the airwave regarding her flight, I wanted to jerk my hand away, but she was all but begging me to return as if nothing had happened. I had no idea what to do. I was so confused.
“If it’s about money, I will have more wired to your account,” she said.
“It’s not money. It’s about choices. You made them for me.” It was another moment of realizing how stupid what I’d just said sounded. “I made the choice. Freely.”
She nodded without rubbing it in. “Please live for me if nothing else. You are beautiful and strong and I know you’ll find a path to happiness. I know it.”
What about my mother? What about my friends? How could I incorporate them into my little world as it was locked behind a thin layer of glass?
Her parents stood, requesting her to come with them in Italian. The charade was still in play, the private plane supposedly returning them to their lives leaving the night before. That had been done on purpose in case Daniel hadn’t enjoyed the first night with his new bride. The lengths that had been gone to continued to floor me.
Maria squeezed my hand again. “You will do fine and in time, you won’t notice the extra security measures.”
“I don’t know any longer. He’s not who I expected. He’s brutal and so powerful, yet passionate in everything he does.” I realized I sounded like a lovestruck teenager.
“You’re already falling in love with him,” she said almost wistfully, as if she now wished she could be in my place.
“That’s never going to happen. He’s a killer, a monster. He destroys people’s lives. Any family like that is repulsive.” I’d just shoved my foot into my mouth all over again. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
She laughed. “The reason you are perfect for Daniel Thorn is because of your brazen yet nurturing personality.”
Yeah, well, she didn’t really know me. Not that I knew myself any longer.
The moment she stood I did as well, fighting both anxiety and tears.
It was no surprise that I knew what I needed to do at that moment. The right thing. That’s what my mother had always taught me. If in my gut it didn’t feel right, then it wasn’t. And this had disaster or worse written all over it. “I’m sorry, Maria. I just can’t go through with it. I realize that it’s breaking the contract, but I feel I have no other choice. Given the horrible circumstances, I’m certain Daniel will completely understand.”
She kept the smile on her face but the icy look in her eyes was instantly terrifying. I sensed Leonardo inching closer, the oppressive heat of his body impossible to ignore. When she threw out her hand as if to stop him from breaking my neck, a cold shiver skated down my spine.
It was a few seconds before she said anything, long after she took several deep breaths, coughing to the point of choking afterwards. Whether or not it was a theatrical stint or not I wasn’t certain, but it had the effect she was looking for.
Fear ran rampant through me. She had everything to lose if I pulled out, which made her dangerous.
Maria kept her voice low and melodic but there was no denying the threat she was issuing. “I don’t think you understand. You entered into a legally binding contract. Let alone the fact you know what could happen to my family if this ruse is discovered. I believe the amount of money we agreed on is more than fair.”
“This isn’t about money.”
“No, you’re correct. Perhaps I need to provide you with an additional incentive. It’s something I hate doing, but I feel it’s absolutely necessary. I’m going to make you a promise, which I always keep. If you don’t go through with your end of the bargain, you will never see your mother again.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” I was suddenly terrified that she’d have no issue following through with the ugly promise made.
“I wouldn’t enjoy it. Granted I wouldn’t be doing it myself but all I need to do is to make a single phone call and every trace of your mother will completely disappear. In addition, I’ll be forced to have a long chat with your friend at the diner. What is her name? Oh, yes, Emily Shane. She is really a lovely girl with a bright future. I would hate for her to have a terrible accident.”
“You bitch. If you dare touch either one of them, I’ll go to the police.”
