The Mafia Bride (Katrina and Silas)

Chapter 23

Katrina's POV

I turned toward the path where they had just driven in from, the opened gates staring at me.

I had been searching for this exact route earlier, the day he had caught me in the woods. But the thick canopy of leaves had hidden it from view.

If you didn't know it was there, you'd easily miss it.

What need was there to hide the gates? And who would bring up such a crazy idea?

But that wasn't what I should be worried about, I should be worried about leaving here..

Phillip had given me a chance and I should be smart enough to take it.

The guards were scattered around the courtyard, their attention diverted, none of them noticing the way I hovered by the

entrance.

They were all worried about Silas, they wouldn't bother with what I was doing now.

This was my chance. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last and it urged me forward.

I took a step toward the gate, then another.

Blinking out rain from my eyes, I wiped with my face with my lands as the rain fell in never ending drops

Come on, Katrina. This is what you've been waiting for.

My body felt pulled in two directions, toward the promise of esclipe back home and towards Silas who was currently fighting for his life.

But something held me back.

I didn't

idn't run out of the gates like I should have, instead I walked slowly.

Like I was waiting for something or someone to stop me.

How different was this place from the home I had known all these years.

I came to a stop just a few steps from the gate, my body frozen in place. I glanced over my shoulder, back toward the house.

And there, staring at me from one of the upstairs windows, was Phillip.

His eyes were cold, calculating. He stared at me as he waited for me to leave.

It seemed as if he had even been waiting for this moment, waiting to see me run.

Because he wasn't going to stop me.

His gaze sent a chill down my spine, and for a brief moment, I felt an irrational surge of guilt

But why? What did I have to feel guilty for? I wasn't the one torturing people in basements, wasn't the one playing judge, jury, and executioner. He keeps saying that was what they did, but still.

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Chapter 23

my head, forced the thought away, turning back to the

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

isn't here

But I didn't.

weight

kidnapped, forced into a marriage I didn't want. And yet,

I tried to convince myself, something inside me

didn't move, as if they were lasted

you foolish

I turned back to the house, ignoring Philip's

it. Not yet.

the heavy atmosphere chokingas I climbed the stairs to my

1 needed to change.

I walked up, the heaviness

my skirtand shirt, the

reflection in the

thoughts away as I quickly pulled on fresh clothes, something

talk myself out of it. I headed down the hallway toward Silas's

before, but when I saw the maids rushing in and out of the room, I

to know if he was

he was bleeding out in the courtyard, his life hanging by

told me he was going to be stable, but that wasn't

to

when I reached his door, two guards stood in front of it, their arms crossed over their chests, blocking

look on their faces, wondering

said, my

the left shook his

him," 1 insisted, trying to push past them, but the other guard stepped forward, his expression Jnmoved 'Orders are orders," he said, his voice

Chapter 23

from Phillip and I

the Tin his wife card Beach truly, I was Lisy prisoner with the

gruwed at me, but there

Π

through them. With a huff of annoyance, I turned and walked away, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. Why

letting on? The thought came to

in a dare, wandering aimlessly through

through the day, so I figured there was no point going

said a word about

silence was ambearable, and my thoughts spiraled, jumping from

to conclusions were a sport, I

outside shifted from dull gray to

myself in the kitchen at one point, staring blankly at

cheerful energy

and entirely too chipper for how

1b

blinked, my

the only one that knew of what

her to not be aware since she was there when he was

barely loud enough for her to

him. I