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

the thought away, turning back to the

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

isn't here to stop

But I didn't.

more, the weight of

yet, when I get the chance to

to convince myself, something inside me refused

feet didn't move, as if

you foolish body,

back to the house, ignoring Philip's penetrating

couldn't do it. Not

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

1 needed to change.

I walked up, the heaviness pulling me

I peeled off my skirtand shirt, the fabric

in the mirror

away as I quickly pulled on

talk myself out of it.

there before, but when I saw the maids rushing in and out of the room, I knew Silas just had to be

had to know if

the courtyard, his

me he was going to be stable, but

needed to

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

down with a hard look on their faces, wondering what actually

need to see him," I said, my voice firmer

guard on the left shook his head. "No

them, but the other guard stepped forward, his expression Jnmoved 'Orders are orders," he said, his

Chapter 23

the orders were from Phillip and

couldn't even use the Tin his wife card Beach truly,

and wony gruwed at me, but there was no

Π

I turned and walked away, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. Why wouldn't they let me

on? The thought

the day in a dare,

asked about me all through the day, so I figured there was no point

no one said a word

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

conclusions were a sport, I would be an

shifted

at one point, staring blankly at a cup of tea

energy filling the room like

voice bright and entirely too chipper for how I felt. "You look like you've seen

1b

blinked, my

tight. Was I the only one that knew of what happened to Silas, or

her to not be aware since

I muttered, barely loud enough

see him. I don't

reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my