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

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

here to

But I didn't.

once more, the weight of everything

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

convince myself, something inside me refused to

didn't move, as if they were lasted to the

foolish body,

the house, ignoring

do it. Not yet.

house felt colder than usual. the heavy atmosphere chokingas I climbed the stairs

1 needed to change.

clothes were dripping water as I walked up, the heaviness pulling

room, I peeled off my skirtand shirt, the fabric

the mirror looked foreign-pale,

tried to push the thoughts away as I quickly pulled on

talk myself out of it. I headed

the maids rushing in and out of the room, I knew Silas

had to know if he

was bleeding out in the courtyard, his life hanging by

he was going to be stable,

needed to see

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

a hard look on their faces, wondering what actually gave me the nerve to try and

said, my voice firmer than

on the left shook his head.

guard

Chapter 23

Phillip and I couldn't do anything

couldn't even use the Tin his wife card Beach truly, I was Lisy prisoner with the decorative title of

at me, but there

Π

away, my hands

were letting on? The thought came to the, making my heart

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

all through the day, so

word

and my thoughts spiraled, jumping from one dark possibility

were a sport, I would

dragged on, the sky outside shifted from dull gray to

staring blankly

Alisa bounced in, her usual cheerful energy filling the room like sunlight

how I felt.

1b

blinked, my

one that knew of what

her to not be aware since she was there

muttered, barely loud enough for her

won't let me see him. I don't know if

softened, and she reached out, placing a reassuring hand