Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 109 Summary Genevieve Belle Sinclair is struggling with intense physical and emotional distress after taking a life for the first time. Despite Matteo's reassurances that her symptoms are just a cold brought on by stress, she feels deeply unsettled and nauseous, unable to eat or drink. Matteo and her friend Jada try to support her with practical advice and distractions, but the weight of her actions and the fear of what might come next weigh heavily on her.

Meanwhile, her roommates are actively searching for Becca, who has gone missing, unaware that Becca's brother-connected to Matteo's men-is involved in a darker situation. Genevieve hides the painful truth from her friends, adding to her internal turmoil. Matteo continues to care for her, providing medication and checking on her condition, though he remains concerned beneath his calm exterior. When Genevieve decides to take an early lunch break, Leo notices her distress and follows her to the pharmacy.

There, she silently reveals a new, shocking reality by pulling a pregnancy test from the shelf, signaling a significant and frightening turning point in her life. Leo's reaction shows the gravity of this revelation, underscoring the tension and uncertainty Genevieve faces moving forward. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Chapter One Hundred and Nine Genevieve Belle Sinclair rested her chin in her hands, struggling to focus on the latest email from Cindy, the new PR representative.

Her eyes strained behind her glasses, and after a few moments, she removed them, rubbed her tired eyes, and put them back on, hoping for some clarity that never came. She felt utterly miserable. Throughout the weekend, she hadn't been able to keep any food or drink down. Although her fever wasn't dangerously high, her entire body felt off, as if something inside her was unsettled beyond physical illness. Matteo had reassured her repeatedly that her symptoms didn't match poisoning or the mild sedative Frankie had given her.

Instead, he insisted it was just a cold, triggered by the shock of having taken a life for the first time. Yet, every time he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, the worry lurking in his eyes betrayed his calm words. The weight of that phrase-killing someone for the first time-pressed heavily on her mind. She couldn't decide which part disturbed her more: the fact that she, Genevieve Belle Sinclair, had committed murder, or the chilling implication that it might happen again. A fresh wave of nausea swept over her, and she groaned softly.

Rising from her chair, she shuffled across the room and turned her back to the window, pressing the cool glass against her forehead. She had discovered this trick one morning when Matteo had to take several important calls and attend meetings. He'd invited Jada over to keep her company while he was out, and when they ran out of ice packs, Jada shared her own hangover remedy. "All you need is a window!" Jada had shouted a little too loudly, making Gen wince at the sudden noise. That wasn't the only wisdom Jada had passed along.

Fortunately, Jada already knew about the terrible act Gen had committed, so there was no need for Gen to voice it aloud and make it even more real. They spent most of that morning with their foreheads pressed against glass, talking about Jada's own brushes with the dark side of mafia life. Jada had never taken a life herself but had been close enough to enough people to understand the best ways to cope: nourishing food, open discussion, and activities to keep the mind from spiraling into despair. The distractions were simple enough.

They'd watched celebrity gossip channels, scrolled through photos the press had released from the Royale, and even looked at pictures of puppies up for adoption at the local humane society-puppies Jada hoped to surprise Louis with. But the food part was proving much harder. Nothing settled Gen's stomach. Even her favorite dishes made the nausea churn worse. She chalked it up to the act she had committed. Every time she thought about the blood, her stomach turned.

Although Matteo had meticulously cleaned every trace of blood from her skin and clothes, she could still feel it dripping down her face, running along her arms, soaking into his hoodie. A shiver ran through her body just as her phone pinged. She pulled it from the pocket of her sweater and glanced down at the group chat with her roommates. Sarah: All done here. Detective Johnson said he'll keep us updated and gave me his number if anyone has questions. Flyers should be printed-Louise, can you pick those up on your way home? Louise: Heading there now!

I talked to some of her coworkers, and they're ready to help with the search tomorrow! Don't worry, guys, she's okay. We'll find her! That morning, Sarah had called to tell Gen that they were filing a missing persons report for Becca. Sarah had gone on and on about how she couldn't reach any of Becca's family. It took all of Gen's willpower not to tell her friend that Becca's only family-her brother-was the reason Becca wouldn't be coming home. Matteo's men were out searching for Becca's... body. He promised they wouldn't stop until they found answers.

Her stomach churned again, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, fighting the sudden urge to be sick. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes to see Leo walking down the hall carrying a white pharmacy bag. She stepped aside and pressed her head back against a cooler patch of the window. Closing her eyes, she let out a long sigh. Then, the intercom on her desk crackled. "Genevieve?" Matteo's voice called through the speaker. She groaned, struggling to rise, and hit the button. "Yes?" "Come to my office," he ordered. Taking a deep breath, she closed one eye and made her way down the hall.

