Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
I drop down into an armchair, and as I collect the knife and fork to start eating, Krista smiles and turns to leave. “Krista, wait,” I say, watching as she pauses and turns to look back at me. “A few weeks ago, the second morning Chiara was here, you came up to deliver her breakfast. You knocked on the door to see if she was awake.”
“Yes,” she says, her gaze flashing with unease.
“You usually serve breakfast in the kitchen.”
Krista visibly swallows and averts her gaze, her nervousness as loud as the empty room beside us. “That’s correct, I do.”
“Why?”
Her stare comes back to mine as the color drains from her face. “Please don’t, Killian,” she begs. “I do not have sufficient evidence to support my theory, and I do not wish to make such accusations of your second-in-command. If I am wrong, he will make an attempt on my life.”
“Krista, please,” I say, not above begging. “I have already reviewed the surveillance footage, and you are not wrong in your assumptions. However, I need to know why, at that time, you thought it was imperative to check on her.”
“He’s a bad man, Killian. I have been here for years and met the likes of all kinds of men. I know the difference between a man who has a good heart, a man who is cunning, a man who is manipulative, and a man who is simply evil. Sergiu is that evil. He encompasses it, and the moment Chiara arrived, he was too curious for his own good. He hated her for no reason, despised her simply for being here despite her doing nothing to deserve such animosity,” she explains. “That morning he arrived too early. You weren’t due to meet him for another hour, and when he made his way upstairs, I just knew. I had no proof or any real reason to make such vile assumptions, but I felt it in my chest. He was going to attempt to hurt her, and so I did what little I could and hoped for the best.”
“Thank you, Krista,” I tell her. “I wish you had told me sooner.”
“I do not wish to offend you, Killian. You truly are a wonderful soul, and I love you. You have given me this wonderful life and asked for nothing in return. However, let’s not pretend there isn’t a hierarchy within this home. I am an employee, and it is not my place to comment on the senior members of your family, the people who share your blood. Plus, I’ve already been through a hell of my own. I don’t wish to draw Sergiu’s attention to me any more than it already has. I do apologize for not bringing this to your attention. However, when Chiara was up for the day, she did not offer any signs that foul play had occurred. I thought maybe all he had done was talk to her.”
“I understand,” I say with a nod. “Why don’t you retire for the night? I have a lot to consider, but just know that your name will be left out of this. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you, Killian.”
“There’s no need to thank me,” I tell her. “I’ve already let both you and Chiara down by not seeing what was right in front of my face all these years, and it’s about time that I make things right.”
29
CHIARA
This fucking sucks.
It’s been three days of agony where I’ve done nothing but feel sorry for myself, apart from last night when I took a breather from the agony of losing Killian and found the joy at the bottom of a tequila bottle.
Waking up this morning, I immediately regretted that decision, but at least I’ve been able to feel sorry for myself for a whole new reason, which has been refreshing.
These past three days have been miserable. I made this whole declaration about getting my life back on track, getting back to work, and making sure my college enrollment is still intact, and yet all I’ve done is hole up in my shitty apartment and stare at a blank wall. I’m really doing wonders with my newfound freedom. Killian should be so proud.
Tonight though, things change.
I’m not just going to talk about getting myself on track, I’m actually going to do it. I hope.
After swallowing a few painkillers to help manage the epic hangover, I take one final look in the mirror to make sure I’m presentable for a night at work. My hair looks dull, and the rest of me looks boring as hell compared to the expensive clothing Killian has had me in over the past few weeks. Hell, I’ve been in silk gowns and fancy lingerie, but tonight, I’m in a pair of black jeans with bleach stains and a boring cotton tank.