AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m surprised when she reaches out and pulls me into her arms and whispers, “Welcome home, child. It’s about time.”
Home.
I should pull away and run—as fast as I can. They don’t deserve a happy homecoming, but my heart is telling me differently.
She whispers, “You must have many questions. I will answer every single one truthfully. You can ask me anything. I won’t let you down.”
I pull away and stare into her eyes and see many years of pain etched in them. This woman has suffered—a lot and I wonder if somehow in sending me away, she did me the hugest favor.
I’m intrigued and my mind has gone, but I glance back at Troy with a helplessness that causes her to say, “Mr. Remington may wait for you on the boat.”
“I’m not staying.” I remind her and she nods.
“I only ask for some of your time.”
“Okay.”
I take a deep breath and note one of the guards guide Troy onto the boat, and Adonis follows him.
I say quickly, “Give me your word they won’t go anywhere?”
I fix her with a determined frown, and she laughs softly. “You have my word.”
I nod and shout over my shoulder, “Troy!”
He stops and I say loudly, “I won’t be long. If the boat starts without me, tell Adonis to overpower the guards.”
Troy shakes his head as Adonis grins, saluting me as they turn and walk inside.
My grandmother laughs softly beside me.
“I admire your spirit. Then again, you are Vieri. I expected no less.’
“Am I?” I turn and fix her with a blank expression. “Forgive me for not being okay with that.”
She smiles. “You will. You just need answers and as I said, I can answer every single one of them.”
As we walk toward a magnificent house, I take in the surroundings and say politely, “You have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. It is.”
My stomach is in knots as we head to a terrace where there are jugs of cool liquid and an apparent feast laid out.
“Lunch time.” She says with a smile. “I instructed the rest of the family to take it elsewhere today. They can be a little intimidating, you know.”
The others.
My heart lurches as I imagine the rest of my family inside.
“Take a seat. You look as if you could use it.” She says kindly, and it doesn’t escape my attention that she is constantly watched over by guards with one hand in their pockets. They obviously view me as a threat, and I remark, “Do they expect I mean you harm?”
She peers around and shakes her head. “No. But they are trained to protect. You get used to it. Most of the time, I don’t even realize they are there.”
I take a sip of lemonade and love the sweet taste edged in bitterness.
“So, it’s all true.” I say as I set the glass down and she nods.
“Probably, but which truth are you referring to?”
