AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I jump up. Bray watches me as I walk down the hall and head back to the bedroom. I need to find my phone.All I have to do is ask,I repeat the thought.
I’m rummaging through my bag when Neo knocks at my door. I pull out my phone. It’s dead—of course it is. I haven’t bothered to look at it for three days.
“Holly, I need to head out for a few hours. Will you be okay here with your sister and brother-in-law?” My heart stops.
I didn’t realize how much I was leaning on Neo. What if he doesn’t return? “Will—will you come back?” I ask. He has his own home after all. He has his own life, and I’m sure I’ve taken up more of his time than I should.
“Yes, I’ll be back. I’ve had the guest room next to this one made up for your sister. Here, take this.” He holds out a small handgun. “Remember: shoot first, ask questions later. If need be… But if anything happens, you know where to go.”
I look to the closet. There’s a safe room at the back. T made sure I knew how to access it. “Why would I need this?” I ask.
“You won’t. It’s a precaution. You’re the queen of the Valentino family, Holly. Don’t forget that. You bow down to no one.Ever.”
I shake my head. What’s a queen without her king? Right now? Vengeful—that’s what she is.“Are you going to look for whoever did this?” I ask.
“Yes. I gotta go. I’ll be back soon. Try to sleep some.” Neo kisses my forehead before walking out the door. I put the gun in the bedside table and plug my phone into the charger.
“Holly, I got you a sandwich.” Reilly walks into the room and looks around. I know she’s worried about me. I don’t want to make her worry, but what am I meant to do? Pretend that I’m okay? I don’t know how to do that.
I take the plate from her. “Thanks.” Setting the plate on the table, I turn towards the bathroom. “I think I’ll just have a shower first.”
“Good idea. I wasn’t going to say anything, but you really bloody stink, woman. Go jump in the shower, and I’ll find you some clothes,” she says.
“Okay.” I can give her that. She needs to feel useful, and if picking out some clothes for me to wear is what’s going to do that, I’ll let her.
The hot water scalds my skin. I don’t bother adjusting the temperature. I need this. I need the heat. I squirt some of T’s shampoo into my hands and comb it through my hair. I lather myself with his bodywash. The scent is both soothing and heart-wrenching
Reilly barges into the bathroom. “Okay, I get why you married this guy. That wardrobe, Hol, it’s literally the best thing I’ve ever seen.”Of course she would love his wardrobe.“I found you a shirt and some yoga pants,” she says, making herself comfortable on the side of the tub. I guess she’s staying? Did Bray or Neo tell her about the glass? I really hope they’re not going to watch me around the clock now. It was a moment of weakness. I don’t know if I would have done it anyway. Right now, the only thing I can think about is finding a way to get Theo back. I have to believe he’s coming back.
I wonder how his mother is doing… I haven’t seen or spoken to her, but maybe I should pay her a visit today or tomorrow. I don’t even know what time it is… I’ve completely lost track.
I turn the water off and grab the towel Reilly hands me. Wrapping myself in the fluffy white cotton, I tug on the yoga pants she found. Then I hold up the shirt and toss it aside. Walking into the closet, I pull out another one of T’s white business shirts. I need to feel him.
“Well, I guess that works too,” Reilly says as she stands in the doorway, watching me.
ChapterThree
It’s three in the morning, and I’m sitting here, holding my phone in my hands. I have T’s text history up. I’ve typed in a message over and over, only to delete it again. What if I’m wrong? What if he doesn’t answer? What if he really is gone? Am I clinging to a hope that’s no more than a fantasy? I type in a message again.
Me: I need you to come back. I can’t do this anymore. It hurts too much. Please come back, T.
I press send and watch the screen. I see thereadtick on the message. Someone has viewed the text. Then there are those three little dots—likethat someoneis typing a reply—before they disappear.Someoneread my message.Tread my message. I try a second time.
Me: Please, I love you. T? Tell me you’re coming back.
Again, I wait. And again, the message has been read. Whether it’s Theo or not, someone has his phone. I should tell Neo… But I have this feeling he’s hiding something from me. Maybe he knows where Theo is after all. If this is just some sick game of theirs, I’m going to kill them both.
I leap to my feet and tiptoe to the living room. I dig through the drawers on the table until I find T’s keys for that fancy car of his. I know it’s early, but ifIcan’t sleep, I know there is one other person who won’t be sleeping either. She may not like me very much, but I need someone who won’t bullshit me. And she’s the only one I can think of. Before I can talk myself out of it, I press the button for the lift. It opens with two burly men inside.
“Mrs. Valentino,” they greet me politely.
“Morning.” I offer them a tight smile. Are they going to stop me from leaving? Then I remember Neo’s words:you’re the queen.
So, I act like the queen I very much don’t feel like at the moment. “I need to go and see my mother-in-law. Which one of you would like to follow me?” I smirk.
They glance between each other before they nod. “We both will, ma’am. We can drive you over to the estate,” one of them says, pressing the button on the lift to go to the basement.
“That won’t be necessary. I like driving. What are your names?” I question.