As she reached the door, Leo was stepping out, his sharp gaze missing nothing. He took in her pale face and slow movements, silently assessing what might be wrong. He held the door open for her, and she offered a quiet thanks before stepping inside. Matteo was half-seated on the edge of his desk, his attention focused on pulling medications from the bag and lining them up neatly. "What is-" "How are your symptoms?" he interrupted, finally looking up to scan her face for any changes. "I'm... I'm fine. What did you-" He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead and clicked his tongue.

"This will help with the fever." He held out a bottle of liquid medicine for her to take. Standing up, Matteo turned away to examine another bottle. "Are you still feeling nauseous?" he asked, holding up a bottle of pills. "Yes." "And have you been able to keep anything down?" Gen let out a short chuckle. "Matteo..." "Your body should have adjusted by now. The stress from the weekend must have triggered some kind of flu or something. Just take all of these." He gathered the seven different bottles back into the bag and handed it to her.

She looked down at the assortment, then back up at him with an amused brow raised. He shrugged, but his expression stayed serious. "It'll make me feel better." "Okay, I'll take them if it helps ease some of your stress." "I'm not-" Gen gave him a pointed look. "Just take them, Weakness," Matteo said with a half-smile. His phone rang, and after glancing at the caller ID, he moved around to his side of the desk. "I have to get this. Take them all, Gen. Hello?" Rolling her eyes, Gen left his office and set the various painkillers, stomach remedies, and cough syrups on her desk.

She shook her head as she began reading the labels, trying to decide which to take. She was sure just two of them would be enough to knock her out. As she scanned one label, a warning caught her eye: "May cause certain hormonal birth controls to become ineffective." "We certainly don't want that, do we?" she giggled softly, setting that bottle aside and moving on. Her eyes continued to scan the words on the bottles, but her mind drifted elsewhere. Her gaze lifted to the window, and she stood up from her chair.

"Kaitlin, I'm taking an early lunch," Gen told her assistant as she walked down the hall. "O-okay! I'll reschedule your appointment with Mrs. Tutt then!" Kaitlin called after her. Genevieve hurried down the steps and pushed through the glass doors of the front lobby. She kept her head lowered, lost in thought and mental calculations, as she made her way toward the sidewalk. "Miss Sinclair," Leo called after her. Gen looked up to see Leo and Stephen waiting by the SUV. She stopped abruptly, still amazed at how Leo always seemed to know when she was leaving the building.

He gestured toward the door he'd held open for her. "I can walk," she said, stepping onto the sidewalk. "Take the car back, Steve-O," Leo told his younger assistant. Moments later, Leo fell into step beside her. He didn't ask where she was headed, perhaps sensing the turmoil and panic swirling just beneath her calm exterior. Gen was never good at hiding her emotions, and Leo often joked that he was practically psychic. Ahead, she spotted the pharmacy whose name was stamped on the bag Matteo had given her. Without hesitation, she entered, ignoring the loud ping that announced their arrival.

She wandered down the aisles, searching for what she needed. "I think I've been quiet long enough, Miss Sinclair," Leo said, breaking the silence as she reached the shelf. "Do you remember when we first met, and I asked if you had to tell your boss everything, and you said only if it affects my safety?" "Yes?" "This is going to be one of those times where you keep your fucking mouth shut." Gen stopped, scanning the various brands with her heart pounding wildly in her chest, threatening to burst free.

The nausea that had plagued her all day had calmed, as if the truth she was about to face was its own kind of medicine. "Holy fuck, Genevieve," Leo whispered, disbelief thick in his voice as she pulled a pregnancy test from the shelf and gave him a look that mixed fear with sudden certainty. Conclusion The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing Genevieve's inner turmoil and fragile state as she grapples with the weight of her recent actions and the uncertain future ahead.

Despite the physical sickness and emotional exhaustion, there is a subtle shift in her demeanor-a quiet acceptance of the truths she can no longer avoid. The presence of those around her, like Matteo's unwavering care and Leo's intuitive support, underscores the intricate web of relationships that both ground and challenge her in this tumultuous time. Amid the shadows of guilt and fear, Genevieve's journey reveals the complexity of human resilience and vulnerability. The chapter delicately balances the heaviness of loss and the tentative hope that comes with confronting reality head-on.