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

thought away, turning back to the

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

isn't here to stop

But I didn't.

more, the weight of everything

want. And yet, when I get

to convince myself, something inside me refused to

as if they were lasted to the

you foolish body,

the house, ignoring Philip's penetrating stare as 1 headed

couldn't do it. Not yet.

atmosphere chokingas I climbed the stairs

1 needed to change.

dripping water as I walked up, the heaviness pulling me

off my skirtand shirt, the fabric sticking

the mirror looked foreign-pale,

away as I quickly pulled

before I could talk myself out of it. I headed down the hallway

never been there before, but when I saw the maids rushing in and out of the room, I knew Silas just had to

to know if he

was bleeding out in the courtyard, his life hanging

told me he was going to

to see

his door, two guards stood in front of

faces, wondering

need to see him," I said, my

on the left

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

Chapter 23

from Phillip and I couldn't

the Tin his wife card Beach truly, I was

at me,

Π

a huff of annoyance, I turned and walked away, my hands

Silas worse than they were letting on? The thought came to the, making my heart race

rest of the day in a dare, wandering aimlessly through the house,

the day, so

word

thoughts spiraled, jumping from one dark possibility

jumping to conclusions were a sport, I would be an

outside shifted from dull gray to deep

point, staring blankly at a cup of tea

in, her usual cheerful energy

her voice bright and entirely too chipper for how I felt.

1b

blinked, my

I the only one that knew of what happened to Silas, or did they not

be aware since she was

loud enough for her

let me see him. I don't know if