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

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

here to

But I didn't.

once more, the weight of everything

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

how hard I tried to convince myself, something inside

didn't move, as if

you foolish

turned back to the

couldn't do it. Not yet. Not like

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

1 needed to change.

were dripping water as I walked up, the heaviness pulling

peeled off my skirtand shirt, the fabric sticking to my

the mirror looked foreign-pale,

to push the thoughts away as I quickly pulled on fresh clothes, something loose

it. I

never been there before, but when I saw the maids rushing in and

had to know if he was

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

he was going to be stable, but

to

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

their faces, wondering what actually gave me the nerve

him," I said,

the left

guard stepped forward, his

Chapter 23

were from Phillip and I

card Beach truly, I was Lisy prisoner with the decorative title

me, but there was

Π

turned and walked away,

on? The thought came to the, making my heart

day in a dare, wandering aimlessly through

about me all through the day, so I figured there was

no one said a word about

was ambearable, and my thoughts spiraled, jumping from one dark possibility

were a sport, I would

on, the sky outside shifted from dull

point, staring blankly at a cup of tea I hadn't

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

too chipper for how I felt. "You look like you've seen a

1b

blinked, my

only one that knew of what happened

it was impossible for her to not be aware since

barely loud enough

him. I don't know if

out, placing a