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

forced the thought away, turning back to the

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

here to

But I didn't.

hesitated once more, the weight

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

how hard I tried to convince

as if they were lasted to the

foolish

I turned back to the house, ignoring Philip's penetrating stare as

do it. Not yet. Not like

than usual. the heavy atmosphere chokingas I

1 needed to change.

water as I

my skirtand

in the

to push the thoughts away as I quickly pulled

of it.

in and out of the

know if

bleeding out in the courtyard, his life hanging by a

was going to be stable,

to see

door, two guards stood in front of it,

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

I said,

guard on the left shook his head. "No

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

Chapter 23

Phillip and I

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

at me,

Π

getting through them. With a huff of annoyance, I turned and walked away,

on? The thought came to the, making my heart race with

in a dare, wandering aimlessly through

the day, so I figured there

one said a word about Silas. No

thoughts spiraled, jumping

sport, I

dragged on, the sky outside shifted from dull gray to

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

cheerful energy filling

voice bright and entirely too chipper for how

1b

blinked, my

the only one that knew of what happened to

her to not be aware since she was there when

barely loud enough for her to

see him.

and she reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my