Page 20 of The Sound in Silence

“It’s time,” he repeats.

“Thank you,” I say again, having nothing else to. Nothing else that formulates in my head anyway.

“Do the meeting,” he continues, “and I’ll be there after. With all the heads already in Vegas, I felt it easiest to do it now.”

“Makes sense.”

“Good job, son. I’ll see you soon.”Click.

I drop the phone on the bed, staring blankly at the wall in front of me. It’s happening. Soon, I’ll be in control. I’ll be in the exact position my father always trained me to be—his role. Boss.

In the aloneness of the penthouse, I smile. Genuinely smile. Years of fighting, of training, of practicing weapons led to this. The deals, the meetings, the kills, all to get here.

When my phone vibrates against the comforter, I’m not even bothered by it this time.

Sebastian

She’s awake. Just went down for breakfast.

Day one of being an underboss’s wife will be also her final day as such. By tomorrow, she’ll be a Boss’s.

Instead of answering Sebastian’s text, I open another thread and type in her name.

Me:

Good morning, Ariella.

The word beneath my message goes fromdeliveredtoreadand an eagerness I’ve never felt before courses through me. Along with a curiosity, to see how she’ll respond. It’ll be in her message I can attempt to decipher how much she despises me.

In the meantime, I finish undressing, keeping one eye on the screen, waiting for her reply to slip into place. After two minutes, she still hasn’t sent one.

Me

Sleep well?

I climb beneath the blankets after prompting her, settling into the bed. Instantly, sleepiness wants to pull me under but the urge for her response keeps me awake.

After another minute, there’s still no reply.

Me

Hope the room was to your liking. Enjoy your day.

Still fucking nothing…

I return to Sebastian’s message and furiously type out a response.

Me

Does she have her phone on her?

Sebastian

Yes. She’s staring at it too.

I know that because of the damn read receipts her phone is sending me. I flip back to the other conversation.

Me

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