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

Just go, Katrina. Leave.

isn't here

But I didn't.

the weight of everything

want. And yet, when I get the chance to

hard I tried to convince myself, something inside me refused to

if they were lasted

foolish

back to the house, ignoring Philip's penetrating

Not yet.

than usual. the heavy atmosphere chokingas

1 needed to change.

were dripping water as I walked up, the

peeled off my skirtand shirt, the fabric sticking to

in the mirror looked

to push the thoughts away as I

talk myself out of it. I headed

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

to know if he was

he was bleeding out in the courtyard, his life

going to be stable, but that

needed to

door, two guards stood in front

stared me down with a hard look on their faces, wondering what

said, my voice

guard on the left shook his head. "No

1 insisted, trying to push past them, but the other guard stepped forward, his expression Jnmoved 'Orders are orders," he said, his

Chapter 23

were from Phillip

Beach truly, I was

and wony gruwed at me, but there was no use

Π

huff of annoyance, I turned and walked away, my hands clenched into fists

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

the day in a dare,

hadn't asked about me all through the day, so I

said a word

silence was ambearable, and my thoughts spiraled,

were a sport, I would be an

dragged on, the sky outside shifted from

one point, staring blankly

in, her usual cheerful energy

how I felt. "You

1b

blinked, my

I the only one that knew of what

for her to not be aware since she was

I muttered, barely loud enough for

him. I don't

softened, and she reached out, placing a reassuring hand